I’m not sure of the context this was written under, but if EMHC’s take this litterally, we will have sacramental anarchy, as EMHC’s beging to deny communion from people who they have judged to be not well disposed, i.e. single mothers, alcoholics etc.
I don’t think there any circumstances that EHMC should deny anyone the communion. I agree this could lead to anarchy.
I guarantee you that if an EMHC denied communion without their priest’s instruction it would be their first and last time unless they had very, very good reason to. For example, not being clear whether someone is Catholic based on the way they present themselves.
One of our visiting priests from Uganda said they are very strict about not giving the Eucharist to someone who doesn’t present themselves.Look IMHO if there is no way for the EMHCs to control whom they are giving our Lord to then maybe we need to rethink the use of EMHCs. If the only thing they can do is “give” to anyone that come forward then there is no control over the communion.I guarantee you that if an EMHC denied communion without their priest’s instruction it would be their first and last time unless they had very, very good reason to. For example, not being clear whether someone is Catholic based on the way they present themselves.
There was a strange woman in our parish who when I held up Our Lord and said “the Body of Christ” didn’t say a word and looked off into space, so I didn’t place Him in her hands, until my priest said “go ahead and give it to her.” She said “Amen” afterwards. We never discussed it , but I’m assuming he knew that she was able to receive…I certainly had no idea. There are a few others who don’t say “Amen,” but I knew they were Catholics (I was there for their First Communion and/or they were elderly “regulars” in the front pews who receive on their tongues).
Our new priest had to actually make a comment to the parish reminding that we are to say “Amen.” He said “be Catholics.”
I agree with you. In fact, I agonized over accepting the request from my priest to be an EMHC, since I believe they are overused. Note in my response, I said “without their priest’s instruction” or “unless they had a very, very good reason.”
Truth of the matter is that even the Priest has almost no contro;lover who they are giving communion to.
You seem to suggest that individual believers should not think for themselves. I don't claim to be any special authority, but I have been given a brain and am quite convinced that God wants me to use it. Now, if my conscience leads me to disagree with the church I presume you think I should ignore that conscience and submit to 'churchly authority'. Fewer and fewer of us are ready to do that in 2008 AD. We have been taught to think for ourselves, and we have been influenced by the democratic spirit of America and prize our freedom of religion.
My own view is that we can disagree among ourselves and still live together, worship together, and be devoted to the one God. This notion that we must echo the position of the church is totalitarian, and I reject it. I assume you believe that Catholics who insist on thinking for themselves have no place in the church. I read the column of Fr. McBrien of Notre Dame each week and I rather think he agrees with me (or vice versa). I also find support in Commonweal and other Catholic publications. Catholic Answers seems to attract the more doctrinaire, less tolerant Catholics, Most Catholics I know think like I do. Many have lost confidence in the church altogether. They continue to attend Mass for family or cultural reasons, perhaps because of a likeable priest - or they have stopped going to mass entirely.This is true. But, in the case of politicians in their own parish, they do know who they are and they are familiar with their public stances. If they have counseled them, and they are persistent in their public sin, then the priest would be correct in denying them Communion and instructing his EMHCs to do the same.
Didn’t Wuerl make a recent statement about this that was in accord with what Burke said?
We are talking about PUBLIC representatives who have PUBLICALLY endorsed abortion. These people would have to recant PUBLICALLY.
Doesn’t bother me at all. More power to them.I’m glad to see the RCC has people with the courage to stand up for the Church’s teachings regarding the sanctity of life.
Catholics: does it bother you at all to see Protestants who are more in-line with RCC teachings than many of your fellow Catholics? Just curious.
Shame on those Catholics who don’t believe and think as Catholics.
I’m glad to see the RCC has people with the courage to stand up for the Church’s teachings regarding the sanctity of life.
Catholics: does it bother you at all to see Protestants who are more in-line with RCC teachings than many of your fellow Catholics? Just curious.
I do hope she consulted a priest on the very problematical decision.
In order to educate people you first have to get their attention. If the clergy here in the U.S. support Archbishop Burke, I think they will be able to make use of a great two x four.
Jim, personally I believe your personal experience you had as the Grandfather of a baby deemed unable to live has perhaps colored your stance on abortion. I do not judge you, only sympathize with your heartache. Sometimes decisions must be made that will leave a hole in our souls throughout our lives. I wish you and your family the best.
I know this is off the trail, but would like some answers to the following:
If one is to “think” for s/himself, then one needs to know all the facts and then make one’s mind up as to what they believe is true, or false. Not to be a smarty, but since you are Protestant, I wouldn’t think you have all the knowledge about the Catholic Church you would need to make a rational decision. All of us need to educate ourselves, not from listening to friends, reading propaganda, but from reading and listening to reliable sources. There is so much to learn about the Catholic Churchl, it takes some of the magisterium in Rome a life time to study just one issue. Those Catholics who have become wishy washy about the Catholic Church apparently have not availed themselves of all the truths about the Church.
YES he did. As did the new Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Way off topic. Please start another thread and quit trying to derail this one.
This is a reply of protestant relativism. This is not what the True Church teaches.