Can anyone explain this?

[Zenas]

I’ve been lurking on this forum about four years and posting occasionally. I also post on a Baptist forum similar to this. It presently has a discussion on communion and after one poster listed the practices and customs in his individual church, he said this:

On a side note, went to a funeral of a friend [edited]. They invited all non- Catholic Christians to take part in communion. ( We passed.) Anyway, we thought it was unusual.

From what I’ve learned here, this does indeed seem unusual. What might have been going on?

 

[agnes_therese]

Well, I’m not one to yell “liturgical abuse!” every 5 minutes, but that’s what it was. The rules are clear and firm; someone decided to make up their own anyway.

 

[Anathama_Sit]

I’ve been lurking on this forum about four years and posting occasionally. I also post on a Baptist forum similar to this. It presently has a discussion on communion and after one poster listed the practices and customs in his individual church, he said this: From what I’ve learned here, this does indeed seem unusual. What might have been going on?

Greetings Zenas,

I sure do dislike posting the post that is to follow but I feel that I must.

First and foremost I have been to that parish several times and I have several friends who attend that parish. I used to attend the parish at one time as well and sang in the choir. I was there a few years when a dear friend of mine was sick and I wanted to be near my friend. Never in all the times have I been there have they done what your Baptist friend claimed that they do. In fact they make it a point to tell that only Catholics can receive communion that do not have unconfessed mortal sins.

I have also been to a few funerals at that parish and the same rules apply as they do at the Masses.

That Cathedral Bascillica is traditional and holds to the Teachings and Practices of the Catholic Church. The Cathedral has never strayed from liturgical practices or from Church Teaching.

I think your friend is mistaken. IN fact I doubt your friend based on personal experiences and the testimony of my friends in that area that DO attend that parish every week, every day, and as often as they can. Besides I know the priests there as well as the Bishop. And this is something that they would not offer Non-Catholic nor encourage it.

God Bless.
Anathama Sit

 

[FightingFat]

From what I’ve learned here, this does indeed seem unusual. What might have been going on?

I’ve never heard anything like it, and would be very, very surprised if there was any truth to it!

 

[paperwight66]

Could it be a misunderstanding? Perhaps the people were invited to come forward in the line for a blessing, and this invitation was misinterpreted?

Or perhaps it was a visiting priest who was doing his own thing. It happens. In a reverse situation, I remember someone complaining that at the Westminster Cathedral Mass during the Pope’s visit, a priest took it on himself to refuse Communion to all those who presented themselves with outstretched hands for CITH, and would only give COTT.

 

[FAB]

I’ve been lurking on this forum about four years and posting occasionally. I also post on a Baptist forum similar to this. It presently has a discussion on communion and after one poster listed the practices and customs in his individual church, he said this: From what I’ve learned here, this does indeed seem unusual. What might have been going on?

I would say that your friend misunderstood the instructions. At most funerals and weddings I make a point just before distribution to will invite non catholics to come forward and recieve a blessing with arms crossed on their chest, the same for catholics not in commuion with the Church. It is a form of eceminicalism and evangelization at the same time.

 

[zab]

I would say that your friend misunderstood the instructions. At most funerals and weddings I make a point just before distribution to will invite non catholics to come forward and recieve a blessing with arms crossed on their chest, the same for catholics not in commuion with the Church. It is a form of eceminicalism and evangelization at the same time.

This would be my guess as well. However, just because a parish is known to be traditional and holds to the teachings of the Church does not mean that something as the OP described would never happen in that parish. There is also a possiblility that a visiting priest presided at the funeral and was either not clear or mistaken about something. Unfortunately that was the case at our parish when a substitute priest presided at a funeral when our pastor was out of town.

 

[jimrob]

It is most unlikely that non-Catholics would be invited to take Holy Communion in a Catholic Church. However, it is the practice at some services in the Anglican Church to invite Christians of any denomination to share in the Eucharist. It would probably be difficult for a Baptist to tell the difference - especially if it was the bells and smells variety of Anglicanism.

An English Baptist relation of mine went on retreat to what he had understood to be a Catholic monastery and was surprised to be offered Communion. It turned out to be an Anglican order.

 

[Zenas]

It is most unlikely that non-Catholics would be invited to take Holy Communion in a Catholic Church. However, it is the practice at some services in the Anglican Church to invite Christians of any denomination to share in the Eucharist. It would probably be difficult for a Baptist to tell the difference - especially if it was the bells and smells variety of Anglicanism.

An English Baptist relation of mine went on retreat to what he had understood to be a Catholic monastery and was surprised to be offered Communion. It turned out to be an Anglican order.

Thanks, jimrob, but this was a Catholic cathedral in the USA. The moderators have deleted the name (as I should have done in my original post) but there was no mistake about who they were.

Apparently mistaken idenity is more common on your side of the pond. I have some distant relatives who are Catholic and tell of attending an Anglican service in England, only to realize they were not in a Catholic church when they were so informed by the rector following the service.

 

[dconklin]

The discussion is on a Baptist forum? Were they discussing a Mass or a Protestant service. There is a big difference.