How do I respnd to the Eucharist being called the death cookie?

[emom]

I recieved some Anti-catholic literature that really disturbed me but got me lossing some faith. Here are some of the accussations they made which I need understanding:

The Eurcharist is idolatry because we believe that it is Jesus.

It was derived from the Sun god of Egypt and the stamp of IHS is for Isis, Horus and Seb, the gods of Egypt. Also, Egypt celebrated their worship with unlevened bread and claimed it was their god.

They depict the Pope as being the devil. And the priests as doing evil by wanting power over the people.

Right now, I am having some trouble with my faith. Can I still be catholic and receive communion when I have two beliefs?

I want to believe that Jesus is in the Eurcharist, but I see it as a rememberance more.

I believe that we have to confess our sins but don’t need a priest to be saved. What I will do is pray to the Lord that he be present while I confess my sins to the priest. I do not believe that the priest has the power to absolve the sins.

Can I still be a Catholic and receive the Eurcharist without being in mortal sin with these beliefs? Reading thru the forum and going thru the catechism, it seems pretty strick on receiving the Eurcharist and being catholic.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear E,

It looks like you’ve been reading “Jack Chick” literature. If we believed that the bread remains only bread and we proceeded to worship it, then such action would be idolatry: the worshiping of an inanimate object. But we believe that is it the Body of Christ. So we are worshiping Him who is God. This is not idolatry.

We recognize the Eucharist as truly the Body and Blood of Christ because we have His word on it. In John 6: 55-56, Jesus says “For my flesh is real flesh and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I in him.” He said this in response to those who complained about his saying that He is the bread come down from heaven. As they continued to argue with Him, He said flatly: “If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life within you. (Jn 6:53).

Certainly, this was difficult for them to understand since Jews were forbidden to drink any kind of blood. Many of His disciples left Him because of this. BUT—He did not say, “Come back; I was only speaking symbolically!” He meant what He said. This has been the teaching of the Church from that time to the present day! See the following regarding the early Church:

catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp

That nonsense about the Sun god and the IHS is just that. See:
%between%IHS - at the Original Catholic Encyclopedia

As for priests having the power to forgive sins, see these:

catholic.com/library/Confession.asp

catholic.com/library/Forgiveness_of_Sins.asp

Having doubts is not a sin. Giving into them can be. But when doubts come, make an act of faith because you want to believe. Such an act is very pleasing to God. You are having trouble because you don’t understand your faith. You need to learn it better. Don’t give up on the most precious possession you have. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ and no other. No Protestant church can make that statement.

But you must WANT to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist in order to receive it worthily. Otherwise, you must not.

Read the information on catholic.com. You are in my prayers.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.