You are right that some, perhaps many, Anglicans and Lutheran synods are in full communion, but not all Anglicans and Lutherans are in full communion. Pray for the day. But I think Novo was speaking more about Continuing Anglican types, and confessional Lutherans such as LCMS. As GKC and I have discussed, Anglo Catholics and confessional Lutherans have much in common, including the desire for full doctrinal agreement before full altar and pulpit fellowship.
Such is my understanding, though I am not sure that the Continuum was what EC had in mind…
There. Fixed.
Hmmm. Yeah, it makes more sense when you consider what you actually typed, rather than what I thought I had read.I’m sure the Continuum isn’t what EC had in mind. Or the LCMS, for that matter.
OTOH, I have a feeling that Novo didn’t have the ELCA and TEC in mind.
Jon
Not the subject of the thread, so I won’t pursue it here, EC, but I understand your POV on the subject.
The divide seems less clear on this side of the Atlantic, given that the Anglican and Lutheran Churches here - while overwhelmingly liberal - don’t tend to absolutely enforce their liberalism with the same vigour that seems to be the case in the TEC (I have too little knowledge of the ELCA to comment on them). It definitely is the case that there are stable groups of orthodox Anglicans and Lutherans within the historic state churches in England and parts of Scandinavia, at least. One thinks, for example, of those parishes within the English Church under the provincial episcopal visitors, i.e. +Richborough, +Ebbsfleet, +Fulham and +Beverly. I’d be willing to expand that group further, but I appreciate that LCMS and Continuum types might not!There. Fixed.
More Confessional, orthodox Lutherans are not in pulpit/altar fellowship with the Anglican communion. Conversely, more traditional Anglican bodies tend not to be in pulpit/altar fellowship with Lutherans, though there are exceptions. Motley, them Anglicans.
EDIT: Looks like everyone else beat me to clarifying.
It’s a matter between you and Christ. If you are a true believer in Christ and there is nothing between you and God, there is no sin.I’m not really sure where to put this question, so I’m going to put it here and hope it’s ok.
If a non-catholic receives communion in a Catholic Church, it’s considered a sin. If a non-catholic receives communion in a non-catholic church it’s not a sin, correct?
Thanks in advance for any (name removed by moderator)ut.
That’s how I read the question too, considering that Novo was responding to a post about the LCMS and WELS.I’m sure the Continuum isn’t what EC had in mind. Or the LCMS, for that matter.
OTOH, I have a feeling that Novo didn’t have the ELCA and TEC in mind.
Jon
As opposed to what?
Exactly!!! In some churches, it is considered a sin if taken in another denomination or if you are not of that denomiation offering communion.
I don’t think that really answers my question. But regardless, you said:
But isn’t everything in life “a matter between you and Christ”?
That certainly isn’t Catholic teaching and no bishop would say so. Although the Catholic church doesn’t restrict Catholics from receiving communion at an Orthodox Divine Liturgy in areas where there are no Masses, because the Orthodox churches possess apostolic succession and valid sacraments, we should respect the authority of the patriarch or pastor and should only do so if permission is given, which may be unlikely. In that case I would attend the DL and make a spiritual communion at communion time, the same as we recommend to non-Catholics who attend Mass.
I, and hopefully most other Catholics, agree with you. But I have known some who do not.
