Can Episcopals take Communion in Catholic Churches?

[GKC]

Writer:

We are former Episcopalians who will be in Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) until the middle of next year, or so. We have been attending the Catholic Church since the summer. We accept the blessing on Sundays, but won’t take the Eucharist until we’re confirmed at Easter–out of respect to the church and its traditions. Why would you want to take communion at a church with which you are not in communion yourself?

As an aside, the Episcopal Church is offering something akin to “Women’s Eucharist” now. If you want to be ill, go the official webpage of the Episcopal Church, then go to “Women Ministries”. It has its roots in Druid beliefs, as I understand. The new motto for the Episcopal Church should be “Episcopal Church, Where to go if one doesn’t stand for anything!” Dismounting soapbox now…

There’s was a thread on the EpiscoDruids and their pagan liturgies already, but you’re too late to find that on ECUSA’s official site. It went down the Memory Hole days ago. And the 2 responsible for it, the Episcopal priest/Druid and his “priestess” wife, have written their bishop, declaring their error, expressing remorse, contrition and repentance (and purpose of amendment, I guess), and have begged forgiveness.

Congratulations on escaping from ECUSA.

GKC

traditional Anglican

 

[GKC]

Writer:

We are former Episcopalians who will be in Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) until the middle of next year, or so. We have been attending the Catholic Church since the summer. We accept the blessing on Sundays, but won’t take the Eucharist until we’re confirmed at Easter–out of respect to the church and its traditions. Why would you want to take communion at a church with which you are not in communion yourself?

As an aside, the Episcopal Church is offering something akin to “Women’s Eucharist” now. If you want to be ill, go the official webpage of the Episcopal Church, then go to “Women Ministries”. It has its roots in Druid beliefs, as I understand. The new motto for the Episcopal Church should be “Episcopal Church, Where to go if one doesn’t stand for anything!” Dismounting soapbox now…

There’s was a thread on the EpiscoDruids and their pagan liturgies already, but you’re too late to find that on ECUSA’s official site. It went down the Memory Hole days ago. And the 2 responsible for it, the Episcopal priest/Druid and his “priestess” wife, have written their bishop, declaring their error, expressing remorse, contrition and repentance (and purpose of amendment, I guess), and have begged forgiveness.

Congratulations on escaping from ECUSA.

GKC

traditional Anglican

 

[RBushlow]

katherine2:

You may be ill informed. If Anglicans are on the continent of Europe, they are under the jurisdiction of Old Catholic bishops, and Old Catholics are allowed to receive. its a sticky questions, but in such a case, the local authority has teh judgement call.

What are Old Catholics? Can you please supply some supporting information for your contention. Which diocese on the continent are under the jusisdiction of Old Catholics? Thanks for your help.

 

[GKC]

RBushlow:

What are Old Catholics? Can you please supply some supporting information for your contention. Which diocese on the continent are under the jusisdiction of Old Catholics? Thanks for your help.

I was curious about that too, not overlooking the intercommunion between the Anglicans and the Old Catholics. Still, I would think that the Diocese in Europe, with the seat in Gibraltar, would be more likely.

GKC

 

[Katholikos]

katherine2:

You may be ill informed. If Anglicans are on the continent of Europe, they are under the jurisdiction of Old Catholic bishops, and Old Catholics are allowed to receive. its a sticky questions, but in such a case, the local authority has teh judgement call.

“Old Catholics” are allowed the Eucharist in the Catholic Church in Europe? Can you provide documentation, please? There is no mention of Old Catholics in the Guidelines for the Reception of Communion published by the United States Catholic Conference, nor in Canon Law 844, paragraphs 3 and 4 governing who may receive and under what circumstances. The Code of Canon Law is applicable to the entire Roman (Latin) Rite Church, not just the U.S. Thank you.

JMJ Jay

JMJ Jay

 

[JGC]

Katholikos:

If one is not Catholic, the likelihood of obtaining a bishop’s permission to receive Holy Communion – unless one is on his deathbed – is somewhere between zip and zilch. A person must not only “have a grave and pressing need” but also “demonstrate the Catholic faith” – i.e. convince the bishop that one believes what the Church teaches (in that case, why not become a Catholic?),* and* be “unable to approach a minister of their own community.”

It is not lawful for a priest to invite those who are not Catholic to receive the Eucharist. To do so is a grave sin and should be brought immediately to the bishop’s attention.

JMJ Jay

The English and Welsh bishops do not agree with you.

catholic-ew.org.uk/resource/obob/obob03.htm

95 The Directory strongly recommends that each diocesan bishop should establish norms for judging situations of grave and pressing spiritual need when Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church may be admitted to Holy Communion and to the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. These norms should take into account any which may have been established already by the Bishops’ Conference. In the absence of norms established either by the diocesan bishop or by the Bishops’ Conference, Catholic priests are to follow those of the Directory. In order to guide Catholic pastors in our countries, our Bishops’ Conferences now establish norms on this important matter. There are two sets of norms: one concerning Christians from Eastern Churches, the other concerning Christians from Churches and ecclesial communities of the West. Catholic priests are to discern each individual case only in accord with the norms established by their diocesan bishop, or, in the absence of such diocesan norms, those which the Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland promulgate in this document, each for its own territory.

96 According to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, the doctrine that ‘common worship’ should signify the unity of the Church generally rules out sacramental sharing, but the gaining of grace may sometimes commend it

112 What might be meant by other unique occasions for joy or sorrow in the life of a family or an individual? These are situations in which there may be an objectively grave and pressing spiritual need for a person to receive Holy Communion. We give examples of such circumstances, without in any way intending to suggest categories of situations in which admission to the sacrament would be generally granted. The admission of a particular individual on one such unique occasion does not mean that another individual would necessarily be admitted in a similar situation. Requests to be admitted to Holy Communion may come from the parent of a child to be baptised during Mass, or receiving First Holy Communion or Confirmation; the parent or wife of someone being ordained;210 the intimate family of the deceased at a Funeral Mass; Christians who cannot easily approach a minister of their own community, such as those confined to an institution of some kind, although most hospitals and prisons in our countries have Anglican, Presbyterian, Church of Scotland and Free Church chaplains who minister there on a regular basis. There may be occasions when it is admission to the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick which is the most grave and pressing spiritual need, due in part to the absence of such sacramental rites in some faith communities. Each situation will be judged individually according to the norms.

ctd

 

[JGC]

113 Who is to make the decision in each case? Except when there is a danger of death, it is for the diocesan bishop or those delegated by him to judge whether there is a grave and pressing need. When an individual Christian decides, after prayer and reflection, that he or she should approach the local priest about their circumstances, the latter must also make a discernment about whether this should be brought to the local bishop or his delegate for a decision. A Catholic priest may not make such a decision himself unless duly delegated by his bishop.

114 What conditions must always be fulfilled? The Code of Canon Law lists four conditions which are re-stated in the Directory:211

• that the person be unable to approach a minister of his or her own community for the sacrament desired;

In our countries, occasions when such fellow Christians cannot physically find a minister of their own community will be rare. There may be times, however, such as in the particular circumstances or on the unique occasions exemplified above, when access to one’s own minister is impossible given the very nature of that occasion.

• that the person greatly desire to receive the sacrament, and ask to receive it of his or her own initiative;

The grave and pressing spiritual need should be something discerned by the person concerned, rather than in response to an invitation given by the Catholic priest. Priests and other Catholic ministers should issue neither general nor specific invitations to other Christians to receive Holy Communion. It is important that there be adequate time for the proper process of discernment and judgement, and for appropriate preparation for reception of the sacrament.

• that the person manifest Catholic faith in the sacrament desired; In our countries, occasions when such fellow Christians cannot physically find a minister of their own community will be rare. There may be times, however, such as in the particular circumstances or on the unique occasions exemplified above, when access to one’s own minister is impossible given the very nature of that occasion.

• that the person greatly desire to receive the sacrament, and ask to receive it of his or her own initiative;

The grave and pressing spiritual need should be something discerned by the person concerned, rather than in response to an invitation given by the Catholic priest. Priests and other Catholic ministers should issue neither general nor specific invitations to other Christians to receive Holy Communion. It is important that there be adequate time for the proper process of discernment and judgement, and for appropriate preparation for reception of the sacrament.

• that the person manifest Catholic faith in the sacrament desired;

In this document we have given an outline of the fundamental aspects of Catholic faith in the Eucharist, and to a lesser extent of Catholic faith in the sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. For a Christian who does not regularly worship at a Catholic church, being a frequent communicant at his or her own church may well indicate a love for the Eucharist. Others may regularly attend a Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, with their Catholic spouse or family for example, and this may speak loudly of a commitment to the Eucharist. It does not necessarily follow, however, that their understanding of the Eucharist and its implications is in harmony with that of the Catholic faith.

• that the person be properly disposed.

The same is asked of a Christian not in full communion with the Catholic Church as is expected of a Catholic wishing to receive the sacraments. There are Catholics who are unable to receive Holy Communion because of their being, for example, in a state of serious sin or in an irregular marital situation; the same may be true of another Christian seeking admission to Holy Communion.