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ByzCathCantor
Guest
So, the Catholic Church is justified in maintaining closed Communion, but the Orthodox Church is not?
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Why would a Catholic even want to receive from a non-Catholic? I don’t get where this insistence of Catholics on Orthodox Mysteries come from. As much as I love the Orthodox faith and believe the validity of all their mysteries, I will never think I have a right to partake in any of them as long as we do not have communion between one another.To withhold Communion from from a worthy Catholic is not good. …And Catholics are worthy.
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Marybeloved
Guest
Plus no one can presume to tell me what the Lord would do on the last day when there’s no sin involved that I can see. I certainly don’t worry over what bothers people who are not Jesus Christ unless it will cause scandal or ruin the peace of souls who may be aware of what’s happening and have been taught to believe it was wrong.To withhold Communion from from a worthy Catholic is not good. …And Catholics are worthy.
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TEPO
Guest
Spiritually, we’re in communion. Only in a worldly sense we’re not, so your Eucharist is although slightly less legitimate, still better than no Eucharist at all… Which would only be helpful if we happened to find ourselves stranded in Eastern Europe somewhere on a Sunday -near an Orthodox Church!
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Marybeloved
Guest
If a baptized Protestant went to confession (presuming he could without revealing he wasn’t Catholic) and I knew about it, I wouldn’t be bothered by it and if I saw them afterward partake of communion, the only thing that may bother me is if they disbelieved the real presence, not because they were Protestant partaking of communion, especially since it’s an individual thing and not an official or public one.
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TEPO
Guest
From what I’ve been told, through whom I perceive as being a reliable source, the Orthodox can in fact receive Communion in the Catholic Church.
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
Regrettably, that doesn’t square with the teaching of the Apostolic Churches, Catholic or Orthodox.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Our Eucharist? The Eucharist of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church? Boy, I should have told this to His Beatitude the other day that some guy from the internet says his Church’s Eucharist is slightly less legitimate.
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
That is correct, and it is offered, knowing that Orthodox are still bound by the teachings of their own Church which preclude them from receiving the Holy Eucharist freely in a Catholic Church (only with permission, in certain situations). The Catholic Church made this decision, with some ecumenical controversy, despite it being unilateral and in advance of a declaration of restored Communion between the Churches.
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Marybeloved
Guest
I don’t know what teaching you’re referring to since the situation wouldn’t be happening because of me. I simply would be aware of it and not in the least bothered that a cleansed and well disposed Christian was receiving Christ. I’d be much more bothered that a Catholic in mortal sin or who fails to discern the Lord in the Eucharist would approach. That’s what I believe damns anyone. Is there a teaching that requires us to be all upset when a Christian confesses his sin and approaches the Lord simply because they’re not Catholic? I’m unaware of such an obligation.
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
Canon law
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TEPO
Guest
It’s true, I can’t think of any doctrinal evidence that obliges me to prevent such a thing from happening as a lay Catholic. Or to become emotionally upset about it.
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
No, there isn’t, but that has nothing to do with the original inference that its simply OK to walk into an Orthodox Church and receive the sacraments without any concern, care or worry. That is what precipitated this line in the thread.
Knowing that the Orthodox Churches do not openly commune Catholics, simply common courtesy would dictate otherwise. While the Catholic Churches teaches that Orthodox sacraments are valid, and we are thus assured of the Real Presence in the Orthodox Eucharist, that does not create an entitlement to receive the Holy Eucharist in an Orthodox Church under ordinary circumstances. We are each bound by the canons of our own particular Churches, and that really must be respected.
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
Thanks for your post, JC - I was beginning to think I had misread this …
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Marybeloved
Guest
I disagree. It’s a very hypothetical thing that would never happen in most situations and no Orthodox would know. If they did then you could talk about arrogance. I simply don’t believe I’d be damned for this, and that’s what I’m saying. Same as the example with the confessing communing Protestant, I simply could not presume to say they’d be damned for this.
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Marybeloved
Guest
What canons? I thought we’re talking about a situation in which a Catholic had no other choice?
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
That is not how you prefaced your original statement. If there were no other choice, permission would still need to be sought in advance, assuming this is not a single instance where there was some immediate danger of death or other grave circumstance. If you live in an area where there are no Catholic churches in reasonable distance, permission may be sought to receive the sacraments on a regular basis in an Orthodox church.
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TEPO
Guest
Well, if one feels they are an expert theologian, then maybe they can teach the ignorant rather than express their shame. That would be the Christ-like thing to do anyways.
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
Indeed. Lord have mercy!
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TEPO
Guest
How come none of the Orthodox here have made this claim?
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