Communion by Non-Catholic

[JoeFreedom]

How “strong” is your mom’s Lutheranism? There are so many strains and varieties, some are anti-Papal and everything that entails, others are not so much. If she is a “confessional” Lutheran, she probably would not have approached.

She is very anti-Catholic in the sense that she does not believe the Pope to be infallible, that Mary was born without sin, that Mary was assumed into Heaven, that Mary is a mediator, the existence of Purgatory, apostolic succession, intercession of the saints, the CC as the one true faith, and that salvation is based on faith and good works. She also believes in sola scriputra and sola fide. She does not however *hate *Catholics. I am not familiar if she believes we are not Christians, or we are the whore of Babylon. Her beliefs, again, are very conservative, meaning, she leans towards Christ’s teachings with respect to life (abortion, euthanasia, suicide, etc.), marriage (between one man and one woman, etc.), sin (not living together prior to marriage or having relations, etc.) adhering to His commandments, etc.

 

[Phemie]

In a situation like that, the priest is wrong for having said it. It’s not her fault for doing something that the priest told her (wrongly) that she could do.

I suspect that a Catholic guilty of heresy who makes a point of asking the priest if she can receive because she believes in the true presence knows exactly what she’s doing.

 

[SyroMalankara]

She is very anti-Catholic in the sense that she does not believe the Pope to be infallible, that Mary was born without sin, that Mary was assumed into Heaven, that Mary is a mediator, the existence of Purgatory, apostolic succession, intercession of the saints, the CC as the one true faith, and that salvation is based on faith and good works. She also believes in sola scriputra and sola fide. She does not however *hate *Catholics. I am not familiar if she believes we are not Christians, or we are the whore of Babylon. Her beliefs, again, are very conservative, meaning, she leans towards Christ’s teachings with respect to life (abortion, euthanasia, suicide, etc.), marriage (between one man and one woman, etc.), sin (not living together prior to marriage or having relations, etc.) adhering to His commandments, etc.

She seems to be anti-confessional Lutheran as well, since Luther taught Mary’s assumption, mediation, intercession of saints, etc… not sure why she would even want to approach, but the priest gave her bad information. The fault is his.

 

[uuspare]

I’m new here, and saw this thread and it resonated with me. As a baptized Christian person who didn’t grow up in the Catholic church and has not had the sacrament of confirmation, I have to be honest … I have often been frustrated that I couldn’t receive Eucharist among Catholics especially since I do believe in the Real Presence.
I feel I basically am Catholic in terms of belief since I am a Christian, hold to the Real Presence, believe the same on the essentials (professing the Nicene Creed) and so forth. I don’t like calling myself a protestant because I really don’t ‘protest’ at all.

It seems that in recent years the Catholic Church has become more open to other denominations taking the Eucharist and their priests leading their dioceses–Anglicans and more lately a signal of openness to some Lutherans.

I really hope this trend continues as I want to be in unity with ALL Christians of orthodoxy, and therefore be able to take communion in an Anglican church, Catholic Church, etc.

This is just the way I see it at this time, I could be wrong, and I mean no disrespect whatsoever.

 

[otjm]

And while we are all parsing this matter out, we can recall that at John Paul 2nd’s funeral, Cardinal Ratzinger gave Communion to an individual he knew well, who was not Catholic.

 

[Rosebud77]

And while we are all parsing this matter out, we can recall that at John Paul 2nd’s funeral, Cardinal Ratzinger gave Communion to an individual he knew well, who was not Catholic.

As did Pope John Paul to the Lutheran founder of Taize, and Padre Pio many times to non Catholics and even non Christians.

And I thank God for that . And do not think anyone here should be criticising priests who decide these things.

When I first came to Ireland, as an Anglican , I was warmly welcomed by every priest I spoke with at mass and for communion. The words used over and again were, re my being Anglican “It does not matter” I was at that time living as a solitary in private vows. Far from any Anglican church.

 

[Herculees]

I can almost understand if you believe in the real presence being able to receive but what about Confession before receiving…? Do non-Catholics get a pass?

Confession is ONLY required IF in MORTAL SIN! Confession of venial sins are NEVER required though encouraged to be confessed.

 

[uuspare]

As did Pope John Paul to the Lutheran founder of Taize, and Padre Pio many times to non Catholics and even non Christians.

And I thank God for that . And do not think anyone here should be criticising priests who decide these things.

When I first came to Ireland, as an Anglican , I was warmly welcomed by every priest I spoke with at mass and for communion. The words used over and again were, re my being Anglican “It does not matter” I was at that time living as a solitary in private vows. Far from any Anglican church.

There is a protestant Christian friend of mine that goes to an African country every year for mission work. The country has a large population of coptic Orthodox, but very, very few Catholics. It also has a lot of Muslims. Being a very ecumenical type, he went to the Catholic church and the priest there was more than happy to give him Eucharist, because Catholicism is so rare there and Catholics are so hard to come by, that the priests have to put aside this idea of exclusivity when people hold to Real Presence and are correct in the their beliefs (on the essentials). In a culture and situation like that, an evangelical who professes the Nicene Creed and believes in the Real Presence pretty much IS considered Catholic simply in that they are so close to Latin rite. Things tend to take on a whole different perspective in areas of persecution or where Catholicism is nearly non-existent, and sectarianism tends to become less relevant and more non-existent.

 

[Blessedwithfive]

Confession is ONLY required IF in MORTAL SIN! Confession of venial sins are NEVER required though encouraged to be confessed.

According to Canon Law,kids MUST go to confession before receiving Communion for the first time…1

457 According to the Church’s command, "after having attained the age of discretion, each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year."56 Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.57 Children must go to the sacrament of Penance before receiving Holy Communion for the first time.58

 

[Rosebud77]

There is a protestant Christian friend of mine that goes to an African country every year for mission work. The country has a large population of coptic Orthodox, but very, very few Catholics. It also has a lot of Muslims. Being a very ecumenical type, he went to the Catholic church and the priest there was more than happy to give him Eucharist, because Catholicism is so rare there and Catholics are so hard to come by, that the priests have to put aside this idea of exclusivity when people hold to Real Presence and are correct in the their beliefs (on the essentials). In a culture and situation like that, an evangelical who professes the Nicene Creed and believes in the Real Presence pretty much IS considered Catholic simply in that they are so close to Latin rite. Things tend to take on a whole different perspective in areas of persecution or where Catholicism is nearly non-existent, and sectarianism tends to become less relevant and more non-existent.

Thank you. Fascinating and yes right at the deepest level of that word. I was welcomed into the very heart of that rural community, my way of life as a vowed Solitary even though in a different tradition was honoured and respected.

 

[John_Yurich_USA]

During my Aunt’s Funeral Mass in 1993 my other Aunt who was raised Catholic but became Lutheran when she married a Lutheran went forward along with my Lutheran Uncle to receive Holy Communion.

 

[Phemie]

During my Aunt’s Funeral Mass in 1993 my other Aunt who was raised Catholic but became Lutheran when she married a Lutheran went forward along with my Lutheran Uncle to receive Holy Communion.

So what? At my father’s funeral my gay brother’s Jewish partner received Communion because the priest didn’t give us a chance to go up to receive, he came down and gave Communion to the three of us in the front pew. My brother smirked knowing I was probably having a stroke at the occurrence.