Protestants taking Communion in the RCC

[ChadS]

So you are saying if someone is Catholic but doesn’t believe what the church teaches about one of these things they shouldn’t receive?

The list isn’t certainly conclusive, but it was meant more to demonstrate to a Protestant who isn’t confirmed in the Catholic Church what receiving communion implies about their beliefs.

I haven’t said anything about fellow Catholics, but at least for me personally I try to be an all-in type of guy. Like I continually wonder why people who haven’t been in a church in 20 years still abstain from meat on Friday’s during Lent. Or if you believe all paths lead to heaven why bother coming to church? Then another part of me says who am I to say what little spark of grace may bring somebody back into the Church.

ChadS

 

[ajcstr]

So you are saying if someone is Catholic but doesn’t believe what the church teaches about one of these things they shouldn’t receive?

All I can add to this is when I was having doubts about Jesus divinity, I was advised by a priest that I should not receive. I would think the same to be true about the Eucharist.

That being said, I’m sure there are very few people that receive and have no doubts about any of those things. And there are degrees of doubts so I don’t think a black and white statement can be made about this. I am reminded of a prayer, “Lord, I believe, help my disbelief”

 

[ajcstr]

I continually wonder why people who haven’t been in a church in 20 years still abstain from meat on Friday’s during Lent.

That one always gets me too, but I guess as long as they maintain a piece, the door is always cracked open to come back in.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

The list isn’t certainly conclusive, but it was meant more to demonstrate to a Protestant who isn’t confirmed in the Catholic Church what receiving communion implies about their beliefs.

I haven’t said anything about fellow Catholics, but at least for me personally I try to be an all-in type of guy. Like I continually wonder why people who haven’t been in a church in 20 years still abstain from meat on Friday’s during Lent. Or if you believe all paths lead to heaven why bother coming to church? Then another part of me says who am I to say what little spark of grace may bring somebody back into the Church.

ChadS

Fr. Groeschel said that in NY there was a little old Jewish lady…she would come up on Ash Wednesday and receive ashes. He asked her why she did it since she was not a Christian. And she shrugs her shoulders and says: *well, it’s free and it cant hurt none *(paraphrase)

 

[Church_Militant]

I think one of the most informative things that needs to be brought into this discussion is Pope St. John Paul the Great’s wonderful encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia and I’ll post sections that are specifically relevant.

1. In considering the Eucharist as the sacrament of ecclesial communion, there is one subject which, due to its importance, must not be overlooked: I am referring to the relationship of the Eucharist to ecumenical activity

. We should all give thanks to the Blessed Trinity for the many members of the faithful throughout the world who in recent decades have felt an ardent desire for unity among all Christians. The Second Vatican Council, at the beginning of its Decree on Ecumenism, sees this as a special gift of God.89 It was an efficacious grace which inspired us, the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church and our brothers and sisters from other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, to set forth on the path of ecumenism.

Our longing for the goal of unity prompts us to turn to the Eucharist, which is the supreme sacrament of the unity of the People of God, in as much as it is the apt expression and the unsurpassable source of that unity.90 In the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice the Church prays that God, the Father of mercies, will grant his children the fullness of the Holy Spirit so that they may become one body and one spirit in Christ.91 In raising this prayer to the Father of lights, from whom comes every good endowment and every perfect gift (cf. *Jas *1:17), the Church believes that she will be heard, for she prays in union with Christ her Head and Spouse, who takes up this plea of his Bride and joins it to that of his own redemptive sacrifice.

1. Precisely because the Church’s unity, which the Eucharist brings about through the Lord’s sacrifice and by communion in his body and blood, absolutely requires full communion in the bonds of the profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance, it is not possible to celebrate together the same Eucharistic liturgy until those bonds are fully re-established. Any such concelebration would not be a valid means, and might well prove instead to be an obstacle, to the attainment of full communion, by weakening the sense of how far we remain from this goal and by introducing or exacerbating ambiguities with regard to one or another truth of the faith. The path towards full unity can only be undertaken in truth. In this area, the prohibitions of Church law leave no room for uncertainty,92 in fidelity to the moral norm laid down by the Second Vatican Council.93

I would like nonetheless to reaffirm what I said in my Encyclical Letter Ut Unum Sint after having acknowledged the impossibility of Eucharistic sharing: “And yet we do have a burning desire to join in celebrating the one Eucharist of the Lord, and this desire itself is already a common prayer of praise, a single supplication. Together we speak to the Father and increasingly we do so ‘with one heart’”.94

 

[Church_Militant]

1. In considering the Eucharist as the sacrament of ecclesial communion, there is one subject which, due to its importance, must not be overlooked: I am referring to the relationship of the Eucharist to ecumenical activity. We should all give thanks to the Blessed Trinity for the many members of the faithful throughout the world who in recent decades have felt an ardent desire for unity among all Christians. The Second Vatican Council, at the beginning of its Decree on Ecumenism, sees this as a special gift of God.89 It was an efficacious grace which inspired us, the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church and our brothers and sisters from other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, to set forth on the path of ecumenism.

Our longing for the goal of unity prompts us to turn to the Eucharist, which is the supreme sacrament of the unity of the People of God, in as much as it is the apt expression and the unsurpassable source of that unity.90 In the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice the Church prays that God, the Father of mercies, will grant his children the fullness of the Holy Spirit so that they may become one body and one spirit in Christ.91 In raising this prayer to the Father of lights, from whom comes every good endowment and every perfect gift (cf. *Jas *1:17), the Church believes that she will be heard, for she prays in union with Christ her Head and Spouse, who takes up this plea of his Bride and joins it to that of his own redemptive sacrifice.

1. Precisely because the Church’s unity, which the Eucharist brings about through the Lord’s sacrifice and by communion in his body and blood, absolutely requires full communion in the bonds of the profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance, it is not possible to celebrate together the same Eucharistic liturgy until those bonds are fully re-established. Any such concelebration would not be a valid means, and might well prove instead to be an obstacle, to the attainment of full communion, by weakening the sense of how far we remain from this goal and by introducing or exacerbating ambiguities with regard to one or another truth of the faith. The path towards full unity can only be undertaken in truth. In this area, the prohibitions of Church law leave no room for uncertainty,92 in fidelity to the moral norm laid down by the Second Vatican Council.93

I would like nonetheless to reaffirm what I said in my Encyclical Letter Ut Unum Sint after having acknowledged the impossibility of Eucharistic sharing: “And yet we do have a burning desire to join in celebrating the one Eucharist of the Lord, and this desire itself is already a common prayer of praise, a single supplication. Together we speak to the Father and increasingly we do so ‘with one heart’”.94

The entire encyclical is an amazing teaching document and has greatly informed my own understanding and devotion to the Eucharist and the Mass.

I would also keep in mind that discussion and consideration do not infer final approval and we can wait with prayerful patience to see what happens.

 

[ChadS]

That one always gets me too, but I guess as long as they maintain a piece, the door is always cracked open to come back in.

I agree wholeheartedly.

ChadS

 

[rinnie]

So yesterday I was trying to talk my wife to go with me to Mass this Sunday. I figure since I’ve been reading about the RCC and chatting with you folks I should at least go to a Mass.

Anyway, I told her that they would be having communion but we couldn’t take it. She asked why. I said because we aren’t part of the Catholic church, to which she said “But I’m part of Christ church”.

Anyway, that got me to thinking. If a non-catholic took communion in a Catholic church how do you react? I assume it happens from time to time by someone either not understanding that they aren’t supposed or maybe understanding but taking it anyway.

Do you have deacons ready to tackle those Presbyterians who get in the communion line?

On another note, It is a mortal sin for a Catholic to take communion at say the United Methodist church. Maybe they are going to church with a friend and take communion out of respect for their friend???

Chances are we would not know. But is a Priest did know he would explain you could not receive not to punish you but so that you would not condem youself.

And know they do not acknowledge Christ in the Eucharist its only a symbol.

 

[ajcstr]

Fr. Groeschel said that in NY there was a little old Jewish lady…she would come up on Ash Wednesday and receive ashes. He asked her why she did it since she was not a Christian. And she shrugs her shoulders and says: *well, it’s free and it cant hurt none *(paraphrase)

Well, Ash Wed and Palm Sunday are the giveaway days !

 

[SyroMalankara]

So yesterday I was trying to talk my wife to go with me to Mass this Sunday. I figure since I’ve been reading about the RCC and chatting with you folks I should at least go to a Mass.

Anyway, I told her that they would be having communion but we couldn’t take it. She asked why. I said because we aren’t part of the Catholic church, to which she said “But I’m part of Christ church”.

Anyway, that got me to thinking. If a non-catholic took communion in a Catholic church how do you react? I assume it happens from time to time by someone either not understanding that they aren’t supposed or maybe understanding but taking it anyway.

Do you have deacons ready to tackle those Presbyterians who get in the communion line?

On another note, It is a mortal sin for a Catholic to take communion at say the United Methodist church. Maybe they are going to church with a friend and take communion out of respect for their friend???

Receiving Eucharist because it’s offered, without any thought on the gravity of what is occurring is either a mindset of routine or superstition. A believing practicing protestant should really be actively AGAINST receiving Catholic Eucharist, because of all it implies and how it goes against everything they believe. Only someone not learned or basing their feelings on emotion would think otherwise.

It is a mortal sin for a Catholic to take communion at protestant services - the exceptions are Churches with true Apostolic Succession - if they allow Catholics to receive. Catholics are allowed to receive from Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, PNCC, and a few others. But not all allow Catholics to receive - in general PNCC, Church of the East, Armenian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Antiochian Orthodox (in the Middle East, based on individual bishop’s agreements) allow it, based on inter-Church agreements.

There are no such provisions for protestants. There may be limited local exceptions, such as Church of England spouses of Catholics receiving during funerals or something - but these are rare exceptions.

 

[Nicea325]

So yesterday I was trying to talk my wife to go with me to Mass this Sunday. I figure since I’ve been reading about the RCC and chatting with you folks I should at least go to a Mass.

Anyway, I told her that they would be having communion but we couldn’t take it. She asked why. I said because we aren’t part of the Catholic church, to which she said “But I’m part of Christ church”.

Anyway, that got me to thinking. If a non-catholic took communion in a Catholic church how do you react? I assume it happens from time to time by someone either not understanding that they aren’t supposed or maybe understanding but taking it anyway.

Do you have deacons ready to tackle those Presbyterians who get in the communion line?

On another note, It is a mortal sin for a Catholic to take communion at say the United Methodist church. Maybe they are going to church with a friend and take communion out of respect for their friend???

I recommend you buy a US Catechism for Adults and have your wife read it. The early church simply did not allow anyone partake of the Lord’s Supper; hence, there existed many heretical sects calling themselves Christian.

 

[gus]

To receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church one must be Catholic.

The reason is because when one receives the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, in effect, they would be saying that they believe in everything the Church teaches.

It is not because we think that we are a better person than the non-Catholic.

If I went to an Orthodox Liturgy and asked if I could receive their (valid) Eucharist and the priest said no, I would respect that decision.

I would add even Catholics in mortal sin are not allowed to receive the Sacrement.
The only way to prepare for the sacrement is through reconciliation .
We pretty much abide by Paul’s instruction.
Why would a non Catholic who pretty much disagrees with these critia be allowed to do what a Catholic can’t do.?

 

[Dorothy]

I would add even Catholics in mortal sin are not allowed to receive the Sacrement.
The only way to prepare for the sacrement is through reconciliation .
We pretty much abide by Paul’s instruction.
Why would a non Catholic who pretty much disagrees with these critia be allowed to do what a Catholic can’t do.?

 

[Dorothy]

That is correct. I forgot about that.