Can Catholic confess to Orthodox priests?

[scapularkid8]

I'm going to be traveling for quite an extended time this coming summer, fall and winter in the Middle East. I understand that Roman, Greek, and Arab/Maronite Catholicism is present in this area but as I understand it the frequency of finding an Arab belonging to one of these denominations residing in the Middle East is highly less likely than the Arabs that have now immigrated to the West. In short: Catholic churches are harder to come by.

Am I positioned as a Catholic, if needed, to confess in an Orthodox church if I need to?

[Aramis]

Originally Posted by scapularkid8

I'm going to be traveling for quite an extended time this coming summer, fall and winter in the Middle East. I understand that Roman, Greek, and Arab/Maronite Catholicism is present in this area but as I understand it the frequency of finding an Arab belonging to one of these denominations residing in the Middle East is highly less likely than the Arabs that have now immigrated to the West. In short: Catholic churches are harder to come by.

Am I positioned as a Catholic, if needed, to confess in an Orthodox church if I need to?

The Catholic Church says yes, the Orthodox vary in answer, sometimes even parish by parish. Ask the pastor of the Orthodox parish.

[bpbasilphx]

I have gathered from various Eastern Christians from the Middle East that the boundaries between Catholic, Orthodox, Melkite, Maronite, Syriac (Orthodox or Catholic), and such are much more fluid than they are in the USA. At times they are even non-existent; one simply goes to the nearest Church.

But this might not apply to all priests, either. Some might be more sensitive to confessional boundaries.

[Kiechlin]

I'm sure others will correct me if I am wrong, but here is my take, from what I've read and heard.
The Orthodox all have valid sacraments. That being said, my understanding is that you, as a Catholic, should approach an Orthodox Priest for confession only if you are in grave, urgent need (i.e. Mortal Sin, danger of death, etc.). Now, if you went to an Orthodox priest, I think you would want to tell him right away you are a Catholic so he know. As other posters have said, the view from the Orthodox is more fluid on this issue, especially in the Middle East. Just my two cents.

p.s. Where will you be going? I myself have been to Jordan.

[scapularkid8]

Originally Posted by Kiechlin

I'm sure others will correct me if I am wrong, but here is my take, from what I've read and heard.
The Orthodox all have valid sacraments. That being said, my understanding is that you, as a Catholic, should approach an Orthodox Priest for confession only if you are in grave, urgent need (i.e. Mortal Sin, danger of death, etc.). Now, if you went to an Orthodox priest, I think you would want to tell him right away you are a Catholic so he know. As other posters have said, the view from the Orthodox is more fluid on this issue, especially in the Middle East. Just my two cents.

p.s. Where will you be going? I myself have been to Jordan.

Yeah! I'm going to Jordan too!

[Friar David, O.Carm]

Originally Posted by Aramis

The Catholic Church says yes, the Orthodox vary in answer, sometimes even parish by parish. Ask the pastor of the Orthodox parish.

Actually the short answer is no.

The long answer is that in emergencies, that is where death is possible, then yes, just as any priest may hear a confession.

In the normal practice of things faculties from the local ordinary are required for the validity of the Sacrament.

Here from the Code of Canon Law;

Can. 966 §1 For the valid absolution of sins, it is required that, in addition to the power of order, the minister has the faculty to exercise that power in respect of the faithful to whom he gives absolution.

§2 A priest can be given this faculty either by the law itself, or by a concession issued by the competent authority in accordance with can. 969.

And from the Code of Canons of Oriental Churches;

Canon 722

1. Only a priest is the minister of the sacrament of penance.

2. All bishops by the law itself can administer the sacrament of penance everywhere, unless with regard to liceity, the eparchial bishop denies it in a special case.

3. For presbyters to act validly, they must be previously granted the faculty of administering the sacrament of penance, which is conferred either by the law itself or by a special grant made by a competent authority.

4. Priests who are endowed with this faulty by virtue of their office or by virtue of the grant of the local hierarch of the eparchy in which they are enrolled or in which they have domicile, can validly administer the sacrament of penance anywhere to any Christian faithful, unless the local hierarch in a special case expressly denies it; the same faculties are licitly used observing the norms made by the eparchial bishop and also with at least the presumed permission of the rector of the church or the superior, if it is a case of a house of an institute of consecrated life.

[mardukm]

Originally Posted by ByzCath

And from the Code of Canons of Oriental Churches;

Canon 722

1. Only a priest is the minister of the sacrament of penance.

2. All bishops by the law itself can administer the sacrament of penance everywhere, unless with regard to liceity, the eparchial bishop denies it in a special case.

3. For presbyters to act validly, they must be previously granted the faculty of administering the sacrament of penance, which is conferred either by the law itself or by a special grant made by a competent authority.

4. Priests who are endowed with this faulty by virtue of their office or by virtue of the grant of the local hierarch of the eparchy in which they are enrolled or in which they have domicile, can validly administer the sacrament of penance anywhere to any Christian faithful, unless the local hierarch in a special case expressly denies it; the same faculties are licitly used observing the norms made by the eparchial bishop and also with at least the presumed permission of the rector of the church or the superior, if it is a case of a house of an institute of consecrated life.

It might be of interest to some that canonically, only the proper ordinary can grant this faculty. In other words, only the local bishop in his jurisdiction can grant this faculty to priests in his jurisdiction - not his metropolitan, not his Patriarch, not the Pope - but only the local bishop.

Blessings

[CatholicGuy22]

Yes, only if it is an emergency.

[DorianGregorian]

No! No! No!

The authority to forgive sins was given to Peter and the Apostles. The ONE Church has the power to absolve sins. This is almost vis-a-vis Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus. There is no salvation outside the Church, no forgiveness of sins outside the Church.

The Orthodox are Schismatics ergo:

Council of Florence: It firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the catholic church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels,

Even if their excommunications were forgiven by Paul VI, almost all of their Bishops have ordained Priests without a papal mandate, thus incurring automatic excommunication.

[Friar David, O.Carm]

Originally Posted by DorianGregorian

No! No! No!

The authority to forgive sins was given to Peter and the Apostles. The ONE Church has the power to absolve sins. This is almost vis-a-vis Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus. There is no salvation outside the Church, no forgiveness of sins outside the Church.

The Orthodox are Schismatics ergo:

Council of Florence: It firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the catholic church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels,

Even if their excommunications were forgiven by Paul VI, almost all of their Bishops have ordained Priests without a papal mandate, thus incurring automatic excommunication.

This is not what the Church Teaches. The Orthodox have valid Sacraments and in cases of emergencies the may give valid absolution.

The Catholic Church also welcomes them, as well as the PNCC (and I believe a couple others) to receive the Eucharist.

[DorianGregorian]

Well I was just replying with the force and using the same logic some people like to use against SSPX Catholics. Then again at least the SSPX recognize the last 10 or so Ecumenical Councils.

[Ghosty]

What does the SSPX have to do with any of this? Did someone mention them? Are they an Eastern Catholic organization now?

Peace and God bless!

[ciero]

Originally Posted by DorianGregorian

Well I was just replying with the force and using the same logic some people like to use against SSPX Catholics. Then again at least the SSPX recognize the last 10 or so Ecumenical Councils.

There are only 7 ecumenical councils. Even Rome recognizes this.

[Aramis]

Brother David:

You are forgetting: Their valid bishops have given those orthodox priests valid postings as pastors, and thus valid authority over sins by virtue of the office of pastor or priest-confessor.

It doesn't even require an emergency. It requires physical or moral incapability to approach a Catholic Minister, and a genuine spiritual advantage. Essentially, absolution of any mortal sin meets the "genuine spiritual advantage" clause.

[Friar David, O.Carm]

Originally Posted by Aramis

Brother David:

You are forgetting: Their valid bishops have given those orthodox priests valid postings as pastors, and thus valid authority over sins by virtue of the office of pastor or priest-confessor.

It doesn't even require an emergency. It requires physical or moral incapability to approach a Catholic Minister, and a genuine spiritual advantage. Essentially, absolution of any mortal sin meets the "genuine spiritual advantage" clause.

I think this would be an argument for Canon Lawyers as are those bishops considered truly valid as they were not appointed by the pope.

A episcopal ordination without papal approval makes a valid bishop but he is suspended immeditatly.

Also there is the issue of overlapping jurisdictions.


I stand by what I said, only in the case of emergency may one go to a priest outside of the Catholic Church for the Sacrament of Penance.