Communion at non-Catholic church

[water]

How so? It is an act of friendship.

I did point out that I still went to Catholic communion later, so there is no apparent harm or foul here.

While I am recognizing your point - it is love that you do. However, you might want to look at how this love can harm others. As others mentioned, it causes scandal; it makes people believe you don’t see the differences between the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and a bread.

I’d suggest you could talk to a priest about this. If you don’t see no harm, I don’t see the point of you creating the thread. Obvisouly, you weren’t so sure.

God bless.

 

[THurifer2]

While official Canon Law discourages it, in real life the world will not end. I have received before from a non-Catholic church and I just did not count that for my weekly obligation. It was done as a show of friendship and unity with my friends there.

That is relativism and to recieve a hunk of bread to show a sign of unity with in a religious sense is scandalous…in fact it is very scandalous…unless you do not beleive in the real presense you are NOT in unity with your friends…

The Methodist understanding is of communion isn’t even in the same ballpark as the ONE TRUE church.

 

[Toribus]

I’m sorry but canon law does not merely “discourage”. Canon law prohibits, and he who makes himself a judge over the law ceases to keep the law.

It is in absolutely no way our prerogative to interpret the law, but as the lay faithful we may only accept the presented interpretation of the law given to the church by both the legislator himself (ie the Holy Father, in his various writings) and by well disposed canonists in agreeing with him.

All of these interpretations have been unanimous in declaring that where there is a “communion service” without the real presence (ie anything outside the ancient liturgies of Rome or the East) there must be no catholic participation. These “communion services” are essentially a parody of the Sacrifice of the Mass, regardless of the intent of those performing them, and absolutely grave scandal ensues when faithful Catholics permit themselves to participate.

 

[lizaanne]

I’m sorry but canon law does not merely “discourage”. Canon law prohibits, and he who makes himself a judge over the law ceases to keep the law.

It is in absolutely no way our prerogative to interpret the law, but as the lay faithful we may only accept the presented interpretation of the law given to the church by both the legislator himself (ie the Holy Father, in his various writings) and by well disposed canonists in agreeing with him.

All of these interpretations have been unanimous in declaring that where there is a “communion service” without the real presence (ie anything outside the ancient liturgies of Rome or the East) there must be no catholic participation. These “communion services” are essentially a parody of the Sacrifice of the Mass, regardless of the intent of those performing them, and absolutely grave scandal ensues when faithful Catholics permit themselves to participate.

Outstanding post!!

~Liza

 

[Nadskar]

MAY CATHOLICS RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONIN OTHER CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES

see page 22-23

Catholics may participate in and receive Holy Communion during any Eucharistic liturgy celebrated by a Church in full communion with the Holy See, whether using the Roman rite or
one of the Eastern rites.
[Edited by Moderator]
36 Catholics should always be respectful, however, of the disciplines of other Churches concerning the sharing of Holy Communion, which may restrict the reception of Holy Communion to their own members.
[Edited by Moderator]
38 When participating as guests in worship services in other Christian communities, Catholics are encouraged to join the community in the shared responses and in the singing of hymns.39 It is not permitted for Catholics to receive communion in other Christian ecclesial communities.40 Because the celebration of the Eucharist on the Lord’s Day is of essential importance to Catholics, moreover, if participation in a non-Catholic service were to occur on a Sunday, it is important for Catholics to remember that the obligation to participate in a Catholic Mass still remains.

Acts 10 and Acts 11
Please see what God Revealed to Peter whilst in Prayer about not eating undefiled food whereby God told Him Do NOT consider anything unclean that God has Declared Clean .
this is an indication to us today that we are called to participate with other members of the Protestant Communities even if they lack the Knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith especially when they do not believe in the true Presence of the Lord in Holy Communion. The Word of God tells us that where two or more are together that God is in our Midst and so we can receive in our Heart although the Bread is not consecrated at those services but WE know in OUR HEART that HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE that nourishes our Souls. I believe we are called to be Witnesses to the Lost and to be a Light for the World whatever the capacity we have to do so even among our non believing Catholics.
I am open to comments. Thanks. Maybe this will open more discussion on the deeper mystery of the Word of God. The Lord will Honor their Faith According to the measure of their own understaning.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

Acts 10 and Acts 11
Please see what God Revealed to Peter whilst in Prayer about not eating undefiled food whereby God told Him Do NOT consider anything unclean that God has Declared Clean .
this is an indication to us today that we are called to participate with other members of the Protestant Communities even if they lack the Knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith especially when they do not believe in the true Presence of the Lord in Holy Communion. The Word of God tells us that where two or more are together that God is in our Midst and so we can receive in our Heart although the Bread is not consecrated at those services but WE know in OUR HEART that HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE that nourishes our Souls. I believe we are called to be Witnesses to the Lost and to be a Light for the World whatever the capacity we have to do so even among our non believing Catholics.
I am open to comments. Thanks. Maybe this will open more discussion on the deeper mystery of the Word of God. The Lord will Honor their Faith According to the measure of their own understaning.

Sorry…but the wonder bread and welches grape juice at our local Protestant CHurch is not the Real Presence.

If you want to go against the Church and partake in the Communion offered by Protestants or anybody else not in communion with Rome that is your issue! If you read the whole thread you will see what the Church (Catholic) has to say about the matter!

 

[Wolseley]

Would your namesake have condoned this act? If he were faithful to the Magisterium, he would have.

LOL. I don’t think any faithful Catholic would ever accuse Raymond Lucker of being faithful to the Magesterium. The man was Catholicism’s version of John Shelby Spong. And yes, he would have condoned that act.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

How so…by taking communion in a non-catholic church as a Catholic you are showing them and Catholics that their Communion is no different than ours… Why would you want anybody to think that ?? As there is a difference between them.

In inter-religious relations, this is not an automatic assumption, as they clearly state their more open policy than the Catholic policy towards inter-communion. My faith is strong enough that taking it at another non-Catholic church does not weaken it at all.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

In inter-religious relations, this is not an automatic assumption, as they clearly state their more open policy than the Catholic policy towards inter-communion. My faith is strong enough that taking it at another non-Catholic church does not weaken it at all.

And what you are doing, if you are catholic, goes against what the Church says to do!

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

I’m sorry but canon law does not merely “discourage”. Canon law prohibits, and he who makes himself a judge over the law ceases to keep the law.

It is in absolutely no way our prerogative to interpret the law, but as the lay faithful we may only accept the presented interpretation of the law given to the church by both the legislator himself (ie the Holy Father, in his various writings) and by well disposed canonists in agreeing with him.

All of these interpretations have been unanimous in declaring that where there is a “communion service” without the real presence (ie anything outside the ancient liturgies of Rome or the East) there must be no catholic participation. These “communion services” are essentially a parody of the Sacrifice of the Mass, regardless of the intent of those performing them, and absolutely grave scandal ensues when faithful Catholics permit themselves to participate.

In inter-religious relations, this is not an automatic assumption, as they clearly state their more open policy than the Catholic policy towards inter-communion. My faith is strong enough that taking it at another non-Catholic church does not weaken it at all.

Look at the post above and then tell me taking communion in another church is ok

 

[fix]

While official Canon Law discourages it, in real life the world will not end. I have received before from a non-Catholic church and I just did not count that for my weekly obligation. It was done as a show of friendship and unity with my friends there.

But, would that not be a false unity? Why not politely, and charitably, explain the importance of the issue?

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

In inter-religious relations, this is not an automatic assumption, as they clearly state their more open policy than the Catholic policy towards inter-communion. My faith is strong enough that taking it at another non-Catholic church does not weaken it at all.

And this is relevant, why
since when does the other church trump what your own church says

 

[Roy5]

COMMUNION IN A PROTESTANT CHURCH

The Catholic position is, of course, that Catholics should not take communion at a Protestant church. And Protestants are not permitted (by Catholic canon) to receive communion in a Catholic Church except under certain extreme circumstances. 

 Most mainline Protestant churches (e. g., Methodist) have open communion. Everyone is welcome. The main point is that communion is between God and the worshiper, and it's not the business of the church to get in the way, to decide who is worthy, whether the communion is valid, etc. 

 Some Protestant churches - some Baptist, for example - restrict communion to members of that particular affiliation. It varies considerably within Protestantism. But mainline churches (Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, etc.) normally invite everyone of age to receive. Some even permit very young children if the parents approve.

 

[peregrinus_sg]

Some posters here thought it was a sign of charity to receive communion from non-Catholic ecclesial communities. That is really a warped understanding of love. As St Paul reminds us, love rejoices in the truth, love does not rejoice in wrong. To receive communion from a non-Catholic ecclesial community would simply be lying about a communion that doesn’t exist. To use an analogy offered by some theologians, intercommunion without ecclesial communion would be no different from engaging in premarital sex. Just as premarital sex cheapens the dignity of both parties and the exalted meaning of sex in God’s creation, so intercommunion without ecclesial communion offends our Christian dignity to form a single Body and God’s invitation to full unity under one shepherd. Whether one thinks it is wrong or not doesn’t matter, the damage is objectively done.

The Church too is our Mother, and we also owe to her a great degree of love.

 

[benedictgal]

COMMUNION IN A PROTESTANT CHURCH

The Catholic position is, of course, that Catholics should not take communion at a Protestant church. And Protestants are not permitted (by Catholic canon) to receive communion in a Catholic Church except under certain extreme circumstances. 

 Most mainline Protestant churches (e. g., Methodist) have open communion. Everyone is welcome. ***The main point is that communion is between God and the worshiper, and it's not the business of the church to get in the way, to decide who is worthy, whether the communion is valid, etc. ***
 Some Protestant churches - some Baptist, for example - restrict communion to members of that particular affiliation. It varies considerably within Protestantism. But mainline churches (Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, etc.) normally invite everyone of age to receive. Some even permit very young children if the parents approve.

I am most curious where your source is for this article. It would help to know whether or not this comes from a bona fide Catholic authoritative source. The part that I highlighted in bold italics concerns me greatly because the author of the article seems to think that the Church is judging someone’s worthiness to receive Holy Communion (which is what the Protestant opinion is).

The Church has guidelines that the faithful must follow. It’s not a cafeteria concept. The admission into Holy Communion is something that the Church binds on her children. If the communicant is in a state of motal sin or is excommunicated, then he cannot worthily receive Holy Communion. Even St. Paul makes that monition in first Corinthinians, warning the early Church not to profane the Body and Blood of Christ by receiving unworthily.

Furthermore, no where in the article does it mention that Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Thereby, when a Catholic receives Holy Communion, he is, in fact, receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Protestants only regard communion as symbolic. Lastly, because only a validly ordained priest (Catholic or Orthodox) can confect the Sacrifice, this renders Protestant communion invalid because the Church holds that these ecclesial communities have broken Apostolic Succession.

 

[Denis_Laplante]

It is in absolutely no way our prerogative to interpret the law, but as the lay faithful we may only accept the presented interpretation of the law given to the church by both the legislator himself (ie the Holy Father, in his various writings) and by well disposed canonists in agreeing with him.

True. However, to make efforts to try to understand the position of the Church and why it is so is not bad.
But indeed communion has to do with your acceptance of the teachings of the Church you’re attending. There are a few teachings in the Protestant Churches which would indeed go against what the Catholic Church believes and teaches, and it’s enough to show a breech of unity in the doctrines. I once fell in the same trap of friendship sharing myself and did take the bread and grape juice in some Protestant Church, the last time was in 1984. An incident occured and I decided not to go to that Church any more, but it was not until I watched the program “Now that we are Catholics” with Kristine Franklin and Rosalind Moss at EWTN (around the year 1999) that I learned about the link between communion and the full acceptance of the Church’s set of dogmas and doctrines. Their presentation was very respectful, I am very grateful for it… and so I had no problem accepting what they were saying.

 

[Denis_Laplante]

In inter-religious relations, this is not an automatic assumption, as they clearly state their more open policy than the Catholic policy towards inter-communion. My faith is strong enough that taking it at another non-Catholic church does not weaken it at all.

NewUlm1976_2000, your “faith” might be strong but it might not be well informed, as those who may tell you that there was nothing wrong with what you did might not be well informed either.
If you knew not about this thing, you’d be at fault, but I don’t think you’d have sinned since a sin implies that you know what you’re doing.
I didn’t know about it when I did just like you and for the same reason. But now that I know, I won’t do that again, I am sure now… But if I decide to go anyway, knowing what I now know, it seems to me I trepass the teachings of my Church, and theirs are the teachings of Jesus the Christ Himself.
Even now, you seem not to know. Faith doesn’t mean to avoid any new knowledge ( I mean, new to us personally ), though, let it be clear!

 

[here_i_stand]

Some posters here thought it was a sign of charity to receive communion from non-Catholic ecclesial communities. That is really a warped understanding of love. As St Paul reminds us, love rejoices in the truth, love does not rejoice in wrong. To receive communion from a non-Catholic ecclesial community would simply be lying about a communion that doesn’t exist. To use an analogy offered by some theologians, intercommunion without ecclesial communion would be no different from engaging in premarital sex. Just as premarital sex cheapens the dignity of both parties and the exalted meaning of sex in God’s creation, so intercommunion without ecclesial communion offends our Christian dignity to form a single Body and God’s invitation to full unity under one shepherd. Whether one thinks it is wrong or not doesn’t matter, the damage is objectively done.

I am not Catholic, and I agree with you. At my Lutheran church, we do not allow those who haven’t been fully instructed in our beliefs to partake in the Lord’s Supper. By attending Holy Communion, we are expressing - not only our love and obedience to the Savior - but our unity in our faith. If you are communing in another church, you are basically saying you believe as they do. As I Corinthians 11:27 states: “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.” I would imagine the Catholic Church would feel that one who accepts communion with another denomination is sinning against the body and blood of our Lord…and understandably so. I would not expect to partake in the Eucharist when I go to Mass with my husband and he, by the same token would not be allowed - nor would he want - to commune at my church because we understand that, by doing so, we would be uniting ourselves to a faith we don’t necessarily hold. By the way, I want to clarify we don’t have Wonder bread and Welch’s grape juice, as one poster seemed to indicate, and we do believe in the Real Presence - just not to the point of transubstantiation. But, unfortunately, there are differences among Lutherans as far as that goes.