Orthodox receiving communion

[SHAKA_MAKA1]

I’ve often been told that when we reieve communion and say AMEN, we are saying amen to everything the church teaches and that we are in full communion with the church and if we don’t believe and recieve we are lying to God. How then do we allow Orthodox to recieve. Aren’t they lying to God.

 

[1ke]

I’ve often been told that when we reieve communion and say AMEN, we are saying amen to everything the church teaches and that we are in full communion with the church and if we don’t believe and recieve we are lying to God. How then do we allow Orthodox to recieve. Aren’t they lying to God.

When we say “Amen” when presented with the Body of Christ, or the Blood of Christ, we are saying Amen to what has just been said to us-- we are saying “Amen” in response to the statement “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ,” not to “all the Church teaches and that we are in full communion with the Church.” We are saying Amen to the real presence.

 

[m134e5]

I’ve often been told that when we reieve communion and say AMEN, we are saying amen to everything the church teaches and that we are in full communion with the church and if we don’t believe and recieve we are lying to God. How then do we allow Orthodox to recieve. Aren’t they lying to God.

The Orthodox churches are the only non-Catholic churches that have valid Holy Orders- and therefore, a valid Eucharist and valid confession. To receive holy communion in a Catholic Church, one must be in a state of grace, they must not be excommunicated, they must believe what the Catholic Church (and the Orthodox Church- although there are differences in the details, the essentials of the teachings on the Eucharist are the same) Church teaches about the Eucharist, and they must have observed the required Eucharistic fast of their church.

That is a courtesy that the Catholic Church extends to the Orthodox- but the Orthodox Church does not extend that courtesy to Catholics.I know of some Orthodox Christians who receive communion regularly in Catholic Churches. I have also been told by some former Orthodox that a truly devout one would never do it.

 

[SHAKA_MAKA1]

So, if we aren’t saying amen to everything the church teaches and only to, we believe it’s the body and blood then I can be a Catholic and not believe in the Trinity and still receive. I thought you had to be in full communion to recieve and if I don’t believe in the trinity then I’m not in full communion.

 

[NHInsider]

How could you believe that the Eucharist is the Body of Christ (who is the Second Person of the Trinity) and not believe in the Trinity?

The major difference between the Catholic and Orthodox churches is over whether the infallible leadership of the magesterium can be exercised by the successor to Peter or only in the successors to the Apostles in council. That is a far lessor division than rejection of the Trinity would be.

 

[SHAKA_MAKA1]

I’m not saying I don’t believe in the Trinity. I was trying to make a point. Do you, as a catholic, have to believe everything the church teaches to recieve communion (in full communion)