Non-Catholics receiving communion - ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA

[GodHeals]

Hi,

I am just looking for moral support and also to have a few of my blue highlighted statements / questions answered. Sorry this message is so convoluted. I am trying to find where I stand on this serious issue. I have somewhat been on both sides of the argument it seems and wondering what is TRUTH. I posted the quotes below in a separate post.

God Bless You,
Brian

Little History about ME:
I now lean towards the conservative side of the exception being made for Orthodox believers, and in rare cases, all other Christians. I was raised Catholic (completed all sacraments), eventually called myself and evangelical Protestant and attended a non-denominational church (ecclesial community as i read it now), but still did most of the sacraments, and believed in THIS IS MY BODY and IS MY BLOOD, but not transubstantiation, so not to have to be Catholic. I wasn’t ready to receive the Catholic Church on my own. Now i am in RCIA, by faith (in the year of faith, “incidentally”) with still many questions, being received as a revert / re-dedication into the Catholic faith. I do believe in transubstantiation, even though i am not sure if that really had any bearing on my decision, it was more the word i had to deny in order to deny the Priesthood or something, so i could still receive communion and not be Catholic. This probably caused some scandal, may God forgive me… My intellectual inabilities and lack of faith has kept me from the One Church.

I am not in RCIA and it seems that some teachers say OK for non-catholics to receive communion if the conditions are met below, and seem to take those conditions lightly, and another teacher says not OK (was separate night teachings). I have slowly been becoming more conservative, but it is frustrating that now that I am trying to get away from what i think is liberal teaching to have some people teaching liberally, even though they don’t call themselves liberal. I don’t want to cause Church division, so i am not bringing it up to the other teaching persons that i told the more conservative teacher what they said about it being OK to receive communion before becoming fully Catholic. I really think this confused the RCIA class, if they caught it. It seems i am the only one asking questions and speaking up in the small class of about 8 or so participants. I feel like i am suppose to respect those in leadership, but have a hard time when some don’t speak the Truth that the Magisterium teaches (at least what i think the Magisterium teaches)…

I read there are 4 conditions that must be met for a non-Catholic to receive communion (i think 3 are listed below?), but find it hard to believe they can be met by most if any people, if not only by invincible ignorance, maybe like me?!?

I heard from a Catholic Priest awhile back that communion is not a means to bring about unity, but a means of unity. “and for the cause itself of the promotion of unity.” → This statement from below is not meaning to promote unity. I just want to make sure i am reading the below correctly.

Lastly, Why would Pope John Paul II give Tony Blair communion by Pope John Paul II? It seems he (and others) must have met the criteria below and in the Canon Law

 

[GodHeals]

1. In case of danger of death, Catholic ministers may administer these sacraments when the conditions given below (n. 131) are present. In other cases, it is strongly recommended that the diocesan Bishop, taking into account any norms which may have been established for this matter by the Episcopal Conference or by the Synods of Eastern Catholic Churches, establish general norms for judging situations of grave and pressing need and for verifying the conditions mentioned below (n. 131).135 In accord with Canon Law,136 these general norms are to be established only after consultation with at least the local competent authority of the other interested Church or ecclesial Community. Catholic ministers will judge individual cases and administer these sacraments only in accord with these established norms, where they exist. Otherwise they will judge according to the norms of this Directory.

1. The conditions under which a Catholic minister may administer the sacraments of the Eucharist, of penance and of the anointing of the sick to a baptized person who may be found in the circumstances given above (n. 130) are that the person be unable to have recourse for the sacrament desired to a minister of his or her own Church or ecclesial Community, ask for the sacrament of his or her own initiative, manifest Catholic faith in this sacrament and be properly disposed.137

• vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19930325_directory_en.html

1. In my Encyclical Ut Unum Sint I expressed my own appreciation of these norms, which make it possible to provide for the salvation of souls with proper discernment: “It is a source of joy to note that Catholic ministers are able, in certain particular cases, to administer the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Anointing of the Sick to Christians who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church but who greatly desire to receive these sacraments, freely request them and manifest the faith which the Catholic Church professes with regard to these sacraments. Conversely, in specific cases and in particular circumstances, Catholics too can request these same sacraments from ministers of Churches in which these sacraments are valid”.97

These conditions, from which no dispensation can be given, must be carefully respected, even though they deal with specific individual cases, because the denial of one or more truths of the faith regarding these sacraments and, among these, the truth regarding the need of the ministerial priesthood for their validity, renders the person asking improperly disposed to legitimately receiving them. And the opposite is also true: Catholics may not receive communion in those communities which lack a valid sacrament of Orders.98

The faithful observance of the body of norms established in this area 99 is a manifestation and, at the same time, a guarantee of our love for Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, for our brothers and sisters of different Christian confessions – who have a right to our witness to the truth – and for the cause itself of the promotion of unity.

• vatican.va/holy_father/special_features/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_20030417_ecclesia_eucharistia_en.html

 

[GodHeals]

Some last thoughts:
I think i respect them now that i think of it, but have internal conflicts on how to handle this situation and other possible situations that may arise from what i think is more liberal teaching, even if these teachers don’t call it liberal. They teach well on other teachings on the liturgy, etc., but not on this issue regarding the Eucharist and ecumenism. i am not so sure how to respond. I asked and was told by the more conservative teacher and a friend to not bring it up to the other teachers again, which is fine. I just hope there is nothing standing in between me and those other teachers and that i didn’t go against their teaching authority since i questioned their teaching in front of the other people. I still almost want to tell them i am sorry, but i will listen to the conservative teacher and my friend. They just might not be educated in the area of the Eucharist and ecumenism.

Please pray for me and my RCIA Class,
Brian

 

[JerryZ]

Hi,

Lastly, Why would Pope John Paul II give Tony Blair communion by Pope John Paul II? It seems he (and others) must have met the criteria below and in the Canon Law

It seems that Tony Blair went a little bit further, he actually converted but had to keep it in secret because the law in the UK would NOT allow a PM to actually be Catholic. After he stepped down he “came out”
In fact when Pope John Paul The Great died Tony Blair’s wife was adorned with a mantilla to cover her head instead of the funny hats all the UK ladies are renowned for. That was quite a scandal.

 

[GodHeals]

It seems that Tony Blair went a little bit further, he actually converted but had to keep it in secret because the law in the UK would NOT allow a PM to actually be Catholic. After he stepped down he “came out”
In fact when Pope John Paul The Great died Tony Blair’s wife was adorned with a mantilla to cover her head instead of the funny hats all the UK ladies are renowned for. That was quite a scandal.

Ahhh Thank you for the update. That is good news that Tony eventually converted!

mantilla is what some women wear to Mass when watching EWTN? It covers the face?

 

[504Katrin]

Some last thoughts:
I asked and was told by the more conservative teacher and a friend to not bring it up to the other teachers again, which is fine. I just hope there is nothing standing in between me and those other teachers and that i didn’t go against their teaching authority since i questioned their teaching in front of the other people

Please consider my words, and filter from them what might be good for you.

No it ain’t fine.

If you have any doubts that what they are doing or teaching is wrong you have to stand up and tell them. Question them when you feel that you must. It’s your obligation cause it’s your relationship with G0d first and foremost. It is your loving relationship with G0d, so get that one straight first. In order to have a true relationship you must be honest to yourself and portray that honesty at all times bearing all consequences.

Second, others have a relationship with G0d, too. Our duty is it to help bring as many people to heaven as possible. If you keep your mouth shut just like those teachers ask you to, those teachers might keep on teaching the wrong thing. Can you live with that? Honestly, can you?! I couldn’t. Noone of those people will hold your hand and defend you on your judgement day.

Third, it doesn’t matter whether there’s anything standing between you and those teachers or not - if you don’t consider this issue to be about you alone and if you can put yourself last.

You do what you have to do in order to make this world a better one. You might not always be right, hence learn from it, but you can’t keep your mouth shut imo.

 

[GodHeals]

Please consider my words, and filter from them what might be good for you.

No it ain’t fine.

If you have any doubts that what they are doing or teaching is wrong you have to stand up and tell them. Question them when you feel that you must. It’s your obligation cause it’s your relationship with G0d first and foremost. It is your loving relationship with G0d, so get that one straight first. In order to have a true relationship you must be honest to yourself and portray that honesty at all times bearing all consequences.

Second, others have a relationship with G0d, too. Our duty is it to help bring as many people to heaven as possible. If you keep your mouth shut just like those teachers ask you to, those teachers might keep on teaching the wrong thing. Can you live with that? Honestly, can you?! I couldn’t. Noone of those people will hold your hand and defend you on your judgement day.

Third, it doesn’t matter whether there’s anything standing between you and those teachers or not - if you don’t consider this issue to be about you alone and if you can put yourself last.

You do what you have to do in order to make this world a better one. You might not always be right, hence learn from it, but you can’t keep your mouth shut imo.

What does this mean? “but you can’t keep your mouth shut imo.”… the imo?

Thank you so much for your thoughts on this serious issue. I will take them to heart. I like how you said, “Our duty is it to help bring as many people to heaven as possible.” It seems that is how the Saints thought and I try to remember to think this way myself, seems like i did more in the past, sadly enough… I got to get away from this knowledge thing or at least be better balanced, since w/o love nothing matters. I might be focusing more on the mind and not the heart.

The teachers didn’t tell me to keep my mouth shut, but it just seems like they don’t have the answers to answer me in front of the class or they just stick with what they know, which i don’t think is correct with this one issue in particular, and maybe others, but none that i really remember, like i remember this issue that took place within the last week or so…

So my relationship with God, others relationship with God, and not worrying about what the teachers think about me or our shared relationship. I do try to question them in the most respectful way possible. It does also sometimes feel that the class might think badly of me sometimes for questioning the teachers, and for that, i feel like i want to stop asking questions. I haven’t talked to anyone in the class about this issue, except my friend and the other more conservative teacher.

Please pray say a prayer for my RCIA class if you remember.

 

[JerryZ]

Ahhh Thank you for the update. That is good news that Tony eventually converted!

mantilla is what some women wear to Mass when watching EWTN? It covers the face?

It is like a veil they put over their heads not their face and it is tipically knitted. They can be very beatiful in their simplicity.
They are either white or black

Of course at the wake for JPII she wore a black one.

 

[JerryZ]

What does this mean? “but you can’t keep your mouth shut imo.”… the imo?

Thank you so much for your thoughts on this serious issue. I will take them to heart. I like how you said, “Our duty is it to help bring as many people to heaven as possible.” It seems that is how the Saints thought and I try to remember to think this way myself, seems like i did more in the past, sadly enough… I got to get away from this knowledge thing or at least be better balanced, since w/o love nothing matters. I might be focusing more on the mind and not the heart.

The teachers didn’t tell me to keep my mouth shut, but it just seems like they don’t have the answers to answer me in front of the class or they just stick with what they know, which i don’t think is correct with this one issue in particular, and maybe others, but none that i really remember, like i remember this issue that took place within the last week or so…

So my relationship with God, others relationship with God, and not worrying about what the teachers think about me or our shared relationship. I do try to question them in the most respectful way possible. It does also sometimes feel that the class might think badly of me sometimes for questioning the teachers, and for that, i feel like i want to stop asking questions. I haven’t talked to anyone in the class about this issue, except my friend and the other more conservative teacher.

Please pray say a prayer for my RCIA class if you remember.

PATER NOSTER,
qui es in caelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo.

 

[504Katrin]

What does this mean? “but you can’t keep your mouth shut imo.”… the imo?

Sorry about that. “Imo” is short for “in my opinion”

 

[hieroglyph]

Some last thoughts:
I think i respect them now that i think of it, but have internal conflicts on how to handle this situation and other possible situations that may arise from what i think is more liberal teaching, even if these teachers don’t call it liberal. They teach well on other teachings on the liturgy, etc., but not on this issue regarding the Eucharist and ecumenism. i am not so sure how to respond. I asked and was told by the more conservative teacher and a friend to not bring it up to the other teachers again, which is fine. I just hope there is nothing standing in between me and those other teachers and that i didn’t go against their teaching authority since i questioned their teaching in front of the other people. I still almost want to tell them i am sorry, but i will listen to the conservative teacher and my friend. They just might not be educated in the area of the Eucharist and ecumenism.

Please pray for me and my RCIA Class,
Brian

Let’s look at some examples. An Anglican who believes in Apostolic Succession and the Real Presence is visiting Rome. He cannot find an Anglican Church so he presents himself to receive communion at a Catholic Church. Can he receive?

Answer: Yes, since Anglicans believe in the necessary doctrines (though Catholics question their actual line of Apostolic Succession, nonetheless it is the belief in the doctrine, not in the fine points of Succession lineage). Actually, Pope JPII was even taped giving communion to an Anglican theologian in this circumstance.

A Zwingli, Anabaptist, or non-denominational Protestant who believes that communion is a memorial and does not involve anything supernatural presents himself at a Catholic church to receive. Can he receive?

Answer: No. He denies the Real Presence.

An Eastern Orthodox Christian presents himself. May he receive?

Answer: Yes. Eastern Orthodox are “Catholics without the Pope” and thus fully align in the major beliefs necessary for communion.

A Catholic politician who votes repeatedly for abortion and euthanasia laws presents himself for communion. May he receive?

Answer: If he has first been warned and instructed privately, then he may be refused. If he has not been warned and instructed privately, then it is generally practiced that he may receive THIS time, but must be privately corrected as soon as possible and then confess or be denied. On the other hand, if he is involved in a scandal, then he may be denied immediately on grounds of scandal.

Of course there are some priests who rebel and don’t follow the canons and give to anybody, but I would hope that that is not the priests in your parish.

I read a fascinating quote from the Protestant Martin Luther which went something like: “I will drink blood in Rome before I will drink wine in Switzerland.” Even Protestants often understand that communion requires a shared belief in the Real Presence.

 

[Gorgias]

it seems that some teachers say OK for non-catholics to receive communion if the conditions are met

Brian,

Just curious – did they say, in the way of a general statement, “it’s OK for non-Catholics to receive”, or were they talking about a specific case of one or more of the people in RCIA?

If the latter, then are you making the “non-Catholic” determination yourself, or do you know that they are unbaptized (or, at least, are Christians who have not yet received Eucharist or Reconciliation in the Catholic Church)?

 

[paperwight66]

It seems that Tony Blair went a little bit further, he actually converted but had to keep it in secret because the law in the UK would NOT allow a PM to actually be Catholic. After he stepped down he “came out”
In fact when Pope John Paul The Great died Tony Blair’s wife was adorned with a mantilla to cover her head instead of the funny hats all the UK ladies are renowned for. That was quite a scandal.

Where on earth did you get the idea that there is a law against a Catholic being PM in the UK? Did you confuse it with the monarch not being allowed?

Secondly - what was the ‘scandal/’ you say resulted from Cherie Blair wearing a mantilla? You do know that she always was a Catholic?

 

[ianjmatt]

I think it is fair to say there was ‘interest’ in Cherie Blair wearing a mantilla, rather than scandal. They’re not see very often here (on white Catholics anyway - you can see plenty on women from other ethnic groups in places such as Westminster Cathedral).

 

[GodHeals]

Let’s look at some examples. An Anglican who believes in Apostolic Succession and the Real Presence is visiting Rome. He cannot find an Anglican Church so he presents himself to receive communion at a Catholic Church. Can he receive?

Answer: Yes, since Anglicans believe in the necessary doctrines (though Catholics question their actual line of Apostolic Succession, nonetheless it is the belief in the doctrine, not in the fine points of Succession lineage). Actually, Pope JPII was even taped giving communion to an Anglican theologian in this circumstance.

A Zwingli, Anabaptist, or non-denominational Protestant who believes that communion is a memorial and does not involve anything supernatural presents himself at a Catholic church to receive. Can he receive?

Answer: No. He denies the Real Presence.

An Eastern Orthodox Christian presents himself. May he receive?

Answer: Yes. Eastern Orthodox are “Catholics without the Pope” and thus fully align in the major beliefs necessary for communion.

A Catholic politician who votes repeatedly for abortion and euthanasia laws presents himself for communion. May he receive?

Answer: If he has first been warned and instructed privately, then he may be refused. If he has not been warned and instructed privately, then it is generally practiced that he may receive THIS time, but must be privately corrected as soon as possible and then confess or be denied. On the other hand, if he is involved in a scandal, then he may be denied immediately on grounds of scandal.

Of course there are some priests who rebel and don’t follow the canons and give to anybody, but I would hope that that is not the priests in your parish.

I read a fascinating quote from the Protestant Martin Luther which went something like: “I will drink blood in Rome before I will drink wine in Switzerland.” Even Protestants often understand that communion requires a shared belief in the Real Presence.

Thank you for the examples. That is probably some of the examples that i needed to read. I am sure there are many many more out there… is invincible ignorance ever a viable example wherefore a Protestant simply says Jesus Christ calls all Christians to the table, not with holding Himself from anyone?

I get confused, Does the Church of England mean the same as Anglican? And where does Episcopalian fit in?

Thanks for your help…

 

[GodHeals]

Brian,

Just curious – did they say, in the way of a general statement, “it’s OK for non-Catholics to receive”, or were they talking about a specific case of one or more of the people in RCIA?

If the latter, then are you making the “non-Catholic” determination yourself, or do you know that they are unbaptized (or, at least, are Christians who have not yet received Eucharist or Reconciliation in the Catholic Church)?

I originally said something like i heard it is only an exception for the Orthodox, and the teacher said no it isn’t. I just was unaware of these four exceptions, and even after hearing them it didn’t sit right. You know after thinking about it, maybe the person said something like “no, the Eucharist is for everyone [including Protestants - my thinking here]”, but meant it in a way that follows those four points.** I think it was all Protestants, including those not yet Catholic in the RCIA, since the question came up about RCIA members receiving communion before officially becoming Catholic. ** The person seems like they are liberal, but made a comment that they are not liberal. I don’t think the person gave much thought to the document that was passed out and or has a liberal view about it.

Yes, I think i am making the “non-catholic” determination myself, but don’t believe it can be so watered down as they presented it to be. Maybe i am overreacting? I don’t know… but i don’t think so. Maybe, i should just accept the differences in the Parish and also that the leaders aren’t communicating with each other on these crucial doctrines they are teaching, being one says one thing and another says another. I somewhat corrected the more conservative person that Orthodox believers can receive communion in a Catholic church as an exception. One week apart and teaching different things, even though the conservative teacher was covering a different topic, and just “happened” to make the point only Catholics can receive communion or something like that.

All people in my RCIA are baptized, at least all that were there that night, i think…

" Christians who have not yet received Eucharist or Reconciliation in the Catholic Church" - I know there are some of these people for sure…

Thanks for asking specific questions and helping me to think through this…

 

[thistle]

I originally said something like i heard it is only an exception for the Orthodox, and the teacher said no it isn’t. I just was unaware of these four exceptions, and even after hearing them it didn’t sit right. You know after thinking about it, maybe the person said something like “no, the Eucharist is for everyone [including Protestants - my thinking here]”, but meant it in a way that follows those four points.** I think it was all Protestants, including those not yet Catholic in the RCIA, since the question came up about RCIA members receiving communion before officially becoming Catholic. ** The person seems like they are liberal, but made a comment that they are not liberal. I don’t think the person gave much thought to the document that was passed out and or has a liberal view about it.

Yes, I think i am making the “non-catholic” determination myself, but don’t believe it can be so watered down as they presented it to be. Maybe i am overreacting? I don’t know… but i don’t think so. Maybe, i should just accept the differences in the Parish and also that the leaders aren’t communicating with each other on these crucial doctrines they are teaching, being one says one thing and another says another. I somewhat corrected the more conservative person that Orthodox believers can receive communion in a Catholic church as an exception. One week apart and teaching different things, even though the conservative teacher was covering a different topic, and just “happened” to make the point only Catholics can receive communion or something like that.

All people in my RCIA are baptized, at least all that were there that night, i think…

" Christians who have not yet received Eucharist or Reconciliation in the Catholic Church" - I know there are some of these people for sure…

Thanks for asking specific questions and helping me to think through this…

Non-Catholic Christians may NOT receive Communion in the Catholic Church. The only exception is found below and that is an extreme situation.

Can. 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to Catholic members of Christ’s faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from Catholic ministers, except as provided in §§2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in can. 861 §2.

§4 If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgement of the diocesan Bishop or of the Episcopal Conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, Catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the Catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed.

 

[Gorgias]

I originally said something like i heard it is only an exception for the Orthodox, and the teacher said no it isn’t. I just was unaware of these four exceptions, and even after hearing them it didn’t sit right. You know after thinking about it, maybe the person said something like “no, the Eucharist is for everyone [including Protestants - my thinking here]”, but meant it in a way that follows those four points.** I think it was all Protestants, including those not yet Catholic in the RCIA, since the question came up about RCIA members receiving communion before officially becoming Catholic. **

OK – so, would it be fair to say that when asked whether Eucharist is for Catholics only, the presenter heard your answer as a black-and-white “other than the Orthodox – no, never, no way”? And therefore, answered in a way that mentioned these other exceptions? In other words, she wasn’t attempting to say that “Eucharist is for all Protestants at all times, too”, but rather, that “there are also exceptional cases in which non-Catholic Christians may also receive”?

One week apart and teaching different things, even though the conservative teacher was covering a different topic, and just “happened” to make the point only Catholics can receive communion or something like that.

Right – whereas, the more complete answer would say that only Catholics have the right to receive communion (when properly disposed), but there are limited exceptions for Orthodox and non-Catholic Christians in which they might receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church.

Thanks for asking specific questions and helping me to think through this…

No problems!

 

[JerryZ]

Where on earth did you get the idea that there is a law against a Catholic being PM in the UK? Did you confuse it with the monarch not being allowed?

Secondly - what was the ‘scandal/’ you say resulted from Cherie Blair wearing a mantilla? You do know that she always was a Catholic?

There is no law that bars a Catholic to become PM however there are many issues that would complicate matters if they elected one, here is an explanation of what the issues are:

There is no simple yes or no question to this answer. While there is no express legal bar the election of a non-Anglican British Prime Minister, such a situation would be constitutionally akward given the prime minister’s role in appointing senior members of the Church of England. While theoretically, the soverieng has the ultimate power in making ecclesiastical appointments, he or she acts on the advice of the prime minister.

Under the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, sect. 17, and the Jews’ Relief Act of 1858, sec 4, no Roman Catholic or Jew may advise the sovereign on ecclesiastical matters. Were the prime minister to be a Roman Catholic or a Jew and alternate system of ecclesiastical appointment would have to be devised.

To date, all British Prime Ministers to date, at least while in office, have professed Anglican faith. Disraeli, while born into a Jewish family, was babtised into the church of England at age 12 and Tony Blair waited till after he stood down from the post of prime minister to officially convert to catholicism.
Gordon Brown does not ‘profess the Anglican faith’. His father was a Church of Scotland minister. It is unlikely that any other non-English Prime Minister would be an Anglican (e.g. Alec Douglas-Hume, Ramsey Macdonald).

Second yes I do know that she has always been Catholic.

As far as the comment that it caused “scandal” when she wore a mantilla I got it from this quote:

“Last time I looked, Britain wasn’t a Roman Catholic country,” wrote Vicki Woods in The Telegraph the next morning. And, of course, it isn’t. But last Monday, it wasn’t doing a very good impression of a Protestant one.

Soo it seems it scandalized some protestants

 

[paperwight66]

It seems that Tony Blair went a little bit further, he actually converted but had to keep it in secret because the law in the UK would NOT allow a PM to actually be Catholic. After he stepped down he “came out”

Quote JerryZ
There is no law that bars a Catholic to become PM :"

Me : Well, I’m glad we’ve got that cleared up.

Quote JerryZ
In fact when Pope John Paul The Great died Tony Blair’s wife was adorned with a mantilla to cover her head instead of the funny hats all the UK ladies are renowned for. That was quite a scandal.

JerryZ explains '‘i got it (quite a scandal) from this quote’.
“Last time I looked, Britain wasn’t a Roman Catholic country,” wrote Vicki Woods in The Telegraph the next morning. And, of course, it isn’t. But last Monday, it wasn’t doing a very good impression of a Protestant one. "

Hmm, not very convincing . (Did you mean the (British) Daily Telegraph) by the way?

One person expressing surprise?