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24. The Eastern Churches in communion with the Apostolic See of
Rome have a special duty of promoting the unity of all Christians,
especially Eastern Christians, in accordance with the principles of
the decree, "About Ecumenism," of this Sacred Council, by
prayer in the first place, and by the example of their lives, by
religious fidelity to the ancient Eastern traditions, by a greater
knowledge of each other, by collaboration and a brotherly regard for
objects and feelings.[29]
25. If any separated Eastern Christian should, under the guidance
of the grace of the Holy Spirit, join himself to the unity of
Catholics, no more should be required of him than what a bare
profession of the Catholic faith demands. Eastern clerics, seeing
that a valid priesthood is preserved among them, are permitted to
exercise the Orders they possess on joining the unity of the Catholic
Church, in accordance with the regulations established by the
competent authority.[30]
26. Common participation in worship (communicatio in sacris) which
harms the unity of the Church or involves formal acceptance of error or
the danger of aberration in the faith, of scandal and indifferentism,
is forbidden by divine law.[31] On the other hand, pastoral
experience shows clearly that, as regards our Eastern brethren, there
should be taken into consideration the different cases of individuals,
where neither the unity of the Church is hurt nor are verified the
dangers that must be avoided, but where the needs of the salvation of
souls and their spiritual good are impelling motives. For that reason
the Catholic Church has always adopted and now adopts rather a mild
policy, offering to all the means of salvation and an example of
charity among Christians, through participation in the sacraments and
in other sacred functions and things. With this in mind, "lest
because of the harshness of our judgment we be an obstacle to those
seeking salvation" [32] and in order more and more to promote union
with the Eastern Churches separated from us, the Sacred Council
lays down the following policy.
27. Without prejudice to the principles noted earlier, Eastern
Christians who are in fact separated in good faith from the Catholic
Church, if they ask of their own accord and have the right
dispositions, may be admitted to the sacraments of Penance, the
Eucharist and the Anointing of the Sick. Further, Catholics may
ask for these same sacraments from those non-Catholic ministers whose
churches possess valid sacraments, as often as necessity or a genuine
spiritual benefit recommends such a course and access to a Catholic
priest is physically or morally impossible.[33]
28. Further, given the same principles, common participation by
Catholics with their Eastern separated brethren in sacred functions,
things and places is allowed for a just cause.[34]
29. This conciliatory policy with regard to "communicatio in
sacris" (participation in things sacred) with the brethren of the
separated Eastern Churches is put into the care and control of the
local hierarchs, in order that, by combined counsel among themselves
and, if need be, after consultation also with the hierarchs of the
separated churches, they may by timely and effective regulations and
norms direct the relations among Christians.
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