Catholics receiving communion in protestant churches

[cameron_lansing]

sparkle:

Does anybody know the Pope’s official stance on this? Should Catholics take “communion” when at another church? I would like to know!!! As I have some pastor relatives, and I’m often visiting there on a Sunday, I need to know the proper thing to do. Thanks so much!

I may be reading your post incorrectly, and if so, apologize. I take it to mean you remain confused after the discussion above.

I think the responses so far have pointed out the official stance of the pope clearly, rather comprehensively, and correctly. It is found in the law the pope has promulgated and explained in the catechism he has approved.

Canon 844 §2 has been mentioned above. The point has also been explained in the references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

What was often printed in the missalettes can be viewed at usccb.org/liturgy/q%26a/mass/communion.shtml and had to do with other Christians who might be attending our Masses.

To summarize.

The eucharistic celebrations of the Eastern Orthodox Churches are valid. The eucharistic celebrations of the Protestant churches are invalid for a number of reasons.

It does not matter what the Episcopal, Presbyterian or even Methodist churches say or do not say about the issue, whether or not they assert belief in the real presence of their own eucharists. Catholics cannot receive communion in their services.

However, an individual Protestant might receive communion in the Catholic Church under the conditions of canon 844, paragraph 4.

 

[Orionthehunter]

cameron_lansing:

However, an individual Protestant might receive communion in the Catholic Church under the conditions of canon 844, paragraph 4.

To clarify what the good Deacon said above about Protestants recieving the Eucharist, I think one should read the following from the Catechism:

1401
When, in the Ordinary’s judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions.241

P.S. Holding the Catholic fath regarding these sacraments means that they believe that the Eucharist is the Real Presence of our Lord validly consecrated by His legitimate Priest. If they believe this, why aren’t they Catholic?

P.S.S. Possess the required dispositions means they have no grave sins etc. on their soul. Pretty hard to have unless they have been to Confession or the Priest had just giving them Last Rites and the Eucharist or Viaticum (Last Sacraments before one dies) but I’ll leave that to someone smarter than me to imagine the other scenarios.

 

[cameron_lansing]

Orionthehunter:

To clarify what the good Deacon said above about Protestants recieving the Eucharist, I think one should read the following from the Catechism . . …

Absolutely, and thank you for that. I thought the paragraph from canon 844 had been posted, and now realize it wasn’t. It is the source of the Catechism, so I’ll place it below.
Good points on disposition and manifestation of Catholic faith. Indeed why aren’t they Catholic? But even then, note that the law admits this only by way of exception: danger of death or other grave necessity as the diocesan bishop or conference determines it.
*
“§4. If the danger of death is present or if in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such of their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed. §5. For the cases mentioned in §§ 2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to enact general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.”*

 

[JOHNYJ]

Catholics may not take communion in any protestant church .Even in an emergency why would a Catholic want to take communion from a church that doesn’t believe as he does?
The Eastern Orthodox do believe as we do and do have Valid Sacraments. So in an Emergency receiving the last Rites including Communion from an Orthodox priest, would be the same as receiving them from a Catholic priest.

 

[cardenio]

In this case… at my relativist (I mean, um, catholic) high school, in theology class, we passed around a loaf of bread and we all tore off a piece and ate it, after being told it was bread (no indication it was anything but bread). Is this wrong?

What about Protestant churches where they say “everybody come! it’s a symbol of God, a communial sharing of bread and wine and only bread and wine.” Is receiving communion here wrong?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

cardenio:

In this case… at my relativist (I mean, um, catholic) high school, in theology class, we passed around a loaf of bread and we all tore off a piece and ate it, after being told it was bread (no indication it was anything but bread). Is this wrong?

What about Protestant churches where they say “everybody come! it’s a symbol of God, a communial sharing of bread and wine and only bread and wine.” Is receiving communion here wrong?

No Catholics cannot receive “communion” in any non-Catholic church, except Orthodox.

 

[cardenio]

Thank you. I didn’t know that. Now I do.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

I asked my priest a similar question (namely if it is OK to visit a protestant church service) and he said that while it is not wrong to merely visit, one should not do so unless they are strong in their Catholic Faith and thus know what is OK (like sitting and observing) and what is verboten (like going to protestant communion or doing anything that would make it look like you, as a Catholic, agree with a schismatical or heretical belief) and that they really shouldn’t do so regularly.

Furthemore, if I am on vacation, or out of my home area or state for any reason I just get a phonebook (or look online) for a Catholic Church where I will be visiting or staying. If a person honestly can’t find a Catholic Church, or there isn’t one available within reasonable distance to where they are, I am pretty sure they are not under the obligation to attend Mass. Certainly, regardless of the situation, a protestant service is hardly a good replacement for Holy Mass (except maybe just for the pyschological fulfillment of going to a church on Sunday).