Catholics/Orthodox Remarriage

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 8/9/2009


Question
Dear Fr. Timothy,

A close friend is considering converting to Orthodoxy. As a result I've been attempting to deepen my understanding of the Orthodox Church and it's relationship to the Catholic Church. In discussions regarding this, she described the Orthodox view of remarriage as follows: "There is no annulment but, because people are going to do it regardless, remarriage up to 3 times is allowed. The first marriage is the most important one but it'd be better for persons to have their marriage blessed by the Church than to live in sin." It seems like the persons re-marrying are still living in sin but that that particular sin is being blessed by the Orthodox Church. This was particularly striking to me because of a previous discussion in which a very learned Orthodox man described war as sinful then took a position arguing for war in certain circumstances despite it being sinful. Is this an accurate summary of Orthodox views on remarriage? Does the Orthodox Church not teach that sin is always wrong, or might there be a different meaning of the word "sin" in use?

Thanks for your time and God bless,
-Meghan

Answer
Hi, again, Meghan:
Thanks for the question.
I must admit that this is an area of practice that one finds among the eastern Orthodox Churches that I do not fully grasp, either.
Based upon what you say in view of the comment of the Orthodox man concerning war, is that the use of the word "sin" as he used it, could refer more to how certain things are objectively bad or evil in-and-of-themselves; but they might be arguing that there are certain "necessary evils"?  I really don't know for sure.
Someone once described the situation of second and third "marriages" among certain Orthodox as being recognized as lawful, but not sacramental... I also seem to remember this person telling me that an Orthodox in such a situation is not supposed to approach for Holy Communion at the Divine Liturgy.  It seems that the later marriages, instead of being "blessed" are situated within a liturgy that has many prayers asking forgiveness of those undertaking these second or third marriages?  Provided that I have all of these matters presented correctly, it would seem that the situation is seen as falling short of the ideal good, and only "tolerated" as some sort of unavoidable evil?
I would recommend, if possible, that you ask this question of somebody more knowledgible of these specifics of the Eastern Orthodox Churches...

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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