Confirmation, Communion, and adherence to Church teaching

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Eleve

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I am a teenage non-Catholic Christian-cum-atheist-cum-ambivalent believer who is strongly interested in joining the Catholic Church. However, I have personal moral views (for example, regarding the legality of same-sex marriage and the morality of contraception) that put me conspicuously at odds with Church teaching. Now, it is my understanding that a certain degree of acceptance of the Church’s moral teaching is expected before receiving Communion — I was most recently reminded of this when reading this post. According to this poster, I should not receive Communion while holding views such as he describes.

Therefore, I have a dilemma. I do truly desire to join the Church, and I certainly do not want anything I do or believe to be an obstacle to my confirmation. At the same time, I am extremely reluctant and perhaps even incapable of giving up these views on the authority of the Church alone. So, my question is twofold:

Firstly, can I receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Communion without accepting, at least initially, the entire teaching of the Church on matters of morality?

Secondly, what exactly are the requirements (beyond Confirmation) for a Catholic to receive Communion? Where do statements such as the one that I linked come from? Is there a particular official document that describes this issue? I browsed through the Catechism, but I couldn’t find any specific answer to this question.

Thank all in advance for your help.

P.S. While I welcome any information and explanation on the Church’s authority and the proper attitude of a Christian toward it, I would prefer that this thread not diverge to discussion of particular views that I hold.
 
in order to be confirmed one must be prepared to make a profession of faith, to accept and uphold all that the Catholic Church teaches. One must further be in a state of sanctifying grace, that is, to make sacramental confession if conscious of serious sin, and to intend what the Church intends in this sacrament, to complete one’s baptism, be more fully united with Christ and His Church, and to receiving the (name removed by moderator)ouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts. Among those gifts are wisdom, understanding and knowledge of spiritual things and of the Truth. These gifts will help you study further and reconcile your own mistaken notions with the Truth. The further gifts of fortitude, piety, counsel and fear of the Lord will strengthen you in your Christian life, in your relationship with Christ, in handling the tough questions, and in achieving true humility which comes from obedience. What seems impossible now, to understand, know and accept all that the Church teaches as true, becomes possible with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
 
Eleve said:
I am a teenage non-Catholic Christian-cum-atheist-cum-ambivalent believer who is strongly interested in joining the Catholic Church. However, I have personal moral views (for example, regarding the legality of same-sex marriage and the morality of contraception) that put me conspicuously at odds with Church teaching. Now, it is my understanding that a certain degree of acceptance of the Church’s moral teaching is expected before receiving Communion — I was most recently reminded of this when reading this post. According to this poster, I should not receive Communion while holding views such as he describes.

Therefore, I have a dilemma. I do truly desire to join the Church, and I certainly do not want anything I do or believe to be an obstacle to my confirmation. At the same time, I am extremely reluctant and perhaps even incapable of giving up these views on the authority of the Church alone. So, my question is twofold:

Firstly, can I receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Communion without accepting, at least initially, the entire teaching of the Church on matters of morality?

Secondly, what exactly are the requirements (beyond Confirmation) for a Catholic to receive Communion? Where do statements such as the one that I linked come from? Is there a particular official document that describes this issue? I browsed through the Catechism, but I couldn’t find any specific answer to this question.

Thank all in advance for your help.

P.S. While I welcome any information and explanation on the Church’s authority and the proper attitude of a Christian toward it, I would prefer that this thread not diverge to discussion of particular views that I hold.
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Briefly:
  1. No.
  2. In a state of grace (not having mortal sin on your conscience/soul), with the proper dispositions (having fasted, etc), and holding views that are within the bounds of Catholic teaching.
I personally think you are putting the cart before the horse.

I highly recommend that you find a traditional parish (or priest) ((if you need help for your area, please PM me and I can help)), and begin the process of RCIA, or ask the priest if you could start being taught the Faith, and then I think you will learn a lot more there, than you could on your own/here on the boards.

Take care, and I’ll pray for ya.
Andy
 
Eleve said:
Firstly, can I receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Communion without accepting, at least initially, the entire teaching of the Church on matters of morality?

Secondly, what exactly are the requirements (beyond Confirmation) for a Catholic to receive Communion? Where do statements such as the one that I linked come from? Is there a particular official document that describes this issue? I browsed through the Catechism, but I couldn’t find any specific answer to this question.

.
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**You need to rethink as to WHY you disagree with Church teaching and then do some research on WHY the Church holds its own positions on matters of Faith and Morals. It’s easy to say you don’t simplyh agree but usually this stems from the emotionalism involved in the issues and not from a thought-out process of understanding.

In my opinion, if you can sincerely say ‘yes’ to every - EVERY - part of the Apostle’s Creed, then I do not see a problem. But you should not receive Catholic Communion if you are not fully invested in the Catholic Church. That means receiving the sacraments with an informed conscience that what the Church teaches is the fullness of the Faith and the legitimate Truth revealed by God through the Church.**
 
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