I know someone who disregards some Catholic Teaching but still receives Holy Communio

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If someone disagrees with teacings of the church, for example, they believe there is nothing wrong with themselves, a Catholic, receiving communion from other Christian denominations, does that mean they can disregard it and therefore go and receive communion from other denominations, and still receive holy communion from Mass??

I understand that some people question Papal Encyclicals but even then if you are to be a Catholic shouldn’t you still have to follow the points of an Encyclical and adhere to them??

A ‘Catholic’ that I know seems to disagree with many points of teaching from the Catholic church and claims that if he disagrees with something, he will not adhere to it. However, this individual still receives Communion during Holy Mass and I have confronted him already only to be on the receiving end of abuse from a ‘nun’ and other supposed Catholics. Please help clear this up for me!
 
Is this a person that you have some responsibility for, ie a sponsor of them, parent, aunt/uncle, spiritual director?

My own policy is that it is none of my business to tell people if they can or cannot go to communion, for i have no authority over them in that regard.

If it were someone that i had a spiritual responsibility for, i would talk to them, but ultimately, the decision is theirs.

I believe that the standing order in most diocese is that extraordinary ministers are to give communion to anyone who presents themselves for it. The discernment of who is worthy and who is not worthy is not ours.

We can remind them of the teaching of the Church, but when it comes down to it, we have enough responsibility making sure that we ourselves are in a position worthy to receive.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Most people I know disregard some of the Chruch’s teachings and still receive communion. I really can’t bring myself to say a thing. I think I will leave it up to God. After all who am I go judge. Don’t you think the priests are totally aware. Afterall they are the ones that know how many people are confessing that they have missed mass, etc.
 
Well your friends not the only one, I’ve heard as few as 30% of American Catholics believe in the ‘Real Presence’ of Christ in the Eucharist. And no way 70% of the Church isn’t recieving communion.
 
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Dan-Man916:
Is this a person that you have some responsibility for, ie a sponsor of them, parent, aunt/uncle, spiritual director?

I believe that the standing order in most diocese is that extraordinary ministers are to give communion to anyone who presents themselves for it. The discernment of who is worthy and who is not worthy is not ours.

We can remind them of the teaching of the Church, but when it comes down to it, we have enough responsibility making sure that we ourselves are in a position worthy to receive.
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Thanks for that quick reply 👍

All I was thinking about was Pope John Paul II’s encyclical (April 2003) Click Here for Link where he mentions in Para 44 and 45 that Holy Communion can not be received from churches not in full communion with Rome. I actually asked Fr Vince about this and he replied here saying there can be no interdenominational communion. All I’ve been doing is going by what official church teaching is and what I thought was being a good Catholic by informing this guy (a fellow student but president of the catholic society) that he wasn’t supposed to receive communion from the other “ecumenical” service run by the other christian faiths.

What would you do in this situation?? I feel I can’t just sit back and watch him break the rules of the church while he thinks he is right and knows better than Pope John Paul II. :rolleyes:
 
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spaceage:
Thanks for that quick reply 👍

What would you do in this situation?? I feel I can’t just sit back and watch him break the rules of the church while he thinks he is right and knows better than Pope John Paul II. :rolleyes:
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Well, one way to look at it is this way – would I want someone to tell me if I were doing something wrong? If he’s acting in genuine ignorance, and you can explain why the Church forbids communion in non-Catholic Churches, it shouldn’t be a problem – he should be thankful. If he’s doing this deliberately, knowing what the Church teaches, that’s another matter. Perhaps you can ask him why he believes it’s okay to disregard Church teaching and ask him if he knows *why *the Church forbids it. Pray much before you approach him – God has to go before you and prepare his heart. Ask God for wisdom and charity. Make sure your motive is love.
 
I have to respectfully disagree with most posters here. We are bound by the responsibilities of our Confirmation to provide fraternal correction when we see error.
Would you stand by and watch a three-year-old play with a can of gasoline and a lighter because you didn’t want to be “judgemental?” Of course not.
It is charity, not judgementalism, if we correct someone we know to be in the state of mortal sin (cohabiting, cointracepting, etc) and receiving the Blessed Sacrament. And we don’t have to lecture. Simply inform the person of the particular doctrine of the Church or refer him to the pertinent paragraph(s) in the Catechism.
If the person chooses to ignore the information you gave them, then it’s their problem alone. You’ve fulfilled your responsibility. Take a look at Ezekiel 3 and 33.
 
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Strider:
I have to respectfully disagree with most posters here. We are bound by the responsibilities of our Confirmation to provide fraternal correction when we see error.
Would you stand by and watch a three-year-old play with a can of gasoline and a lighter because you didn’t want to be “judgemental?” Of course not.
It is charity, not judgementalism, if we correct someone we know to be in the state of mortal sin (cohabiting, cointracepting, etc) and receiving the Blessed Sacrament. And we don’t have to lecture. Simply inform the person of the particular doctrine of the Church or refer him to the pertinent paragraph(s) in the Catechism.
If the person chooses to ignore the information you gave them, then it’s their problem alone. You’ve fulfilled your responsibility. Take a look at Ezekiel 3 and 33.
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I agree, this “tolerance” is a result of the relativism that we have been imbued with by our culture. if you really love your neighbor you will explain to them, albeit gently and charitably, that what they are doing is not right.
 
My experience is that most Catholics are ignorant of the doctrine that teaches the infallibility of the churchs’ teachings on faith and morals.

We live in a democracy and many cathiolics are not aware of the fact that the church is not a democracy. Simply put most catholics feel they have the right to disagree. Which of course further implies they believe they can be right on some issue of faith and/or morals and the church incorrect. Which of course further implies that the church must not be guided by the Holy Spirit in these matters.

This must be the case otherwise a person who does understand this doctrine and still disagrees is deliberatly disagreeing with God. Which is utter foolishness.

It’s a matter of ignorance.
 
This is one thing that really annoys me as a convert. I’m looking forward to reading what people have to say about this.
 
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Mijoy2:
My experience is that most Catholics are ignorant of the doctrine that teaches the infallibility of the churchs’ teachings on faith and morals.
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If I thought that my friends and family that ignore Catholic teaching were indeed ignorant of Catholic doctrine, then I would say something. However, my family and friends went to a minimum of 12 yrs. of Catholic education and I know they know. We all were taught for years about Catholic catechism. I have heard them say they no longer accept these truths. We have had discussions, and I kind of know they aren’t going to discuss this with me nicely.

I might be a coward, but I don’t like fighting at family parties. My siblings would be outraged if I reminded them that going to Communion meant staying in a state of grace, etc. I did attempt to talk to a dear friend about passing along Jeff Cavins book when I was done reading it. That alone made her very angry at me, and insulted that I “dare” consider she needed to be reminded of Catholic teaching. Go figure, I never passed along the book and I don’t discuss returning home to the Catholic church with her.

I have to think that I may be doing at least something by example. I pray that I am.
 
valient Lucy:
This is one thing that really annoys me as a convert. I’m looking forward to reading what people have to say about this.
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Lucy I find converts so much more respectful of Catholic doctrine as a rule. However I do have some cradle Catholic friends also that are faithful to the teachings. I guess we have many sinners amongst us.

Just to be fair, I have Protestant friends that aren’t living up to their Christian status either. The difference is- they feel entitled from the get go to be that way. I don’t udnerstand that mentality either.
 
I am a revert. I have a hard time with all that is now considered acceptable by others about the faith when none of it is true. I know from my learning that when we receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament without being in sanctifying grace we just bring more problems on to ourselves. I teach CCD class and I spend more of my time attempting to “show” the children that our Lord is there in the Euchrist and how important all of our faith is for life, but it isn’t important because 1 or 2 of them are the only ones learning anything at home.
People are more than willing to just let this beautiful gift that the Lord has given us be nothing but time consuming. I am sure our Lord weeps.
I do correct when I see things that are wrong all though no one really cares.
 
I think at some point we need to reference the parabale about the wheat and the tares. We need better chatechesis, we need more assertive homilies, and after that, if God is content to let the wheat and the tares grow together, then our only issue should be to make certain we aren’t a tare.
 
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Strider:
I have to respectfully disagree with most posters here. We are bound by the responsibilities of our Confirmation to provide fraternal correction when we see error.
Would you stand by and watch a three-year-old play with a can of gasoline and a lighter because you didn’t want to be “judgemental?” Of course not.
It is charity, not judgementalism, if we correct someone we know to be in the state of mortal sin (cohabiting, cointracepting, etc) and receiving the Blessed Sacrament. And we don’t have to lecture. Simply inform the person of the particular doctrine of the Church or refer him to the pertinent paragraph(s) in the Catechism.
If the person chooses to ignore the information you gave them, then it’s their problem alone. You’ve fulfilled your responsibility. Take a look at Ezekiel 3 and 33.
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Exactly the right thing to do. 👍

spaceage

:I would also inform them that taking communion outside of the church is assenting to that churches belief that it is a symbol. When we say Amen we assent to the truth of Christ as the Eucharist “Truly, Truly” as in the OT, kind of like swearing in court on a bible today.

They are compounding one sin on top of another. As for the nun and or other clergy who told you otherwise, I would do the same with them. It isn’t charity to let them believe and teach differently. The catechism is your friend, but do it gently as Peter says.

You can’t stop them, they can make a choice. As Paul says they are casting judgement on themselves. Paul doesn’t stop them, but he sure does set them straight.

For all those who think differently and that it doesn’t matter, remember James:

Jam 4:17: Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

By failing to straighten people out it is also our sin. It does neither us nor them a favor by ignoring to do what is right.

Peace and God Bless
Nicene
 
Strider has a good bit of advice. We have an obligation to tell them once. Then it becomes their problem. Continually “ragging” on someone will usually not result in anything but anger on their part; another sin for them.
 
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rwoehmke:
Strider has a good bit of advice. We have an obligation to tell them once. Then it becomes their problem. Continually “ragging” on someone will usually not result in anything but anger on their part; another sin for them.
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Agree. When the issue arrises (which it virtually never does) I usually take a tongue in cheeck, one liner approach.

Such as: Being Catholic, by definition, means we believe the church is guided by the Holy Spirit in matters of faith and morals. To disagree and disobey the church in these matters translates to a disagreement with God.

The only replies to this can be either, “I don’t believe the premise” which means they are ignorant to the catechesis, or, they must agree that they disagree with thier creator.

There really isn’t any more that need be said. And I don’t see any reason for beating someone over the head with it. Either the seed has been planted, or it fell on hard ground.
 
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Dan-Man916:
Is this a person that you have some responsibility for, ie a sponsor of them, parent, aunt/uncle, spiritual director?

My own policy is that it is none of my business to tell people if they can or cannot go to communion, for i have no authority over them in that regard.

If it were someone that i had a spiritual responsibility for, i would talk to them, but ultimately, the decision is theirs.

I believe that the standing order in most diocese is that extraordinary ministers are to give communion to anyone who presents themselves for it. The discernment of who is worthy and who is not worthy is not ours.

We can remind them of the teaching of the Church, but when it comes down to it, we have enough responsibility making sure that we ourselves are in a position worthy to receive.

Just my 2 cents.
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James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you wanders away from the truth and another one brings him back again, remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from his wrong way will save that sinner’s soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.:yup: Pretty straight forward if you ask me, unless of course we are to only love our aunt/uncle, mom, dad, brother, sister, and care that their souls will die in the state of grave sin. Tuff choice but well worth it don’t you think?
 
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Dan-Man916:
Is this a person that you have some responsibility for, ie a sponsor of them, parent, aunt/uncle, spiritual director?

My own policy is that it is none of my business to tell people if they can or cannot go to communion, for i have no authority over them in that regard.

If it were someone that i had a spiritual responsibility for, i would talk to them, but ultimately, the decision is theirs.

I believe that the standing order in most diocese is that extraordinary ministers are to give communion to anyone who presents themselves for it. The discernment of who is worthy and who is not worthy is not ours.

We can remind them of the teaching of the Church, but when it comes down to it, we have enough responsibility making sure that we ourselves are in a position worthy to receive.

Just my 2 cents.
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We each have a spiritual responsibility over everybody. We may have to approach those we don’t know well differently than those who are close to us, but the responsibility is still there. The Scriptures tell us more than once that if we fail to admonish the sinner, we will be deemed responsible for his sin if he does not repent. The Church also teaches this in the Catechism.
 
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spaceage:
If someone disagrees with teacings of the church, for example, they believe there is nothing wrong with themselves, a Catholic, receiving communion from other Christian denominations, does that mean they can disregard it and therefore go and receive communion from other denominations, and still receive holy communion from Mass??

I understand that some people question Papal Encyclicals but even then if you are to be a Catholic shouldn’t you still have to follow the points of an Encyclical and adhere to them??

A ‘Catholic’ that I know seems to disagree with many points of teaching from the Catholic church and claims that if he disagrees with something, he will not adhere to it. However, this individual still receives Communion during Holy Mass and I have confronted him already only to be on the receiving end of abuse from a ‘nun’ and other supposed Catholics. Please help clear this up for me!
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This is a big issue right now. Same question comes up for Catholic politicians who don’t encourage Catholic beleifs, like abortion. Some religious officials say they should be denied communion others diagree.
 
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