No wonder the laity is confused

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Phemie

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Tonight I went to the local ecumenical service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was held at the Anglican Church and due to unforeseen circumstances it was a Communion Service.

When Communion time came the invitation was made to everyone to come to the Table. BTW, they kneel at the altar rail to receive. I watched a few Catholics go up to receive but, knowing the rules, I stayed in my pew. Then I saw my parish priest go up to receive. Upon seeing him go up, Catholics who’d refrained from receiving until then, followed.

Earlier this week he informed me that he’d never refuse to give Communion to non-Catholics who presented themselves to him to receive.

It’s very confusing for a lot of people.
 
I would get in touch with your diocesan bishop and notify him of the occurrence, making sure to include that there were several others there who can witness to what happened. Also, be sure to mention the details of this priest’s flippancy toward the Church’s laws regarding who can receive Holy Communion.

This is a very grave pastoral issue that needs to be addressed swiftly and sternly.
 
passus said:
I would get in touch with your diocesan bishop and notify him of the occurrence, making sure to include that there were several others there who can witness to what happened. Also, be sure to mention the details of this priest’s flippancy toward the Church’s laws regarding who can receive Holy Communion.

This is a very grave pastoral issue that needs to be addressed swiftly and sternly.
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My bishop will also give Communion to non-Catholics so no help there.
 
Phemie said:
Tonight I went to the local ecumenical service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was held at the Anglican Church and due to unforeseen circumstances it was a Communion Service.

When Communion time came the invitation was made to everyone to come to the Table. BTW, they kneel at the altar rail to receive. I watched a few Catholics go up to receive but, knowing the rules, I stayed in my pew. Then I saw my parish priest go up to receive. Upon seeing him go up, Catholics who’d refrained from receiving until then, followed.

Earlier this week he informed me that he’d never refuse to give Communion to non-Catholics who presented themselves to him to receive.

It’s very confusing for a lot of people.
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😦 I find it hard to believe that clergy do not realize what they are doing. Very, very sad.
Lets pray for all our priests and bishops.
Reg.
 
LilyM said:
Go futher then, to the USCCB, the Papal Nuncio or the Vatican. 🤷
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Yes, please do. By all means - call the Pope. Because we all know thats exactly what Jesus would have done. I am sure he would have refused someone who wanted to come to his table because they were Samaritan - Jews never associated with them. Oh wait - he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. Never mind.

WWJD folks, I doubt he would refuse anyone that presented themselves. Aren’t there poor and homeless that need our attention tonight?
 
We’re lucky because we know exactly what Jesus would do. . .because He is still doing it.

His Church is His Bride; He is the Bridegroom. Therefore, He and His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church are united, one spirit, one flesh.

And His Church is guided by His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth–not what poster A ‘thinks’ is true, or what poster B ‘feels’ is right.

Scripture tells us not to eat or drink the body and blood of the Lord unworthily for those who do bring condemnation on themselves.

As we are to ‘love our neighbor’ it would hardly be loving to encourage them to take ‘unworthily’.

Likewise, this ‘communion’ was not the true Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. It was nothing more than bread. But by going up to receive as though it were in truth a Eucharistthis priest has defied His Church (and thus, has defied Christ). And he has also scandalized and brought his flock into sin if they ‘followed him’. What is the Scripture, something about better a millstone being tied around the neck and the person cast into the sea rather than scandalizing the least ones?

Gee, it doesn’t really look as if Christ is all that comfortable about a priest defying the Church and encouraging others to defy it with him. . .
 
tiggeriffic said:
Yes, please do. By all means - call the Pope. Because we all know thats exactly what Jesus would have done. I am sure he would have refused someone who wanted to come to his table because they were Samaritan - Jews never associated with them. Oh wait - he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. Never mind.

WWJD folks, I doubt he would refuse anyone that presented themselves. Aren’t there poor and homeless that need our attention tonight?
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He asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water–not His blood. And He would not have given Himself to anyone He knew was not worthy. St. Paul exhorted those who were not disposed not to receive the Sacrament–and for their own sake, for to do so would be very dangerous!
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).
 
Phemie, while there is merit in praying for Christian Unity, there is also the serious issue of going way too far. What you witnessed went way beyond the bounds.

As you well know, there is no such thing as inter-communion between the Church and Protestant ecclesial communities.

While you note that you might not get support from the local ordinary, your next step would be to write to the new Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Document everything that you saw and send the letter to him.

Here is his name and address:

His Eminence Antonio Cardinal Canizares Llovera
Prefect, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Palazzo delle Congregazioni
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00120 CITTÀ DEL VATICANO

For those of you who suggest writing to the Papal Nuncio, that doesn’t really help because he will only forward the letter back to the bishop. Redemptionis Sacramentum provides that correspondence of this nature needs to be addressed to the Holy See, in this case, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
 
Phemie and all,

I do not know if this will help with your priest – but just so you know “what the Church teaches and where you can find it” on this issue:

Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, “have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders.” It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible. However these ecclesial communities, “when they commemorate the Lord’s death and resurrection in the Holy Supper . . . profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory.” (CCC 1400)

When, in the Ordinary’s judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions. (CCC 1401)
 
Kevirish01 said:
When, in the Ordinary’s judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions. (CCC 1401)
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“Grave necessity” is usually defined as “possibility of death without access to a minister of one’s own faith” not “I’m at a the Baptism of the grandchild of a friend so I’ll just follow the crowd” or “I usually worship at the Anglican parish just down the street but my co-worker brought me to this ‘Healing Mass’ so I’ll stroll up and receive the Sacrament of the Sick, whatever that is, and then I’ll go to Communion too”. Both of which I’ve seen in my parish.
 
tiggeriffic said:
Yes, please do. By all means - call the Pope. Because we all know thats exactly what Jesus would have done. I am sure he would have refused someone who wanted to come to his table because they were Samaritan - Jews never associated with them. Oh wait - he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. Never mind.

WWJD folks, I doubt he would refuse anyone that presented themselves. Aren’t there poor and homeless that need our attention tonight?
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Hi,

Yes, this is a difficult situation. The only scriptural references state the Eucharist was attended only by Christians (and Catholic was the only denonimation at that time). Yes, Jeaus preached to everyone, and sent His disciples to the gentiles, but there is no evidence that He shared His Body with any of them before conversion. He did give the keys of the kingdom to Peter, and entrusted His church with His sacraments. Now what should we do? Speculate on our own, or follow the instructions set down by the legitimate authority?

The Priest may have honestly believed this is OK, but it is serious scandal to act as he did, and by his actions influence so many down the wrong path.

Lux
 
tiggeriffic said:
WWJD folks, I doubt he would refuse anyone that presented themselves.
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WWJD is always thought-provoking, isn’t it? Start turning over tables? (Jn 2:12-22) Start calling people “blind fools?” (Mt 23:17) Curse the whole town? (Mt 11:21)

On the other hand, sometimes one suspects that WWJD is actually meant to say IKWJWDBTYKWJWD (You know that one, right? “I know what Jesus would do better than you know what Jesus would do.”)

ASD​

Traditional Latin Mass: Translation and Grammar
 
This priest obviously is a dissenter from Catholic beliefs. I would report him to his bishop–but I also would pray for him.
This is very much worse that his bishop giving communion to non-Catholics (which in fact could be okay if he is giving it for example to Orthodox people).
 
Holy Cow!!!

I’ve heard people joke about moving to Canada for political reasons… this pretty much seals the deal for NOT moving there.

Sorry, don’t mean to offend all you great Canadians.
 
armywife said:
I’ve heard people joke about moving to Canada for political reasons… this pretty much seals the deal for NOT moving there.
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Better keep California and a number of other states off your list as well. People tell me that it’s noble to stay in Canada in order to help change things…but I don’t see what I can do. Our bishops need to be stronger, and I think that I could accomplish this with prayer from afar. 😛

Still, I guess I’m not going anywhere, so please keep our priests and bishops in your prayers.
 
LilyM said:
Go futher then, to the USCCB, the Papal Nuncio or the Vatican. 🤷
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Phemie’s from Canada, so the USCCB is no help to her.

There is the CCCB (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops). But since her own Bishop gives Communion to non-Catholics, then BenedictGal’s suggestion is better: go directly to the Vatican!

[edited]
 
barb_finnegan said:
Phemie’s from Canada, so the USCCB is no help to her.

There is the CCCB (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops). But since her own Bishop gives Communion to non-Catholics, then BenedictGal’s suggestion is better: go directly to the Vatican!

[edited]
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My bad. Yes indeed, try the Vatican.
 
try your bishop. if that does not work GO TO THE VATICAN!!! they will straighten it out!
 
passus said:
And He would not have given Himself to anyone He knew was not worthy.
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Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but say the word and I shall be healed.

None of us are worthy. Your point is taken, but let’s not get anyone more confused. 🙂
 
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