Can Episcopals take Communion in Catholic Churches?

[MikeB]

This reminds me of a story I heard awhile back. A friend of mine was at home waiting on the cable man to come to her house and do some repairs. When he noticed the religious objects about the house he asked her about them. After hearing that she was Catholic, he replied,“You just think that you are Catholic.” She replied that she knew she was Catholic and that the problem was that he was also Catholic and just didn’t know that he was.

You are Catholic and just don’t realize it yet. The Holy Spirit gave you the knowledge that the Eucharist was the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. Now you need to come home to the only Church that believes as you do.

 

[Anna_Elizabeth]

NewChristian27:

I have been baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Am I allowed to take Communion in a Catholic Church?

NewChristian27,

Neither you nor anyone else may “take” Communion in the Catholic Church. If you qualify you may be able to “receive” it, but no one is ever qualified to “take” it.

God Bless,

Anna

 

[Contarini]

:The Holy Spirit gave you the knowledge that the Eucharist was the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. Now you need to come home to the only Church that believes as you do.:

Well no. I was taught when becoming Episcopalian that the Eucharist was the true Body and Blood of Christ. We had Eucharistic Adoration at my parish. It’s just as laughable when you pretend to know more about what we believe than we do as when Protestants do the same thing to you.

In Christ,

Edwin

 

[boppysbud]

I cant beleive that no-one objected to the post that stated that Episcopalians give communion to dogs.

That is absolutely false, and the original source was forced to issue a retraction the very next day.

What REALLY happened was that at one Episcopal church that pets were welcomed to the altar rail to recieve a blessing, not Episcopal Communion on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. The pets were never given the bread and wine of the Episcopal Communion.

 

[WBB]

mercygate:

When an Episcopalian (or anyone else) becomes Catholic, before being admitted to the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, he must make the following profession of faith:

I believe and profess all that the Catholic Church believes and teaches.

The whole thing. Papacy, Marian doctrines, Purgatory . . . All of it. If you, as an Episcopalian cannot do that, then it stands to reason that you will not wish to receive the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. If you can make such a profession, then you need to make an honest man or woman of yourself and cross the Tiber.

Isn’t the full statement I believe and profess all that the Catholic Church believes and teaches to be revealed by God.

 

[Katholikos]

:The Holy Spirit gave you the knowledge that the Eucharist was the Real Presence of Jesus Christ. Now you need to come home to the only Church that believes as you do.:

Well no. I was taught when becoming Episcopalian that the Eucharist was the true Body and Blood of Christ. We had Eucharistic Adoration at my parish. It’s just as laughable when you pretend to know more about what we believe than we do as when Protestants do the same thing to you.

In Christ,

Edwin

Episcopal priests lack the ability to confect the Eucharist. They may go through the motions in a liturgy patterned after the Catholic Mass and teach the doctrine of the Real Presence, but it’s not the “real thing.” The real Eucharist – Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord – is to be found only in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. In those rare cases where an Episcopal priest has been validly ordained, the Sacrament would be valid but not licit.

It’s like a zircon and diamond. They look similar, but only one is genuine.

JMJ Jay

 

[Contarini]

Stop changing the subject. The claim was that Episcopalians don’t believe it’s the Body and Blood of Christ. Somehow some of you have gotten the notion that if you don’t believe we have the Real Presence we must believe it either.

I know perfectly well what you think about our Eucharist. If I don’t listen to Pope Leo XIII, why should I listen to you? But that doesn’t give you the right to tell me what I believe or what other Episcopalians believe.

In Christ,

Edwin

 

[mean_owen]

boppysbud:

I cant beleive that no-one objected to the post that stated that Episcopalians give communion to dogs.

That is absolutely false, and the original source was forced to issue a retraction the very next day.

What REALLY happened was that at one Episcopal church that pets were welcomed to the altar rail to recieve a blessing, not Episcopal Communion on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. The pets were never given the bread and wine of the Episcopal Communion.

Boppy- thanks for mentioning that. I remember both the article and the retraction. However, I couldn’t remember where the retraction was, and I figured that, for those inclined to believe such things, they wouldn’t let the truth stand in the way of their bigotry. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[mean_owen]

Contarini:

Stop changing the subject. The claim was that Episcopalians don’t believe it’s the Body and Blood of Christ. Somehow some of you have gotten the notion that if you don’t believe we have the Real Presence we must believe it either.

I know perfectly well what you think about our Eucharist. If I don’t listen to Pope Leo XIII, why should I listen to you? But that doesn’t give you the right to tell me what I believe or what other Episcopalians believe.

In Christ,

Edwin

Give 'em hell, Contarini. I’ve never attended a parish that didn’t keep reserved sacrament, practice eucharistic adoration, etc. Plus, a simple look at the liturgy should give one the clear idea that we believe that we are receiving the body and blood.

 

[mercygate]

mean_owen:

Give 'em hell, Contarini. I’ve never attended a parish that didn’t keep reserved sacrament, practice eucharistic adoration, etc. Plus, a simple look at the liturgy should give one the clear idea that we believe that we are receiving the body and blood.

When I was still Anglican, and Catholics threw Apostolicae Curae in my face, or caustically stated that Anglican Sacraments (Orders) were invalid, or told me that we didn’t have the Real Presence in the Eucharist, I used to respond:

Yes. We understand the Catholic position perfectly and are familiar with Apostolicae Curae. But you are failing to distinguish between validity and theology. The Anglican THEOLOGY of these issues is identical to the Catholic position. Whether you accept the VALIDITY of Anglican Sacraments is another matter. We hold that our orders ARE valid, and the sacramental THEOLOGY remains the same.

I found that more wholesome than sniping.

 

[Katholikos]

Contarini:

Stop changing the subject. The claim was that Episcopalians don’t believe it’s the Body and Blood of Christ. Somehow some of you have gotten the notion that if you don’t believe we have the Real Presence we must believe it either.

I know perfectly well what you think about our Eucharist. If I don’t listen to Pope Leo XIII, why should I listen to you? But that doesn’t give you the right to tell me what I believe or what other Episcopalians believe.

In Christ,

Edwin

I’m sorry you misunderstood my post.

My point was that (some) Episcopalians ***believe ***they are receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, but that in reality they are not.

Believing does not make it so.

Peace be to you and to all who post at Catholic Answers.

JMJ Jay

 

[Axion]

Actuallyy quite a few European catholic Priests will give communion to Anglicans who ask to receive when there is no Anglican church locally

 

[mean_owen]

mercygate:

When I was still Anglican, and Catholics threw Apostolicae Curae in my face, or caustically stated that Anglican Sacraments (Orders) were invalid, or told me that we didn’t have the Real Presence in the Eucharist, I used to respond:

Yes. We understand the Catholic position perfectly and are familiar with Apostolicae Curae. But you are failing to distinguish between validity and theology. The Anglican THEOLOGY of these issues is identical to the Catholic position. Whether you accept the VALIDITY of Anglican Sacraments is another matter. We hold that our orders ARE valid, and the sacramental THEOLOGY remains the same.

I found that more wholesome than sniping.

Amen. A very good reponse, IMO.

 

[Katholikos]

Axion:

Actuallyy quite a few European catholic Priests will give communion to Anglicans who ask to receive when there is no Anglican church locally

By what authority?

 

[mercygate]

Katholikos:

By what authority?

When travelling extensively in Italy, and no Anglican church was available, I used to present myself to the local parish, and sometimes (not always) the priest would generously permit me to receive the Sacrament – by the authority of charity since I could not go to my own church. I asked for this privilege only for Sunday or Holy Day Masses, and did not presume to approach a Catholic altar without permission.

 

[Katholikos]

mercygate:

When I was still Anglican, and Catholics threw Apostolicae Curae in my face, or caustically stated that Anglican Sacraments (Orders) were invalid, or told me that we didn’t have the Real Presence in the Eucharist, I used to respond:

Yes. We understand the Catholic position perfectly and are familiar with Apostolicae Curae. But you are failing to distinguish between validity and theology. The Anglican THEOLOGY of these issues is identical to the Catholic position. Whether you accept the VALIDITY of Anglican Sacraments is another matter. We hold that our orders ARE valid, and the sacramental THEOLOGY remains the same.

I found that more wholesome than sniping.

I’m sorry if my post came across as “sniping.” I was merely stating the facts for the benefit of NewChristian who begain this thread – and others who may not be aware of them.

The “Anglican theology” and “Anglican sacraments” you refer to apply only to Anglo-Catholics, a small minority of the worldwide Anglican communion.

Of course, anyone is at liberty to believe whatever they wish; but, again, believing doesn’t make it true.

JMJ Jay

 

[oat_soda]

Actuallyy quite a few European catholic Priests will give communion to Anglicans who ask to receive when there is no Anglican church locally

quite a few american priests are homosexuals and have sexually molested teenagers. even more american priests reject humane vitae. what’s your point?

 

[GKC]

Katholikos:

Of course, anyone is at liberty to believe whatever they wish; but, again, believing doesn’t make it true.

JMJ Jay

We Anglicans quite agree. And I doubt if any of us who have posted on this matter were trying to get any RCs to think like an Anglican. Merely to show you how some Anglicans think.

I never try to change any RCs mind with respect to Apostolicae Curae, though my reading on that sad subject causes me to reach other conclusions. But AC is a teaching of the RCC, and I like RCs to be faithful to such teachings.

Personal opinion.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

 

[Katholikos]

mercygate:

When travelling extensively in Italy, and no Anglican church was available, I used to present myself to the local parish, and sometimes (not always) the priest would generously permit me to receive the Sacrament – by the authority of charity since I could not go to my own church. I asked for this privilege only for Sunday or Holy Day Masses, and did not presume to approach a Catholic altar without permission.

A priest cannot licitly give anyone permission to receive Catholic Sacraments, including Holy Communion, except those authorized by the laws of the Church. The Sacraments are not the priest’s personal property to dispense as he wishes. They belong to the Church – he is merely a minister of them – and the Church has laws concerning how and to whom they are to be dispensed. A priest is required to follow the laws of the Catholic Church and makes a commitment to do so by virtue of his ordination. Your actions were sacriligious, and you caused the priest to sin as well. His was not an act of charity, but of disobedience.

JMJ Jay

 

[oat_soda]

I know perfectly well what you think about our Eucharist. If I don’t listen to Pope Leo XIII, why should I listen to you? But that doesn’t give you the right to tell me what I believe or what other Episcopalians believe.

no, but we have the obligation to spread the gospel. part of that gospel is that there is only one church endowed with the fullness of truth. only one church who calls itself catholic, and only one church that we all must enter to be saved. and that one church isn’t the episcopalian or anglican church.

we’re just trying to give you reasonable arguments so you will agree with leo the 13th and stop eating dog-food. you deserve better then that. cruxnews.com/NORNotes/nor-13aug04.html .