Anglican Communion

[NotSoStable]

Hi everyone, I have a question about Anglican Communion that I hope you can help me with.

I am Catholic, but my husband is exploring membership with the Anglican church. He has always considered himself to be non-Christian, so I’m very happy that he is opening up to Christian faith even if it is not in the Catholic Church.

I’ve been attending Sunday services at the Anglican church with him and everyone has been very welcoming, but I’m unsure about receiving communion. The Anglican priest knows I am Catholic and he has assured me that it wouldn’t be a sin, but everything I’m reading says otherwise. Then again, I am also reading that the Anglican church is now in communion with the Catholic Church…

I’m really confused and would welcome any advice you can give. We live in a rural area and the nearest Catholic Church (and priest) is quite a distance away.

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Lisa, some years back the Pope made a provision for entire Anglican/Episcopal parishes to enter the Catholic Church while keeping some of their Anglican heritage, including (a modified version of) their liturgy. The parishes that joined under this provision are called Anglican Use and are no longer Anglican but fully Catholic.

Beware, however, that many Anglicans consider themselves “catholic,” and some even use Catholic in their name (Anglican Catholic Church, etc.). Just ask if they are under the pope or not (or perhaps during the interregnum, ask whether they are “in full communion with Rome”). If not, they are Protestant, and it would be a grave sin for you to receive “communion” there. Also be aware that Anglicanism is a very broad family of denominations with radically differing beliefs.

If the parish in question is not Anglican Use, you may want to find one (follow the link above) and if one’s not near you, why not just invite your husband to the Mass you attend? Wouldn’t that simplify things anyway?

 

[NotSoStable]

Ad Orientem-

Thanks for the help. I had a suspicion about the Communion; it just didn’t feel right. I’m somewhat disappointed with the Anglican priest though, surely he would know better?

Unfortunately, my husband is not fond of the Catholic Church, although he has attended Mass with me a few times. I’ll start going to Saturday Vigil at the Catholic Church and Sunday service at the Anglican.

Thanks again!

 

[ltwin]

Ad Orientem-

Thanks for the help. I had a suspicion about the Communion; it just didn’t feel right. I’m somewhat disappointed with the Anglican priest though, surely he would know better?

Unfortunately, my husband is not fond of the Catholic Church, although he has attended Mass with me a few times. I’ll start going to Saturday Vigil at the Catholic Church and Sunday service at the Anglican.

Thanks again!

I’m not sure what Anglican church you’ve been attending. I know that the Episcopal Church in the US practices open communion for all baptized Christians (and one thing that drives conservatives crazy is that liberals want to open communion up to even the unbaptized). The Anglican priest may have been commenting on his church’s policy on communion and not the Catholic Church’s.

 

[VivienneJ]

I’m not sure what Anglican church you’ve been attending. I know that the Episcopal Church in the US practices open communion for all baptized Christians (and one thing that drives conservatives crazy is that liberals want to open communion up to even the unbaptized). The Anglican priest may have been commenting on his church’s policy on communion and not the Catholic Church’s.

Yes, I’d agree that the Anglican priest is probably commenting on what his church believes, in all fairness, he may not know the Catholic stance on receiving communion in other churches.

For example, I now know that in my days as administrator in the Anglican church I belonged to at the time I ‘helped’ two different Catholics enter into probable invalid marriages. In both cases one partner was Catholic the other was not. They met our criteria for marriage (bapitsed and had done marriage prep) so there was no reason to say no to their using our church (building and hall) for their weddings - we did not ask them to provide the paperwork from the Catholic church dispensing them to get married in a church other than the Catholic church.

 

[BernadetteM]

As a former member of TEC, I would disagree that the “Anglican/TEC” priest did not know that Catholics may not receive Communion in his church.

I believe that priests within the Anglican Communiion/TEC are well educated. Yes they now have a very open communion to all, I think even those who don’t believe that Jesus was God are welcome to receive in many of the churches, although Anglicans are so divided in their beliefs that there are others who reject open communion.

If it was a break away “Anglican group” then from my understanding many of these groups do not educate their ministers fully and that might be the reason he told you that you could recieve communion. Who knows what he believes. as far as I am concerned the Anglican Communion at this point has no one belief system. Each church is more or less free to accept whatever doctrine suits them. This means if one is more Catholic in belief they can find a parish that teaches more in line with the Catholic Church, while others hold a variety of beliefs.

As far as most of the break away groups, most are conservative and follow closely to the former teachings of the Anglican Communion.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[GKC]

As a former member of TEC, I would disagree that the “Anglican/TEC” priest did not know that Catholics may not receive Communion in his church.

I believe that priests within the Anglican Communiion/TEC are well educated. Yes they now have a very open communion to all, I think even those who don’t believe that Jesus was God are welcome to receive in many of the churches, although Anglicans are so divided in their beliefs that there are others who reject open communion.

If it was a break away “Anglican group” then from my understanding many of these groups do not educate their ministers fully and that might be the reason he told you that you could recieve communion. Who knows what he believes. as far as I am concerned the Anglican Communion at this point has no one belief system. Each church is more or less free to accept whatever doctrine suits them. This means if one is more Catholic in belief they can find a parish that teaches more in line with the Catholic Church, while others hold a variety of beliefs.

As far as most of the break away groups, most are conservative and follow closely to the former teachings of the Anglican Communion.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

I’ve never met a “breakaway” Anglican priest who didn’t know the RC teaching on receiving. But, then, I’ve not met all such priests, certainly. But equally certainly, such a priest is far less likely to espouse open communion. That’s the sort of thing that makes folks break away.

GKC