Baptist Communion?

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My husband attends a Baptist Church while I go to Mass. I try to support him by attending with him when I can. I feel very uncomfortable when I’m there and they pass around the bread and juice (about once a month I think) because I can’t bring myself to take it and I’ve been asked about it afterwards. I didn’t know how to answer, without giving offense, that I didn’t want to participate in a hollow echo of what I know Communion was meant to be. So I changed the subject.
I asked my priest and he said it wasn’t a sin to partake of it but wasn’t able to give much more guidance regarding if I should just participate for ecumenism’s sake or a way of sharing the truth in a loving way. He’s pretty busy so I haven’t been able to corner him and get a more thorough discussion.
My husband has said I tend to speak the truth without always balancing it with love, while he is the opposite I think, so I’m afraid to say something that might cause problems. Am I being judgemental and “holier-than-thou” about this and should just do it, or can this be a sharing moment about Church teachings? If so, in what words?
 
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I can understand your dilemma. Often we put ourselves in a place where worship is different from our own. It may not just Protestant but could be others as well, like Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism or even Paganism.

So, shall I join in or not? Would it be sacrilege and blasphemy if I do?

Sometimes I heard that we can if it is cultural but should not if it is religious. But sometimes what would be the dividing lines between the two?

In your case, I would think you should trust your conscience and conviction. I agree that you should not partake in their communion as it is not valid Sacrament.

A polite excuse, if you are asked why, would be to say, “I hope to be excused from this as I am Catholic.”

Probably that would put you in a bigger dilemma and limelight in the midst of Baptist congregation but in the long run they would know who you are and the ball is in their court whether to accept you as what you are or to see you as someone to be evangelised.

It is quite an ackward situation if they do not want to leave you alone.

God bless.
 
I moved your thread over to the Liturgy and Sacraments forum, it seemed more appropriate.

I feel bad that the people there are making you feel awkward…it is absolutely none of their business who partakes or not.

But I would strongly advise you do NOT partake. Taking communion there equals agreement with their beliefs. At least that is what I think I have heard taught by every Catholic author I’ve read or listened to.

That’s why the Catholic Church is so strict about who partakes of the Eucharist. Only people who are in complete agreement with Her teachings should be joining in Holy Communion. I’m sure you already know this.

If pressed, I think you should say what Reuben suggested. If you are harrassed and made to feel uncomfortable, I’d probably stop going. I bet your husband wouldn’t want you to feel awkward and uncomfortable. Where is he when these people are questioning you? I’m still affronted that they would even ask…that’s so impolite.

Pray for strength to resist the temptation to just give in to avoid the controversy. I’m rather surprised by your priest’s answer. I would try to make an appointment and ask for more clarity about it.
 
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Explain to them you only commune with Christ, not symbols.
 
Hi JessiL, as usual, I’m going to have to disagree with the other advice you have already received. If your priest says it’s not a sin, then go and don’t worry about it. Go ahead and partake of the bread and juice. Just consider it the same way the Baptists do: it’s a symbolic reenactment of the Last Supper; a memorial. I don’t see anything wrong with “remembering” Jesus with your Baptist friends. It’s not taking anything away from the Holy Eucharist, and it may lead others (including your husband) to the fullness of the truth in Catholicism.
 
I’ve been in your shoes on many occasions. Simply explain that as a Catholic, communion represents assent to all aspects and doctrines of faith, so without being Baptist, you do not feel comfortable partaking, as it would indicate a false allegiance.
 
I agree, that if your priest said it’s not a sin to partake in the Baptist “communion,” then it isn’t a sin. But you said it makes you feel uncomfortable, so I think you should stick to your gut and not partake if you really don’t want to.

If it was me, though, I’d probably try to have a more in-depth conversation about it with Father, assuming he knows you and your husband and the situation better than we do. Further clarity from him will probably help you make a better decision.

Then, if you do decide to partake for ecumenical reasons, you will feel more comfortable doing so.
 
Any Baptist would agree their communion is only symbolic. How it goes is up to the particular Baptist.
 
JessiL said:
My husband attends a Baptist Church while I go to Mass. I try to support him by attending with him when I can. I feel very uncomfortable when I’m there and they pass around the bread and juice (about once a month I think) because I can’t bring myself to take it and I’ve been asked about it afterwards. I didn’t know how to answer, without giving offense, that I didn’t want to participate in a hollow echo of what I know Communion was meant to be. So I changed the subject.
I asked my priest and he said it wasn’t a sin to partake of it but wasn’t able to give much more guidance regarding if I should just participate for ecumenism’s sake or a way of sharing the truth in a loving way. He’s pretty busy so I haven’t been able to corner him and get a more thorough discussion.
My husband has said I tend to speak the truth without always balancing it with love, while he is the opposite I think, so I’m afraid to say something that might cause problems. Am I being judgemental and “holier-than-thou” about this and should just do it, or can this be a sharing moment about Church teachings? If so, in what words?
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It is forbidden to receive Communion in a Baptist or any Protestant Church.
Why? They do not believe in the Real Presence and for a Catholic to participate in their Communion is an affirmation that the Baptist Church (or any Protestant Church) is correct and that Catholic teaching is false. To receive Communion in a Protestant Church would be a sin of grave matter.
 
Better to be “rude and disrespectful” in this life and enter Heaven than be “polite and respectful” and wind up in Hell.
 
When someone asks you, why don’t you just respond “I am Catholic and we aren’t allowed to receive communion at other Churches”. That is all you have to say. Of course it is offensive if you get into telling them you don’t “believe” in their communion, etc. You are in their Church. There is no need for you to dis it. If you go to a friends house for dinner and don’t like the meal, or agree with what is being served (meat, say, if you are a vegetarian) are you going to go into all the reasons it doesn’t suit you? I would certainly hope not. You just say “no thank you”. If asked why, wouldn’t you say something along the lines of “I don’t care for that, but I love the salad you made!”. Do the same thing. Point out something positive from the service that you enjoyed.
 
As a Baptist, I’ll just say that there are times I don’t take communion, b/c of sin, or lack of prayer time/church attendance, or whatever issue may be going on. It happens. Not all Baptists take it every time it’s offered. 🙂
Also, just mentioning that you aren’t allowed to partake, as a Catholic, should be fine.
And if you came to our church? I’d welcome you, pray that you were encouraged in your faith, and wish you the best!
 
JessiL said:
I can’t bring myself to take it
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That is good, because as a Catholic you cannot.
JessiL said:
I’ve been asked about it afterwards. I didn’t know how to answer, without giving offense, that I didn’t want to participate in a hollow echo of what I know Communion was meant to be
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Well you don’t have to say that. You can say many things that are not offensive. Simply “we believe different things about the Lord’s Supper”.
JessiL said:
I asked my priest and he said it wasn’t a sin to partake of it
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Well I’m not entirely sure I agree with your priest because the Church specifically instructs is not to.
JessiL said:
Am I being judgemental and “holier-than-thou” about this and should just do it
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No.
 
Please dont take it, I also reccomend that you dont do unless it causes you lots of problems like arguments with your husband etc, as they are technically heretics.
 
thistle said:
To receive Communion in a Protestant Church would be a sin of grave matter.
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poche said:
Better to be “rude and disrespectful” in this life and enter Heaven than be “polite and respectful” and wind up in Hell.
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How about kiddush in a synagogue? If a Catholic is there just socially, for the purpose of accompanying a spouse or a friend or relative – like @JessiL accompanying her Baptist husband – would it be all right to eat the bread and drink the wine that have been blessed by the rabbi, served in the synagogue hall after the end of the morning service? I don’t know what the Church teaches in either case, though I suppose it might make a difference that in a Baptist church, Holy Communion is part of the service, whereas in a synagogue the kiddush is not. It takes place in the context of a community social gathering held in a separate room, after the service is over.
 
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You might explain to your husband that, if you are being harassed in the Baptist church, you may not be able to attend there in the future.
 
ShowersofRoses said:
I’m still affronted that they would even ask…that’s so impolite.
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I think part of the reason for their behavior has to do with the difference between how Baptists and Catholics see the Eucharist/Communion.

To Catholics, it is a very serious, weekly sacrament with the two strict requirements of needing to be Catholic and not being in a state of mortal sin to partake. As a result, it’s an almost weekly occurrence to see people not receive, and there’s very good reason to believe that they absolutely do not want to talk about it.

For Baptists, it’s a monthly, seasonally, or yearly memorial that only has the requirement of being Christian, which might be limited to Protestants depending on the church. It’s a more bizarre sight, and the main reason to refrain probably isn’t embarrassing, since it means you aren’t Christian but, by nature of being there, are probably interested and looking to talk.

Basically, I think the rudeness comes down to the environment. In a Catholic church, it’s incredibly rude given the possible reason (i.e. mortal sin). In a Baptist church, it might be what the person wants.
 
Surely, there is nothing “rude” or “disrespectful” about stating Catholic belief.
 
ShowersofRoses said:
But I would strongly advise you do NOT partake. Taking communion there equals agreement with their beliefs. At least that is what I think I have heard taught by every Catholic author I’ve read or listened to.
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This is what I’ve always been taught and heard from different Catholic sources of esteem like the EWTN program Called to Communion.
 
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