Protecting Ritual Identity: Inter-Ritual Issues in the Contemporary Practice of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

The article examines the contemporary practice of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches concerning selected inter-ritual issues, with a focus on protecting the distinctive ritual identity of Eastern Catholic Churches. The analysis is based on the Dicastery’s document of 22 November 2024, which systematizes the policy of the Apostolic See relating to the indults of bi-ritualism, adaptation of rite, and transfer to another Church sui iuris. The aim of the article is to answer the question of how the contemporary practice concerning inter-ritual relations implements the principle of protecting ritual identity amid increasing mobility of both the lay faithful and clergy, and in Catholic communities that function in multi-ritual environments. The study employs a dogmatic-legal method and institutional analysis, drawing on the provisions of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO), selected provisions of the 1983 Code of Canon Law (CIC/1983), the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, and the current practice of the Apostolic See. The analysis demonstrates that the provisions concerning bi-ritualism, adaptation of rite, and transfers of ascription (within the Catholic Church) do not serve merely an administrative function, but also form part of a coherent policy aimed at preserving the liturgical, theological, spiritual, and disciplinary heritage of Eastern Catholic Churches. The Dicastery’s practice is marked by a continuing tension between the protection of distinct traditions of these Churches and individual expectations of the faithful and clergy living in inter-ritual communities. The article demonstrates that the current canon law provisions on relations among Churches sui iuris serve not only to regulate jurisdictional and pastoral matters but also to safeguard the distinct ritual identity of those Churches and ensure the continuity of Eastern traditions in the face of globalization, Latinization, and the expansion of diaspora communities.