Folia Canonica 4. (2001)
STUDIES - John D. Faris: A Canonical Examination of the Acquisition, Consequences and Loss of Membership in a Church - A Catholic Perspective
MEMBERSHIP IN A CHURCH 145 Inasmuch as the Church cannot ignore such situations, the CCEO devotes an entire title to the matter of baptized non-Catholics into the Catholic Church: “Baptized Non-Catholics Coming into Full Communion with the Catholic Church.”38 Since the Catholic Church considers baptism to be unrepeatable; whenever a person is validly baptized, regardless of the Church or ecclesial communion in which the baptism was received, that person is ontologically a Christian and a member of the Christian Church.39 If a person who was validly baptized in a non-Catholic Church desires to enter the full communion of the Catholic Church, baptism is not re-administered. Entrance into full communion is generally described in the CCEO as “reception” into the Catholic Church.40 The term “reception” quite appropriately describes the nature of becoming a full member of the Catholic Church. Just as a person cannot administer baptism to him/herself, likewise, a baptized person does not simply “join” the Church, but is, instead, received into it.41 On a spiritual level, the person is responding to a divine call; on a canonical level, the baptized non-Catholic expresses a desire to enter the Church and is received into it by the competent person: An Eastern non-Catholic bishop is received into the Catholic Church by either the Roman Pontiff, by the patriarch with the consent of the synod of bishops, or by the metropolitan with the consent of the council of hierarchs.42 A bishop who is received into the Catholic Church cannot exercise the power of governance without the consent of the Roman Pontiff.43 A cleric can be received into to the Catholic Church by the local hierarch, but this action can be reserved to the patriarch.44 A cleric cannot exercise his sacred order without the consent of the competent authority.45 A layperson can be received into the Catholic Church by the pastor; particular law can also restrict this power to a higher authority.46 The Church takes a moderate approach in establishing requirements for a baptized person who wants to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church: 38 Title XVII, cc. 896-901. These canons have no counterpart in the CIC. 39 CCEO c. 7 §1 I CIC c. 204. 40 The terminology in the heading for Title XVII is an exception to the usage found in the canons of that title. 41 CCEO c. 897 refers to how an Eastern non-Catholic “is to be received into the Catholic Church;” CCEO c. 898 determines what Catholic authority has the right to receive Eastern non-Catholic bishops, clerics, and lay persons. 42 CCEO c. 898 §1. 43 CCEO c. 899 44 CCEO c. 898 §2. 45 CCEO c. 899. 46 CCEO c. 898 §3.
