This may sound like a silly question....

[Hoonbaba]

...but I'm curious to know:

If I were an Eastern Catholic priest and was sent to another country, would my citizenship be tied to my being Catholic? In other words, as an American, if I was to serve in Russia, would I have to become a Russian citizen to be considered a Russian Byzantine Catholic priest? heh, I wonder if this is a silly question! I feel like I'm asking a question I already know the answer for... lol

But I'm not entirely sure!

-Jason

 

[Hoonbaba]

One more question: Under what circumstance can an Eastern or Western Catholic switch rites?

In other words, is there some kind of restriction based on nationality, as if Eastern Catholics must be Greek, Melkite, Russian identities, etc?

 

[geocajun]

A Priest will remain in whatever rite he is ordained in no matter where he lives. There are ways he can change rites, but it is a formal process.

A laymen can change into another rite one time, and I am not sure all the details around how one goes about doing this.
The specific rite one belongs too within the Catholic Church is not based on nationality. These are liturigical rites.

 

[Hoonbaba]

Thanks geo, =)