Fr. Z: Am I obliged to receive communion?

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Elizabeth I am not interested in arguing from personal pastoral experience and training in the areas you mention because the need to ask the question suggests the questioner may not have the skills needed to recognise this from the way a person argues their position.

It is either clear in one’s reasoning, use of the sources, linking of different areas of theology and apposite quoting of authorities…or it is not.

Most here I suggest can tell when an issue needs the use of Mathematics rather than Arithmetic to be solved. I get it that Arithmeticians get frustrated by Mathematical problems. The answer I suggest is to learn Maths rather than resent Mathematicians…even poor ones.
 
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You are not alone in that feeling 🙂
Hopefully it saves us from rushing in where even the experts fear to tread.
Which seems to be the case for this very subtle topic.
 
Yes that is a fair assessment of my understanding - which I believe is exactly what JPII meant by conflating mortal sin with grave sin - which both the CCC and the new Code also do.
 
Elizabeth I am not interested in arguing from personal pastoral experience and training in the areas you mention because the need to ask the question suggests the questioner may not have the skills needed to recognise this from the way a person argues their position.
My asking the question as to your credentials is valid and it arises from the recognition that I don’t have theological training. However, due to that recognition I will seek out those who are trained for explanation of certain questions. @acanonlawyer (Dan) answered my questions and affirmed the understanding I already had of what the CCC is teaching.

Further, the sources I’ve linked to that refute what you are saying are from sources in which the person is not just some anonymous person claiming some vague “theological training,” rather they have their identities and reputations on the line.

When I site persons like Jim Blackburn (from the Catholic Answers site), who has a Master’s in Theology, or Cathy Caridi, who is a canon lawyer, or Fr. James Hardon’s Catholic Dictionary that contradict your definition of things, you reject their expertise and expect those who are debating the topic with you take your word for it . You are just an anonymous person on a forum who can claim anything that may or may not be true for all I know.

From the above sources and numerous others I’ve consulted, it’s pretty clear that when the CCC says “serious sins” it is the same as “grave sin” in canon law which is understood to be grave matter with full knowledge and consent. (ie mortal sin). That is what we are obligated to confess at least once a year. The obligation is the minimum the Church asks of us. The Church strongly encourages us, however, to confess all sins mortal and venial frequently for our own spiritual growth in holiness, which I and many other’s here also take seriously.

If you understand things differently, that’s great. Thank you. You’ve presented your views clearly. I just don’t happen to agree with them and am satisfied with the information given from the sources I’ve consulted.
 
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