"Other Rite" Catholics

[Bluegoat]

I'm interesting in finding out about "other rite" Catholics - we don't really have any around here in RL so I hoped there might be some online.

I know there are some who use an Eastern rite, and are associated with the RC church, and I'm familiar with Anglican?Episcopalian parishes that use an Anglcam rite approved by the RC church.

One thing I am a bit confused about is what exactly is the status of these different rites? I had thought that they were considered on par with the regular rites, and were recognized as representing a different cultural tradition of Catholicism.

But I have noticed some rather nasty rhetoric by Roman Catholics about the Anglican use parishes - that it's only meant to allow those people some comfort while they become "real" RCs, that they must ultimately be "weaned" off their special rite and use the same one as everyone else.

Does this reflect a different status between the Eastern or other rite Catholics and the Anglican use parishes? Is there an overall policy of eventually stamping out other rites as less perfect than the regular RC one?

Personally, I find it slightly ironic, in that the Anglican style rite seems much more traditionally RC to me, and also more beautiful. (I hope that's not offensive, it's very much a personal aesthetic statement.)

[smeisnotapirate]

My DH plays organ at an Anglican Catholic Church. They practice Catholic transubstantiation, but use Anglican melodies and the Anglican doxologies and service format. Honestly, they don't associate themselves with either church, though they do claim to follow Papal authority.

AFAIK, the RCC has no official standing on the (very small) Anglican Catholic branch.

ETA: This is interesting. I just googled the Anglican Catholic Church, but DH's work is nothing like that. They follow the Holy Catholic Church - Western Rite. Weeeeird.

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

My DH plays organ at an Anglican Catholic Church. They practice Catholic transubstantiation, but use Anglican melodies and the Anglican doxologies and service format. Honestly, they don't associate themselves with either church, though they do claim to follow Papal authority.

AFAIK, the RCC has no official standing on the (very small) Anglican Catholic branch.

ETA: This is interesting. I just googled the Anglican Catholic Church, but DH's work is nothing like that. They follow the Holy Catholic Church - Western Rite. Weeeeird.

Catholic and catholic are among those incredibly confusing terms, like Orthodox and orthodox.

Anglicans and Lutherans, for example, consider themselves to be catholic. So does the Roman Catholic Church.

Then there are groups that have officially put themselves under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, but have a somewhat different historical lineage, and use different rites, or liturgy (but approved by the authority of the Church.) They go by names which can also be confusing.

Then there are a bunch of churches that have also made the word catholic part of their proper name, but do not accept the authority of the RC church, or do not have a formal relationship with it. There are a lot of Anglican groups that have done this - their POV is that the modern Anglican church is no longer catholic (although I would say orthodox would be a better word in this context, but that makes it more confusing!) and they represent true catholic Anglicanism. This is the Anglican Catholic Church that you googled.

If I understand correctly, the Holy Catholic Church - Western Rite, also falls into this category. They have no official relationship with Rome and are not recognized by it.

There are actually a number of non-Roman Catholics who believe that the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, has a certain special role and authority, just not to the extent or in the way that has been claimed in more recent times (or since the 11th century, for the Orthodox.) Many Anglican groups feel this way.

[Watershippy]

The Anglo-catholic parish (meaning that is just their liturgical style, they are still part of the Episcopal Church USA, different from the Anglican Catholic Church) around here uses the pre-1962 Roman Brievary for the daily office, and they recite the Roman Catholic Rosary. They still use the Book of Common Prayer for Eucharist, because the Bishop would have to grant special permission for them to institute a different liturgy for that service (this may our own diocesan rule, haven't heard of it elsewhere). That rite you mentioned, that is approved by the Roman and used by some Anglican churches, sounds familiar but I can't remember the name now...I know that it is done. There is also nasty rhetoric by Anglo-catholics against the Roman Catholic church, too. I once heard an Anglo-catholic say he'd considered going over to the Roman church, but then he couldn't be Catholic anymore!! Yikes. I don't even know where to begin with that one.

There is an "Old Catholic Church" in my neighborhood that I've considered visiting. I don't know what rite they use. I know one of the priests is a woman, so I'm guessing they aren't in communion with Rome. There are also a few churches around town that are part of the Eastern Catholic Church, which I know are in communion with Rome; one is Byzantine (this is the part of the Roman Catholic Church that has married clergy!) and the other is Maronite (in the Lebanese neighborhood, don't know what rite they use but it is definately not in English or Latin.)

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by Watershippy

There is an "Old Catholic Church" in my neighborhood that I've considered visiting. I don't know what rite they use. I know one of the priests is a woman, so I'm guessing they aren't in communion with Rome. There are also a few churches around town that are part of the Eastern Catholic Church, which I know are in communion with Rome; one is Byzantine (this is the part of the Roman Catholic Church that has married clergy!) and the other is Maronite (in the Lebanese neighborhood, don't know what rite they use but it is definately not in English or Latin.)

I think the Maronites might be part of the Syriac family? I'm not sure if I have the spelling correct.