Taking communion at an Anglican church

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Hi. I’m a Christian who goes to an Anglican church in England. I’m thinking of becoming a Catholic but I’m not one yet. I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me towards the Catholic Church but I’m not entirely convinced and I really don’t think this is the right time for me to become a Catholic, although God might have a different plan for me.

My question is: While I’m not yet a member of the Catholic Church, is it acceptable for me to continue to take communion at Anglican churches? In the past few months, when there’s been communion at a church service I have mostly refrained from taking communion because I felt my conscience was telling me not to and I didn’t want to risk sinning against the body and blood of Christ. However, a couple of times I have taken communion anyway, without a clear conscience, and I’m sure this was a sin anyway as doing anything not on faith is a sin. But should this really be something I worry about at the moment, considering I’m not actually Catholic yet, and am not even sure whether I want to go to church? I ask because I often feel quite awkward when not taking communion at church when everyone else is and I’d prefer to take part in it, although I know what my conscience and God is telling me is more important than this. Tonight I’m going to the Christmas Eve midnight communion service (at 7pm in Eastern Standard Time I think) at my local Anglican church with my family, and I really would rather just take communion and not worry about it. If someone could tell me that as I’m not a Catholic yet it’s ok, that would be great as I could take communion with peace of mind, or if someone tells me that I shouldn’t then that would be just as helpful.

Thanks,
JDNaman
 
You should be following your conscience, which is clearly telling you not to do so.

You are not a Catholic, and therefore not bound by Catholic canon law on the matter. HOWEVER, that does not mean it is “ok” to receive non-Catholic communion if you have come so far as to have discerned otherwise in your conscience.

Your decision should not be based on what “everyone else” does at the service tonight, but what you know is right and wrong.
 
JDNaman said:
Hi. I’m a Christian who goes to an Anglican church in England. I’m thinking of becoming a Catholic but I’m not one yet. I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me towards the Catholic Church but I’m not entirely convinced and I really don’t think this is the right time for me to become a Catholic, although God might have a different plan for me.

My question is: While I’m not yet a member of the Catholic Church, is it acceptable for me to continue to take communion at Anglican churches? In the past few months, when there’s been communion at a church service I have mostly refrained from taking communion because I felt my conscience was telling me not to and I didn’t want to risk sinning against the body and blood of Christ. However, a couple of times I have taken communion anyway, without a clear conscience, and I’m sure this was a sin anyway as doing anything not on faith is a sin. But should this really be something I worry about at the moment, considering I’m not actually Catholic yet, and am not even sure whether I want to go to church? I ask because I often feel quite awkward when not taking communion at church when everyone else is and I’d prefer to take part in it, although I know what my conscience and God is telling me is more important than this. Tonight I’m going to the Christmas Eve midnight communion service (at 7pm in Eastern Standard Time I think) at my local Anglican church with my family, and I really would rather just take communion and not worry about it. If someone could tell me that as I’m not a Catholic yet it’s ok, that would be great as I could take communion with peace of mind, or if someone tells me that I shouldn’t then that would be just as helpful.

Thanks,
JDNaman
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It is really good that you are showing such love for God and his Curch. At this point you are still an Anglican and you should still follow your conscience, and not what feels good, when making your decisions. You are at a point of spiritual development where you are not bound by the code of canon law but you still have an obligation to act in charity and follow the truth. Nobody here can tell you what to do because it is obvious that you are still ignorant of some aspects of the faith and that you are active in trying to overcome such ignorance. However, if you know what God wants you to do then you must follow him even if you are uneasy about your choice.
 
I think you have a clear answer. Let your conscience be your guide.
 
Don’t feel awkward not receiving. Receiving Communion out of routine or social norms is one of the most base reasons for receiving and can never be deemed acceptable whether it be in a Catholic or any other Church.
 
😃 You are going to get different answers. 😃 I went through a bit of this myself a couple of years ago. My understanding is this: Until you actually enter the Catholic Church it isn’t a mortal sin to take Communion at a Protestant Church. I would say you shouldn’t take it once you enter RCIA. I stopped taking Communion at my last Protestant church when I firmly decided to become a Catholic. Frankly that is where I would draw the line. If you have decided you are going to become a Catholic then don’t take Communion at a Protestant Church. That is just my opinion: you need to use your own conscience.

And just a tip about skipping Communion: most people aren’t very observant.😉
 
As a former Anglican, I totally understand your quandry.Been there, done that. I will say that the majority of Anglicans consider themselves “Protestant Catholic”, which is somewhat of an oxymoron. However, Anglicans do believe Communion is a Sacrament, and through Divine Intervention is the actual Body and Blood of Christ, as do Roman Catholics, while the rest of the Protestant churches consider Communion “symbolic” . Once a year or so, I attend a Protestant service with family members, and do NOT partake of their Communion. I think the key answer would be “use your own conscience”. If ,in your heart, you do not feel it is right…it isn’t.
 
Last summer I was considering joining the Catholic church but lost interest for a month or so. During this time I attended a Christening at a Church of England church.

The woman vicar said that it was an open communion and that all who wished could come forward. Initially I did not respond, knowing that it is not advised for Catholics (or Catholics-to-be I suppose) to take Communion elsewhere. But then I got a strong feeling that yes, I should take it. So I did. And although it felt right at the time, it has felt wrong ever since and I wish I hadn’t done it. I thought I was being prompted by God to take communion during that service, but perhaps I was ignoring who else it could have been, lol.

As you are asking if it is ok to take communion in a Protestant church, then I wouldn’t take it if I were you - until you have worked out if you want to become a Catholic, or remain a Protestant.
 
In the Anglican church “open Communion” is for those who have been properly Baptised…and does not require First Communion rites or Confirmation. While that is not the case with Roman Catholic, Anglican baptism is recognized as being a proper baptism.Not that it is part of this conversation, but baptised, confirmed Roman Catholics are not required to do the whole thing again to become Anglican. RC sacraments are recognized and the former RC is “received” into the Anglican church.
 
TxRose said:
As a former Anglican, I totally understand your quandry.Been there, done that. I will say that the majority of Anglicans consider themselves “Protestant Catholic”, which is somewhat of an oxymoron. However, Anglicans do believe Communion is a Sacrament, and through Divine Intervention is the actual Body and Blood of Christ, as do Roman Catholics,** while the rest of the Protestant churches consider Communion “symbolic”** . Once a year or so, I attend a Protestant service with family members, and do NOT partake of their Communion. I think the key answer would be “use your own conscience”. If ,in your heart, you do not feel it is right…it isn’t.
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I believed in the Real Presence as an Anglican. Lutherans believe in something termed “consubstantiation” (though they perhaps don’t like the term?), which is not transubstantiation, but involves believe in the presence of Christ that is actual and not only symbolic.
 
I stand corrected! I should have said “most of the Protestant churches”. I live in the Baptist Belt, and that is the denomination that comes to mind when the word “protestant” is used. We have a small Catholic, a tiny Anglican, and miniscul Luthern and Presbyterian churchs in our entire county, along with a few Pentecostal churches, the rest are Baptist of one form or another. I also have to agree with you on your statement ,“I believed in the Real Presence as an Anglican”. When I was still Anglican, I had the opportunity to talk with the Archbishop of the Amarillo Texas Diocese, and he assumed I was RC, since I was using proper terminology in addressing him. When I admited to being Anglican, he said “Ah, a stepchild”! 😃
 
nicolakirwan said:
I believed in the Real Presence as an Anglican. Lutherans believe in something termed “consubstantiation” (though they perhaps don’t like the term?), which is not transubstantiation, but involves believe in the presence of Christ that is actual and not only symbolic.
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Over in the non-catholic forum, you can meet a very knowledgeable and polite Lutheran who will explain what is wrong with your statement, re: Lutherans and “consubstantiation”. If you were interested.

GKC
 
GKC said:
Over in the non-catholic forum, you can meet a very knowledgeable and polite Lutheran who will explain what is wrong with your statement, re: Lutherans and “consubstantiation”. If you were interested.

GKC
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I was taught by a theologian who described the Lutheran perspective as such. He’s a solid scholar, so I tend to trust his perspective. Nevertheless, he’s not a Lutheran so that could very well have been his take on it rather than the view that Lutherans truly believe.
 
nicolakirwan said:
I was taught by a theologian who described the Lutheran perspective as such. He’s a solid scholar, so I tend to trust his perspective. Nevertheless, he’s not a Lutheran so that could very well have been his take on it rather than the view that Lutherans truly believe.
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As far as I can tell, that is not what Lutherans hold. But being an Anglican myself, I know how difficult it is to generalize. Nevertheless, the Lutheran gentleman of whom I speak is both scholarly and definite, in refuting “consubstantiation”. Repeatedly.

GKC
 
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