Pope ignores German row on shared communion

[bekalc]

I’m a Catholic convert. I want to say there are two issues here. First, I think in regards to the communion issue things should stay the same. Protestants don’t believe in the real presence, Catholics do. Thus, we cannot commune together (at the very least) until we come to a common understanding of what communion means. This issue to isn’t just about German Catholics, it affects Catholics as a whole. While it may do wonders for our “ecumenical relationship with some Protestants” to partake in communion with the Protestants would be very disasterous when it comes to our relationship with the Eastern Churches. Besides, open communion has not made Protestants more unified.

As for the welcoming thing, I truly believe Catholics can be more welcoming. I know that when I contacted my current parish it took over a week/two weeks to get back to me. I remember feeling very unwelcome, and for while I considered finding a different parish.

A Lutheran girl I worked with and her brother wanted to check out different churches, and even checked out the Catholic Church a couple of years back. After the mass, they went to talk to the Priest because they had some questions about the Catholic church, and they said the Priest came accross as basically “he could care less.” It turned them off from Catholicism.

The point I’m making is that Catholics could do a lot more to welcome non Christians and Protestant Christians, or even visiting Catholics. For example, I know that my church does announcements after or before the mass starts. Why can’t they make an announcement there and in the bulliten welcoming guests to meet at a welcome center. There they can give a small gift for example, non Catholics a book about Catholicism or visiting Catholics (something simple etc) and just have coffee etc…

The thing is that many people are desperatly looking for a sense of belonging/community, and I think thats why welcoming people are important.

 

[Mijoy2]

The Protestants allow all Christians to take the Eucharist but the Catholics don’t and this has become one of Germany’s most pressing religious issues with growing impatience with the Vatican for not finding a solution.

I thought there was a solution. Go to RCIA and become Catholic. If one does not believe that the Eucharist is the body of our Lord, why would desire to receive. If they do believe, why would they hesitate to become Catholic.

I’m not be facetious, it just doesn’t make sense. Or I am misunderstanding (quite likely)

 

[OriginalJS]

Now, do I believe that Catholics should be more welcoming? Absolutely! We have much to learn from our Protestant brothers and sisters. But the more personal welcome of these people should come after Mass in the church hall where the coffee and donuts are served. This is where the hospitality, relationship building, and asking of questions should occur. This is where the invitation to a Bible study or the RCIA inquiry process should occur, or engage them in a Q&A session.

Why isn’t this done?

 

[irenaeus1]

Why isn’t this done?

It should be done. Our parish is currently working on various aspects of the above mentioned. This is the answer - not open communion. As someone mentioned earlier on this thread, if open communion was the answer to closer unity in the spirit of ecumenism, then there would be only a few Protestant denominations since nearly all Protestant denominations practice open communion.

In Christ,
Irenaeus

 

[Ahimsa]

What you guys need to do (if I may be so blunt) is to maintain your practices concerning Mass, while also having a ‘megachurch’ type service (complete with arena seating, drums, electric guitars, rock-n-roll contemporary hymns, big-screen videos, and a laid-back sermon) either Saturday night or perhaps Sunday before Mass.

 

[jkatpc]

Sorry but you are very mislead into an extreeme form of false ecumenism.
Anyone who claims ignorance of the issue is and must be an anomally or retarted. Most Protestants that do this do this as a defiance and know darn well what the rules are. They disrespect our Church in an Un Christian manner and with contempt for our rules.
You have been mislead.

I have not been misled. Those who receive Eucharist but don’t understand it (note here that I don’t say those who know what we believe, choose not to believe it but receive anyway–that’s blasphemy) are not subject to sin. In fact, I believe they are subject to receiving graces. Take an informal poll some time among Catholics at church (not this forum–they’re ringers). See how many can explain correctly the real presence yet receive anyway.

And the word is “retarded” not “retarted.”

 

[Tantum_ergo]

We on this forum are “ringers”?

LOL, oh that is just too funny–but then again, it is also pretty sad.

 

[gavri]

As an ortodox Roman Catholic, I have a bit of a problem with the solution we Catholics have. (more of a dilemma)
I to hold that non-Catholics that don’t believe in the Real Presence should not receive Communion.

But what about the Protestants who do believe that the Roman Catholic Communion realy is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? (and who might not be familiar with the Roman Catholic rule about Communion?)

And what about the Catholics who call themselves Roman Catholic who don’t believe that the Catholic Communion realy is the Body and Blood of Jesus? Shouldn’t there be a rule for them also when a Priest makes an anouncement about the reception of the Roman Catholic Communion?

I have Catholic friends with different ideas about receiving the Catholic Communion and even though I have friends who hold to the ortodox Roman Catholic possition and those that have the German-like possition. (most happen to be German also)

Shalom!

 

[vern_humphrey]

I have not been misled. Those who receive Eucharist but don’t understand it (note here that I don’t say those who know what we believe, choose not to believe it but receive anyway–that’s blasphemy) are not subject to sin.

But those who knowingly administer the Eucharist to them do sin, and that would include the Pope if he permitted non-Catholics to take Communion.

And the word is “retarded” not “retarted.”

The word is “retarted.” It means to replace an older floozie with a younger one.

 

[jmcrae]

What you guys need to do (if I may be so blunt) is to maintain your practices concerning Mass, while also having a ‘megachurch’ type service (complete with arena seating, drums, electric guitars, rock-n-roll contemporary hymns, big-screen videos, and a laid-back sermon) either Saturday night or perhaps Sunday before Mass.

Two words: “Life Teen.”

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

This is interesting. Protestants jealous that they can’t take Catholic communion?

Why should they be ? They have their own.​

I’m not entirely sure why this is an issue, seeing that Germany has its own bishops - they are the ones who have responsibility for the public worship of the Church in their dioceses, so there is no obvious reason to involve Rome. The Pope has his own diocese to govern, even though hardly any Catholics in it turn up at Mass. ##

 

[jmcrae]

The Pope has his own diocese to govern, even though hardly any Catholics in it turn up at Mass. ##

And you know this how?

 

[vern_humphrey]

Why should they be ? They have their own.​

I’m not entirely sure why this is an issue, seeing that Germany has its own bishops - they are the ones who have responsibility for the public worship of the Church in their dioceses, so there is no obvious reason to involve Rome. The Pope has his own diocese to govern, even though hardly any Catholics in it turn up at Mass. ##

This is not an issue on which individual bishops can rule. His Holiness has spoken.

 

[jkatpc]

But those who knowingly administer the Eucharist to them do sin, and that would include the Pope if he permitted non-Catholics to take Communion.

The word is “retarted.” It means to replace an older floozie with a younger one.

Excellent second comment! Of course, your first comment appears to be aimed at B16 who did permit a non-Catholic to RECEIVE communion. It really depends if the receiver believes in the real presence. That should be our litmus stick. A fundamentalist Baptist friend of mine who is a very good person and a very devout Christian truly believes in the real presence because he believes Jesus really meant what he said. Odd, huh? Never underestimate the Holy Spirit or (heaven forbid) try to put him in our predefined boxes.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Excellent second comment! Of course, your first comment appears to be aimed at B16 who did permit a non-Catholic to RECEIVE communion. It really depends if the receiver believes in the real presence. That should be our litmus stick. A fundamentalist Baptist friend of mine who is a very good person and a very devout Christian truly believes in the real presence because he believes Jesus really meant what he said. Odd, huh? Never underestimate the Holy Spirit or (heaven forbid) try to put him in our predefined boxes.

My comment was not aimed at His Holiness. The Pope (or any bishop) can make an exception on a case-by-case basis. I like to think of it as being a parallel to the Oxford policy on conferring honorary degrees – they only confer one when it would be an insult not to.

But an across-the-board decision to give communion to all and sundry would be a violation of Catholic principles and sinful.

 

[nearing80]

I’m a Catholic convert.
The thing is that many people are desperatly looking for a sense of belonging/community, and I think thats why welcoming people are important.

I believe you have touched on a very important issue in that last paragraph. This feeling of being unwelcome is apparent not only in churches but in most organizations. A stranger comes in and if no one welcomes or even talks to him, he feels ignored. He has consciously marked that place off his list.

Working in various organizations during my lifetime I find that it only talkes a smile or a few words to break the ice. The first impression of many potential members or possibly converts lies on so little yet it leads the way in which others view the whole of that particular church/organization.

 

[Holly3278]

Protestants cannot receive communion in a Catholic Church unless the bishop says its okay. Rome has spoken, it is settled.