What are the Eastern Catholic Churches and how are they related to Rome?
The Catholic Church is an organic communion of 24 distinct 'Sui Iuris' (self-governing) autonomous Churches: 1 Western (Latin) Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches (such as the Byzantine, Maronite, Melkite, Ukrainian, and Syro-Malabar Churches). Eastern Catholics share identical dogmas and full sacramental communion under the Pope, but celebrate different ancient liturgical rites, have unique spiritual and canonical traditions, and ordain married men to the priesthood according to their patrimony.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 814
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1202-1203
- Galatians 3:28
Awaiting review by the chaplaincy. Written in our own words; the Church's own texts are the authority.