Father Deacon Anthony Dragani, a Deacon in the Ukrainian Catholic tradition, joins Justin Hibbard to talk about the history and practices of Eastern Catholicism and specifically the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Fr. Dcn. Anthony, a professor of Religious Studies at Mount Aloysius College, specializes in Eastern Christianity and helping Western Catholics better understand Eastern Catholicism.

Watch the video interview on YouTube.

Questions & Timestamps:

* 2:15 - Where can people find you?

* 3:10 - Can you explain the title “Father Deacon?”

* 3:55 - What was your Catholic upbringing?

* 6:20 - What’s the process of changing rites?

* 9:09 - Can you provide a broad overview of Eastern Catholicism?

* 12:36 - Why are you Eastern Catholic instead of Eastern Orthodox?

* 19:14 - What draws people to Eastern Catholicism?

* 23:22 - What are some of the challenges being Eastern Catholic in a predominantly Roman Catholic Church?

* 28:49 - What are some practical ways the Roman Catholic community can embrace the Eastern Catholic community?

* 32:26 - What is the relationship like between the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches?

* 37:20 - Does the Ukrainian Catholic Church have a sister Eastern Orthodox Church?

* 47:41 - How much of the current war between Russia and Ukraine is related to ecclesiastical history?

* 52:50 - What’s the relationship with the Mother Church in Kiev since the Russian invasion?

* 55:13 - Our of the options in Eastern Catholicism, why did you choose to be Ukrainian Catholic?

* 1:00:15 - Are Eastern Catholics separated based on their ethnic roots?

* 1:03:50 - What are some of the differences between the Roman and Ukrainian Catholic liturgies?

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SHOW NOTES:

* Fr. Dcn. Anthony Dragani’s Website - East2West.org

* Orientale Lumin - Pope John Paul II

* The Other 23 Catholic Churches and Why They Exist - Ascension Press

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