I know a couple of Catholics who don’t believe in the real presence and they receive communion. A catholic friend of mine once told me that she doesn’t believe in the real presence and that it is just symbolic, pretty much what protestants believe. So, I am curious to see what others have to say. Should someone who does not believe in the real presence receive communion? Are they receiving unworthily?
It’s a very serious sin to knowingly reject defined, infallible teachings of the Church.
The doctrine on the Eucharist is central to the Catholic Faith.
Keeping in mind many factors, just objectively speaking, a person who rejects the Catholic teaching on the real presence has lapsed in Faith and should not receive.
Our beliefs have consequences. We can’t make up our own doctrines and expect God to go along with us.
An honest person, rejecting the Eucharist - would not receive. The person does not need to leave the Faith or stop going to Mass. Faith in the Real Presence can be restored. But until then, there is a problem.
Faith in the Eucharist does not have to be a feeling of some kind. It is enough to mentally say “Even though I don’t understand and it feels uncomfortable, I believe”.
The Act of Faith is something all Catholics must be able to say with sincerity and conviction:
O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe these and all the truths which the holy catholic Church teaches, because in revealing them you can neither deceive nor be deceived.
I think there is some truth to that but that being said I don’t think it’s malicious. I mean If you are ignorant of that very teaching, that’s not necessarily your fault.
