Protestant communion and unconfessed sin

[Contrabass101]

Hi,

I am not a Catholic, but I have come to doubt many of the Lutheran dogmas I have grown up with. I am, however, not yet sure whether Catholicism is true.

Now my problem comes with the lutheran communion. I know that according to Catholic moral theology, it is wrong to receive the eucharist when having unconfessed sin.

Is it then also wrong to receive the *Lutheran *communion when having unconfessed sins? And would it be sufficient to confess these to a Lutheran priest?

I guess my question is whether Christ is present in the Lutheran communion or only the Catholic.

You may think, “that’s a strange question from someone who’s not a Catholic”, but since I am not quite sure about what is true (mostly since 90% of Lutheranism and Catholicism is identical), I fear that I *may *be doing something wrong, and -even worse- be dishonoring the flesh and blood of Christ.

• CB

 

[LDNCatholic]

Hi,

I am not a Catholic, but I have come to doubt many of the Lutheran dogmas I have grown up with. I am, however, not yet sure whether Catholicism is true.

Now my problem comes with the lutheran communion. I know that according to Catholic moral theology, it is wrong to receive the eucharist when having unconfessed sin.

Is it then also wrong to receive the *Lutheran *communion when having unconfessed sins? And would it be sufficient to confess these to a Lutheran priest?

I guess my question is whether Christ is present in the Lutheran communion or only the Catholic.

You may think, “that’s a strange question from someone who’s not a Catholic”, but since I am not quite sure about what is true (mostly since 90% of Lutheranism and Catholicism is identical), I fear that I *may *be doing something wrong, and -even worse- be dishonoring the flesh and blood of Christ.

• CB

Hi contrabass, I’m not quite sure what you’re asking. Catholics should not recieve communion in a Lutheran church (or any non Catholic church besides the Orthodox) so it doesn’t matter whether we have unconfessed sins or not, we aren’t supposed to do it. If you are asking what you should do as a Lutheran…that I can’t help you with, I know next to nothing about Lutheranism.

Oh, and the Catholic Church teaches that no, Christ is not present in Lutheran, or any protestant, communion. As far as I’m aware the Real Presence is only there in Catholocism and Orthodoxy.

 

[1ke]

If you are looking for the **Catholic **teaching on whether Lutherans have valid Eucharist, the answer is no. The Catholic Church does not recognize Lutheran communion as valid-- it is merely bread and wine.

Now, at whatever point you become convinced of Catholicism’s Truth, you should refrain from taking Lutheran Communion because receiving communion is in itself a profession of faith. If you do not believe what they believe about the Eucharist (consubstantiation) or their other precepts, then you should not partake.

I hope you will consider to discern the Truth of the Catholic Faith.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi,
Is it then also wrong to receive the *Lutheran *communion when having unconfessed sins? And would it be sufficient to confess these to a Lutheran priest?

I guess my question is whether Christ is present in the Lutheran communion or only the Catholic.

• CB

No Christ is not present in communion at Lutheran Church, in part because Luther and the reformers specifically rejected the Catholic theology behind the Eucharist, transubstantiation, the sacrifical nature of the Eucharist, and the necessity for the sacrifical priesthood to confect the Eucharist.

As for the specific discipline concerning communion in your denomination, simply ask your pastor. If you have ceased in your mind and heart to believe the Lutheran teaching and to think of yourself as Lutheran, it is your duty and moral imperative to leave the Lutheran denomination and begin worshipping with Catholics, and to embark on preparation to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.