Communion for non-Catholics in the Catholic church

[Celtic_Catholic]

*Tweetymom, I think Christ, Himself, would say just that - all believers are welcome to sit at the Dinner table. As a matter of fact, Christ even welcomed non-believers and was condemned for doing so.

Much respect to everyone participating on this thread. I mean no disrespect whatsoever. I feel love and acceptance for all Christians regardless of their denomination. Catholics, Lutherans, Methodist, Baptists, etc. are all one with Christ. *

It most certainly will be.

 

[CMatt25]

Jars,
same thing happened to me in the the 50’s. My parent’s( Catholic )divorced when I was 4 years old, so I never had my first communion until I was 11 and my dear grandmother moved heaven and earth to get me accepted into the cat. class. There I was made fun of by the nuns because I was 11, and that my parents were divorced. Nothing was explained to me, just do this and do that. Nuns were very mean and I had my hands slapped with a ruler if I asked questions that I did not understand. I cried everyday and only stayed to please :my dear grandmother and never told her what was happening. I had my first confession and communion and really did not understand what anything meant, and didn’t until I joined a Protestant Bible Study at age 38. I now go to CC because my husband is a Catholic, and I take Communion. However I am more comfortable in my old Church. But I can still worship God whereever I am. God Bless you Jars.

tweetymom, your grandmother must have had some pull. Seriously it’s kinda sad you had to learn about these things from your Bible study later and not at the time. But at least God was there for you. I think you’re right. God is everywhere.

 

[tweetymom]

tweetymom, your grandmother must have had some pull. Seriously it’s kinda sad you had to learn about these things from your Bible study later and not at the time. But at least God was there for you. I think you’re right. God is everywhere.

She was a Mexican lady so maybe she had pull from the Mexican Priest?

 

[CMatt25]

I find it amazing that people who won’t accept what the Catholic Church teaches actaully want to participate in one of Her Sacraments. Or is it that your embarrassed that everyone else is receiving and you aren’t. If that’s the case it seems to be more of a problem with your pride than Catholic Church rules. Now that’s shameful!

Hi Pete, maybe it’s because they believe God is there even though they do not accept all teachings.

 

[tweetymom]

Hi Pete, maybe it’s because they believe God is there even though they do not accept all teachings.

Amen Matt.

 

[kh41507]

from merrian-wesbter- denomination: a religious organization whose congregations are united in their adherence to its beliefs and practices

This is not to offend anyone, simply the context in which I was using the word denomination. I saw someone offended at my use of the word describing the catholic church. If that definition does not fit the catholic church, then what I have read on this forum is wrong.

 

[Celtic_Catholic]

A lot of people have gleaned Truth from the Bible. A lot of them disagree with each other. Who is right?

*You’re always going to have differing views. You could ask 10 priests 1 question and get 10 different answers. I’ve done it before. So it’s not just other denominations who disagree. We, within the Catholic Church, disagree as well.

That’s exactly why a PERSONAL relationship with Christ (one on one - you and Him) is so important. Then you won’t obsess over who is right and who is wrong, this rule and that rule, this interpretation and that one, etc. etc. etc. You will focus on HIM and Him alone and living how He wants you to live to find peace on earth and paradise for eternity. It’s that simple! *

 

[CMatt25]

Don’t you mean your truth of the Bible, because that is what it is. What you have gleaned as truth from the Bible, as it is for everyone else.

Pete, when you get right down to it, I think that is what it is for everyone. I like calling it faith. Peace! .

 

[CMatt25]

*Perhaps we over analyze things and make too many rules. Maybe things don’t need to be so intricate and difficult. Too many rules and worry will occupy your mind to an extent that takes away from your relationship with Christ. How could anyone get close to Him if they’re overly concerned about following every single rule of authority? What’s the priority here? The priority, for all of us as Christians, is to have a solid, sound, real personal relationship with Christ. If we do this, FIRST and FOREMOST, everything else will fall into place. We will reduce sin. We would be more accepting. We would view things clearly. With everything “falling into place”, we would be able to see that all Christians are welcome **wherever ***Christ is.

CC, what a beautiful post!

Wow I just noticed I’ve graduated from trial to new member!

 

[Celtic_Catholic]

CC, what a beautiful post!

*Thank you so much.

P.S. Congrats on your “new member” status! *

 

[tweetymom]

*You’re always going to have differing views. You could ask 10 priests 1 question and get 10 different answers. I’ve done it before. So it’s not just other denominations who disagree. We, within the Catholic Church, disagree as well.

That’s exactly why a PERSONAL relationship with Christ (one on one - you and Him) is so important. Then you won’t obsess over who is right and who is wrong, this rule and that rule, this interpretation and that one, etc. etc. etc. You will focus on HIM and Him alone and living how He wants you to live to find peace on earth and paradise for eternity. It’s that simple! *

Apersonal relationship with Christ is so right on. It is so simple is the reason most people pooh hooh it.

 

[tweetymom]

Pete, when you get right down to it, I think that is what it is for everyone. I like calling it faith. Peace! .

Faith cometh by hearing the word of God and Congradulations on your upgrade. God Bless

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Who ‘pooh poohs’ a personal relationship with Christ? Certainly not Catholics. Our relationship with Him is so personal that we receive Him, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Eucharist. . . in which all are invited to share. Of course, just as in the parable of the king who called people in from the **streets **to the wedding banquet. . .if you’re a guest without the ‘wedding garment’, then despite having been ‘invited’, you’ll still wind up ‘on the outside’.

IOW, God Himself has made the ‘rules’ for the reception of His Son. Rather than try to force a false ecumenism of 'warm fuzzy feelings" in which we put ourselves as ‘above’ God by making Him conform to our limited human demands for ‘inclusion’, we should be humbling ourselves, and being obedient to Him. Which we Catholics are doing when it comes to the Eucharist.

Come on, brothers and sisters! Do you think that we Catholics get all jolly about 'this situation? That we feel ‘superior’? Certainly many of the posts seem to portray Catholics as mean, nasty, domineering, unjust and nasty. . . a judgmental attitude indeed coming from those who purport to ‘judge not’. . .

Christ told us the world would hate us for following Him. Now, I’m not saying that this is a ‘proof’ of the innate truth of the Catholic Church, because heaven knows people are hated for all **sorts of things. . . **but think about this.

How many people hate nonCatholic Christians just for being “Christian?”
Do Lutherans hate Baptists?
Methodists hate Unitarians?
Quakers hate Seventh Day Adventists?
Non denoms hate other nondenoms?

Heck, do you Protestants even put upon the **ORTHODOX, who share the same ‘closed communion’ practice that Catholics do, the same reactions you have shared with us?

WHY NOT?
**

 

[wmscott]

Yes, I to typed shameful as an opinion, without immediately realizing the negative connotation that often goes with the word, and should have chosen more carefully. When I reread my post, I realized the way that that post read would probably come off much more negative than I intended, and felt I should apologize. I understand the argument of the catechism, while I simply disagree with the catholic churches assessment that all Christians that are not a member of that specific church do not understand what it means to take communion. I am a big believer in personal responsibility. If one is taking communion without understanding the biblical significance and instructions of it, he either does so in ignorance, which Jesus says is forgiveable, or does so in mallice, for which he will be judged. By not inviting other christians to take communion in the church, it seems to others at times to be a condemnation that all others do not understand the significance of communion, which I believe can be possible whether catholic or not. I have known many church going catholics, as well as protestants, who have VERY little understanding of biblical principles and teachings of Christ, so I therefore do not beleive that only those outside of the church may not fully understand the significane of the eucharist.

Hi kh41507, Peace of Christ be with you. I am gladden that you are not of the type of “Christian” that I had alluded too. If you had been, this would have turned into a a real finger pointing match. I am glad it did not take this direction, but instead you reevaluated your posts and the language within. In turn I apologize to you for my strong language. I can see that you are a loving Christian and one who is willing to see other viewpoints. I agree that you or anyone else has a right to believe the way you choose and disagree with the Catholic Church. I would only ask one thing of you. In the future, you may come in contact with someone who will be spewing anti-Catholic falsehoods. Please fall on the side of truth (regardless if it is your belief or personal view) with regards to what Catholics believe and put to rest lies regarding the Catholic faith. I am not asking you to defend the Catholic Church or to be a Catholic apologist. Simply defend what the truth is.

 

[tweetymom]

Who ‘pooh poohs’ a personal relationship with Christ? Certainly not Catholics. Our relationship with Him is so personal that we receive Him, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, in the Eucharist. . . in which all are invited to share. Of course, just as in the parable of the king who called people in from the **streets **to the wedding banquet. . .if you’re a guest without the ‘wedding garment’, then despite having been ‘invited’, you’ll still wind up ‘on the outside’.

IOW, God Himself has made the ‘rules’ for the reception of His Son. Rather than try to force a false ecumenism of 'warm fuzzy feelings" in which we put ourselves as ‘above’ God by making Him conform to our limited human demands for ‘inclusion’, we should be humbling ourselves, and being obedient to Him. Which we Catholics are doing when it comes to the Eucharist.

Come on, brothers and sisters! Do you think that we Catholics get all jolly about 'this situation? That we feel ‘superior’? Certainly many of the posts seem to portray Catholics as mean, nasty, domineering, unjust and nasty. . . a judgmental attitude indeed coming from those who purport to ‘judge not’. . .

Christ told us the world would hate us for following Him. Now, I’m not saying that this is a ‘proof’ of the innate truth of the Catholic Church, because heaven knows people are hated for all **sorts of things. . . **but think about this.

How many people hate nonCatholic Christians just for being “Christian?”
Do Lutherans hate Baptists?
Methodists hate Unitarians?
Quakers hate Seventh Day Adventists?
Non denoms hate other nondenoms?

Heck, do you Protestants even put upon the **ORTHODOX, who share the same ‘closed communion’ practice that Catholics do, the same reactions you have shared with us?

WHY NOT?
**

You know what I do not hate anyone nor theier belief in Jesus. I love everyone and truly mean it from the bottom of my heart.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I just started another thread regarding the topic of Orthodox communion seldom if ever being even mentioned while Catholic communion gets roundly condemned as ‘elitist’. . .so anybody is welcome to check it out. I’m hoping that the more people hear that it is not ‘just’ Catholic practice to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the way that they do–that a Christian community equally as venerable has the same ‘regard’ toward the Scriptural notation of reception of the Body and Blood unworthily–that it might make it easier to accept that Catholic practice of the sacrament is not meant as a punishment or a denial for people but truly as the word of God.

 

[Carlan]

YES man made rules that are not in the Bible,most of them at least.

I am not a debater, granted, however as a Catholic roaming the CA forums I am committed and bound to defending the faith. The Truth, taught by the Magisterium, even if I do use only one liners , we defend our faith as handed on down to us from the very beginning, as best we can.
You Tweety, while still claiming to be a practicing Catholic in good standing and involved in RCIA have yet to post, in any thread, a defense of the faith.
You appear to most Catholics here at CA to be an advocate and defender of dissidents and the Christian brothers who are part of the separated flock. I am very confused as to your reasons for participating in these forums. You most certainly have a right to , but why??? Carlan

 

[Jean_1958]

I was baptised Episcopalian. In this faith, all baptised Christians are welcomed to accept communion.

But that’s the way it is in that faith. The Episcopalians decided they were going to open communion to all and that what is they did. They could have made it a closed communion, but chose not to for whatever reasons.

I am offended that Catholics do not “allow” non-Catholics that are baptised to receive communion.

When my daughter went on her senior class trip to Washington D.C in the spring of 1995 (she was attending a Baptist school at that time [long story]), she and the others attended a Baptist church in Bailey’s Crossroads, VA. Even though the pastor at that church knew the princpal of her school and his wife and were good friernds with them, the Abernathys, my daughter, and her fellow classmates were asked to refrain from accepting communion during the service because the pastor of the Bailey’s Crossroads church could not be 100% sure everyone, especially the students, was in agreement with how they believed. Was my daughter offended? No. She understood that because all beliefs systems are different and the pastor of that church could not discern whether or not she believed similarly, she was okay with it. Besides, as a Catholic, she knew she should not be taking communion in a Baptist church for that very reason.

Communions in many cases are closed simply because they do not want people who believe differently to “taint” their experience.

 

[tweetymom]

I am not a debater, granted, however as a Catholic roaming the CA forums I am committed and bound to defending the faith. The Truth, taught by the Magisterium, even if I do use only one liners , we defend our faith as handed on down to us from the very beginning, as best we can.
You Tweety, while still claiming to be a practicing Catholic in good standing and involved in RCIA have yet to post, in any thread, a defense of the faith.
You appear to most Catholics here at CA to be an advocate and defender of dissidents and the Christian brothers who are part of the separated flock. I am very confused as to your reasons for participating in these forums. You most certainly have a right to , but why??? Carlan

You confuse me too.

 

[tweetymom]

But that’s the way it is in that faith. The Episcopalians decided they were going to open communion to all and that is they did.

They could have made it a closed communion, but chose not to for whatever reasons.

When my daughter went on her senior class trip to Washington D.C in the spring of 1995 (she was attending a Baptist school at that time [long story]), she and the others attended a Baptist church in Bailey’s Crossroads, VA. Even though the pastor at that church knew the princpal of her school and his wife and were good friernds with them, the Abernathys, my daughter, and her fellow classmates were asked to refrain from accepting communion during the service because the pastir of the Bailey’s Crossroads church they were attending could not be 100% sure everyone, especially the students, was in agreement with how they believed. Was my daughter offended? No. She understood that because all beliefs systems are different and the pastor of that church could not discern whether or not she believed similarly, she was okay with it. Besides, as a Catholic, she knew she should not be taking communion in a Baptist church for that very reason.

Communions in many cases are closed simply because they do not want people who believe differently to “taint” their experience.

I have been to many churches of all kinds in my lifetime and never been refused Communion. That includes all faiths.