Communion for non-Catholics in the Catholic church

[bthomas4]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

 

[ttnacath]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

I would ask why does this remain a sticking point in light of the pope’s recent action welcoming more of your faith into Catholicism.

 

[SteveVH]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

This is the most important sacrament in the Catholic Church. We believe it is the true presence of Jesus, not a symbol. Is it one of the sacraments of initiation, along with Baptism and Confirmation. This is nothing personal, although I understand how you would feel left out. If the Church allowed anyone to receive, there is a good possibility that there would be those who did not approach the sacrament with the proper disposition, especially if they felt it was only a symbol. I would suggest that you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church concerning this subject. It is out of respect for the Eucharist, not because of some prejudice against non-Catholics.

God bless you.

 

[NDfan]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

The bottom line is if you walked up to receive communion you would not be denied. Although many Catholic churches make a point of saying if you’re not Catholic please cross your arms and the Priest will say a blessing for you.

 

[SteveVH]

The bottom line is if you walked up to receive communion you would not be denied. Although many Catholic churches make a point of saying if you’re not Catholic please cross your arms and the Priest will say a blessing for you.

I would not suggest doing that. Deciet has no place in any church, especially the reception of something as important as the Eucharist.

 

[CMatt25]

The bottom line is if you walked up to receive communion you would not be denied. Although many Catholic churches make a point of saying if you’re not Catholic please cross your arms and the Priest will say a blessing for you.

Well unless you’re a Democratic politician in the US then they sometimes talk of making a fuss.

But seriously, have done it many times after missing Mass when the CC teaches I shouldn’t in that case. But I prescribe to Jn 6:37 and if after praying Lord I am not worthy to receive you but say the word and I shall be healed and I then feel healed and called, I then receive.

 

[Spencerian]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

As others have noted, to receive the Holy Eucharist is more than “receiving communion.” In fact, the name alone should indicate why non-Catholics are not permitted to receive the Eucharist–their views are not in sync, or in *communion *with the Catholic Church.

There is another important reason, too. By denying the Eucharist to those not in communion, the Church is preventing non-Catholics from committing blasphemy, as noted by St. Paul in 1 Cornithians 11:17-28. In that passage of Paul’s letter, he warns his readers that partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ without accepting its full weight would lead in disaster (in fact, in the same passage, he notes that several people who had taken the Eucharist without proper discernment were ill or even dying).

So, please do not take it personally. I would invite you to contemplate more on what the Eucharist truly means for Catholics. We do not see it as a symbol. He is there, and we would do well not to share it with those who do not yet fully understand the mystery that is transubstantiation.

 

[CMatt25]

As others have noted, to receive the Holy Eucharist is more than “receiving communion.” In fact, the name alone should indicate why non-Catholics are not permitted to receive the Eucharist–their views are not in sync, or in *communion *with the Catholic Church.

There is another important reason, too. By denying the Eucharist to those not in communion, the Church is preventing non-Catholics from committing blasphemy, as noted by St. Paul in 1 Cornithians 11:17-28. In that passage of Paul’s letter, he warns his readers that partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ without accepting its full weight would lead in disaster (in fact, in the same passage, he notes that several people who had taken the Eucharist without proper discernment were ill or even dying).

So, please do not take it personally. I would invite you to contemplate more on what the Eucharist truly means for Catholics. We do not see it as a symbol. He is there, and we would do well not to share it with those who do not yet fully understand the mystery that is transubstantiation.

Some might argue to discern the body is to believe and recognize He gave His body up for us. But that aside, Episcopalians and others do not simply believe it’s symbolic. There are non Roman Catholics who believe in a physical RP. Others in a spiritual RP. If the OP believes in a physical RP, then why do you assume she would not believe so if receiving Christ with her husband?

 

[chris_molter]

Well unless you’re a Democratic politician in the US then they sometimes talk of making a fuss.

I know you’re trying to be funny there, but you should have replaced Democratic with Pro-Abortion. After all, Rudy Giuliani was told he would be denied communion and he’s certainly no Democrat.

As to the OP, my Episcopalian mother asked me the same question (having felt rather snubbed at not being allowed to receive in Catholic churches). My explanation was that denying the Eucharist to non-Catholics is for their own protection. Receiving communion while not in a state of grace is a mortal sin. We’d be committing a terrible offense if we allowed or encouraged non-Catholics to do so.

However, on the plus side, if you’re ready to confess that you believe all that the Church teaches and come into full communion with Her, then you will be welcomed with open arms, given the opportunity to make a good confession (a wonderful experience!), and receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

 

[Jars_of_Clay_1]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

I used to be Catholic and now I’m Protestant. When I attend a Catholic church for a function of any kind and Communion is involved - I don’t go up - and I’m not offended. If anything I feel sorry for them in that I believe the Lord frowns on excluding people from communion. If I’m not welcomed in the Catholic church so be it, that’s fine. I guarantee you there are no such exclusive clubs like that in heaven because ALL ARE WELCOMED AT HIS TABLE.

 

[CMatt25]

I know you’re trying to be funny there, but you should have replaced Democratic with Pro-Abortion. After all, Rudy Giuliani was told he would be denied communion and he’s certainly no Democrat.

Yeah sometimes my humor falls short. Thanks. But pro choice not necessarily pro abortion. There is a difference. I understand Catholics sometimes have difficulty understanding the difference though and that’s another topic altogether.

But why do some bishops threaten Rudy and other politicians with denying them Communion and others don’t? Aren’t they all of one hierarchy of the same church and faith? Or are there differences among them as to what they believe should be done? Must be the latter because Rep Kennedy may be denied in RI but not in Mass. Or Rudy in one parish but not in another. And so on.

 

[jmcrae]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

The first thing you need to realize is that in the Catholic faith, Holy Communion is not a “fellowship meal” and you are not being “excluded” from some kind of private club.

We also have fellowship suppers, and you are more than welcome to attend these and to partake of the meal that is served there.

For Catholics, Holy Communion is a Sacrament of Initiation - when we say “Amen” to the Body of Christ, we are saying “Amen” (let it be so) to everything that our Church teaches us. We are partaking of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ as we do so, in order to come into complete unity with Christ and our whole Church.

Since we assume that people are Protestant because they have not yet come to agree with the whole teaching of the Catholic Church, we think it would be inappropriate for them to say “Amen” to it, in the reception of Holy Communion in our church (since it is always a really bad idea to lie to God). In addition, because it is a Sacrament of Initiation, it would be inappropriate to offer it to someone who does not intend to take up the practice of the Catholic lifestyle immediately afterwards.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

Excuse me, but weren’t you baptised Christian? Wasn’t every one of us baptised using the formula given by Christ, regardless of denomination? When I hear “baptised Catholic”, “baptised Methodist”, baptised “Baptist”, it really sounds awfull. All the Trinitarian Christian churches accept each other’s baptism with an exception of the Baptists who don’t accept infant baptism.

 

[SteveVH]

I used to be Catholic and now I’m Protestant. When I attend a Catholic church for a function of any kind and Communion is involved - I don’t go up - and I’m not offended. If anything I feel sorry for them in that I believe the Lord frowns on excluding people from communion. If I’m not welcomed in the Catholic church so be it, that’s fine. I guarantee you there are no such exclusive clubs like that in heaven because ALL ARE WELCOMED AT HIS TABLE.

All are welcomed, but not all are chosen. All are welcomed, but not all choose to enter. It is not the fault of the Catholic Church that those who have chosen not to belong to it get miffed when they are not included in its sacraments.

 

[Evan]

I don’t believe the worthiness to receive comes exclusively from believing the Communion Species are the Body and Blood of Christ, but also from believing all that the Catholic Church teaches.

Your ‘Amen’ says ‘I am in FULL communion with the Church’

Part of what the Church teaches is confession to a priest (validly ordained by a Bishop of the Catholic Church)

The Pope is the Vicar of Christ on Earth

It is rare when an Episcopalian will have been to Catholic confession and follow all the teachings of the Church.

Fr Longnecker says the different between an Anglo-catholic (what he was for many years) and a Catholic is nearly incomprehensible to an Anglo-catholic. The Anglo-catholic chooses to believe the most conservative views held by the Anglican Church and may be in accord with all the teachings of the Catholic Church.

As a Catholic he found he no longer had that option, believe it all or begone! In Anglicanism you can not believe a great deal and still be welcomed.

He said: The anglican communion has many theologies and a single form of worship. The Catholic Church has one theology and many forms of worship.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

I would ask why does this remain a sticking point in light of the pope’s recent action welcoming more of your faith into Catholicism.

I think you had better read a bit more on the subject of welcoming Anglicans into the Catholic Church.

 

[jmcrae]

All are welcomed, but not all are chosen. All are welcomed, but not all choose to enter. It is not the fault of the Catholic Church that those who have chosen not to belong to it get miffed when they are not included in its sacraments.

That’s a good point. A Catholic priest has no authority (and thus, no right) to give Holy Communion to non-Catholics. He only has authority over other Catholics.

A priest or minister who offers Holy Communion to those outside his jurisdiction is taking on a power and authority that neither God nor man has offered to him.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

I know you’re trying to be funny there, but you should have replaced Democratic with Pro-Abortion. After all, Rudy Giuliani was told he would be denied communion and he’s certainly no Democrat.

As to the OP, my Episcopalian mother asked me the same question (having felt rather snubbed at not being allowed to receive in Catholic churches). My explanation was that denying the Eucharist to non-Catholics is for their own protection. Receiving communion while not in a state of grace is a mortal sin. We’d be committing a terrible offense if we allowed or encouraged non-Catholics to do so.

However, on the plus side, if you’re ready to confess that you believe all that the Church teaches and come into full communion with Her, then you will be welcomed with open arms, given the opportunity to make a good confession (a wonderful experience!), and receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Your Episcopalian mother has an excellent point. She certainly does not see a difference between the Holy Eucharist celebrated by her priest and that celebrated by your priest. You may have questions about validity of orders, but she doesn’t. And just as you do, she goes to the altar rail having made a general confession and received a general absolution. So, from her perspective, she is going to the altar free of mortal sin.

If you wonder about this, ask yourself why the Archbishop of Canterbury celebrated mass at the Dominican Basilica of S. Sabina. See whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/search?q=rowan+williams toward the bottom of the page. It was in November 2006.

Was the Roman Catholic Church allowing the Archbishop of Canterbury to go play acting in this ancient basilica?

 

[Seatuck]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion. I have been married now to my husband for 10 years and he is Catholic and our two children are being raised Catholic. I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion. When I’ve asked my husband about this in the past, he has simply said that is just how it is.
I have considered converting, but this is my sticking point with the Catholic faith.

Comments?

You are not “in union” with the Catholic church.If and when you are then you will be able to receive communion. When you are able to stand up before the Eucharist and proclaim that you believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist found in the Catholic Church (and Orthodox obviously) and at the same time that you believe in the authority of the Catholic Church you will be in Union and should take steps to be received. We proclaim this truth by saying “amen”.

Communion is symbolic to the relationship between husband and wife. We know that Christ is the bridegroom and we the members of Catholic Church are the bride. We believe in the permanence and uniqueness and intimacy of that union. If non Catholics were able to go to communion it would be like husbands (or wives for that matter) having an illicit sexual union. That should not happen. This is why Communion is reserved for Catholics in a state of grace.

catholic.com/library/Who_Can_Receive_Communion.asp

usccb.org/dpp/Eucharist.pdf

usccb.org/liturgy/q&a/mass/communion.shtml

 

[CMatt25]

Excuse me, but weren’t you baptised Christian? Wasn’t every one of us baptised using the formula given by Christ, regardless of denomination? When I hear “baptised Catholic”, “baptised Methodist”, baptised “Baptist”, it really sounds awfull. All the Trinitarian Christian churches accept each other’s baptism with an exception of the Baptists who don’t accept infant baptism.

I do hear ya but sometimes I do find some Catholics do need to hear “baptized Catholic” in order to understand how someone is a Catholic.

Weird though to me how Catholics accept another’s Baptism performed by someone they conclude is not really one of them. They accept them but then say they are outside of the Church after accepting them, and don’t really accept them?