A reader writes:
I have been asked to sponser a young man for his confirmation. I am catholic, and he is attending a catholic school. However he was baptised in a Greek Orthodox church many years ago. The priest at our parish is saying that that was not valid and he can’t be confirmed and shouldn’t be receiving Holy Communion. I thought as long as someone was Baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with water, that the Catholic church recognized it.
Does the Greek Orthodox church Baptise in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
It does, and Greek Orthodox baptisms are valid. I suspect that what is happening here is a miscommunication.
The priest is probably not saying that the boy’s baptism isn’t valid. He’s likely saying that he is not allowed to confirm the boy or even that it would be invalid if the priest attempted to confirm him.
Here’s the deal: Catholic priests are only allowed to give three sacraments to those baptized into an Orthodox Church: penance, the Eucharist, and holy anointing. They are not allowed to confirm them. Here’s the relevant passage of canon law:
Canon 844 ยง3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of
penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern
Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek
such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for
members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the
same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.
In light of this, it makes all the sense in the world for the priest to say that he can’t confirm the boy (unless the boy is converting to the Catholic faith and the priest is empowered to receive him into the Church).
It is less clear why the priest would say that he should not be receiving Communion if he is seeking it on his own and is properly disposed. The priest may be thinking of the sacramental discipline of the church to which the boy belongs, though for its part the Catholic Church would not object to him receiving Communion under the noted conditions.
The Orthodox, as well as the Eastern Catholic Churches, normally administer Confirmation at Baptism. So, the boy probably already is Confirmed.
bill912,
my thoughts exactly which leads me to believe that the young man in question may be converting
Of course, even if he’s converting, it would seem a near certainty that he doesn’t need to be confirmed.
Is there a list of churches for which we recognize their baptisms as being valid?
Greek Orthodox sacraments are valid, so if there is no question about the specific circumstances of this young man’s baptism, he is already baptised, confirmed, and has received first communion. Even if he is becoming Catholic, his sacraments are valid.
There is no list that I am aware of for churches and ecclesial communities whose baptism we consider to be valid. However, John Huels, in his “Pastoral Companion” provides a list of ecclesial communities whose baptism is invalid.
I have a bit of a caution about using anything by Huels, but he’s probably okay on this one.
Various canon law journals occasionally publish material on this, but there is no official, comprehensive list–at least not one that the Vatican has publicly released.
If the boy was baptised in the Greek Orthodox Church, he was confirmed at the same time, so there is no need for him to confirmed in the Roman Catholic rite.
I have the same sort of problem. Can i just ask… if someone is baptised orthodox and then receives first holy communion classes and goes to communion in the catholic church what religion are they? orthodox or catholic? both? would an orthodox priest be happy with someone who is baptised orthodox and who receives communion in his church also receiving communion in the catholic church?
I am a Catholic and married an Orthodox – our marriage took place in the Orthodox Church. We our son was born he was baptised in the Orthodox Church. My husband has now left us and I would like to bring my son up as a Catholic – the issue has been discussed with the Catholic Priest in Greece and he is willing to re-baptise my son a Catholic. Do this mean that my son’s Orthodox baptism will become invalid?
I have a similar situation. I am catholic and my husband is orthodox. We would like to baptize our son in the orthodox church and have him receive his first communion in the catholic church. Is this possible??
Kristina,
Why wouldn’t that be possible?
I don’t believe the Catholic Church would have a problem with this based on a superficial reading of the canon dealing with our Orthodox brethren; although, the Orthodox might, so if you’re concerned about what they think, you might want to consult with the Orthodox then.
Kristiana- from what I recall, that would make him Catholic.
Most any Christian baptism is OK, but by being Confirmed Catholic he’d be joining the Catholic Church.
If the Orthodox baptize the tyke, they’ll confirm him and give him his first holy communion too. It’s all one ceremony in the Orthodox Churches.
Having said that, the Catholic Church permits Orthodox Christians who want to receive communion in a Catholic church to do so.