They CAN take communion without pain of sin because as the poster posted, Baptists have open communion.
It is true that Baptists generally do not have a problem with any Christian receiving communion in their services. But the
Catholic Church prohibits Catholics from receiving communion in Protestant churches.
The prohibition comes from the Catholic side. It
is a grave sin for a Catholic to receive communion in a Protestant church for that reason.
And just for the record, I know of a protestant whose church beleives that their communion IS the body of christ and NOT symbolic.
Well, of course, but not the Baptists. Some Protestants do indeed believe in the Real Presence - Lutherans and Anglicans/Episcopalians, at least. But the majority do not.
And the catholic churches that I have attended for over 40 years DO NOT promote fellowship. In the region I live any way.
I’m sorry to hear that. My diocese has always left me with a far more positive experience of much fellowship.
The question was asked if a catholic could take communion at a baptist service.
The Baptist church does not seem to have a problem with it, as stated by a baptist.
So they CAN take communion.
But the Catholic Church
does have a problem with it. So the answer is no, Catholics are not allowed to receive communion at a Baptist service. The Baptists would allow them to, but the Catholic Church is against it.
You sure about that? Cuz, it sure sounds like it IS against protestants.
There are mixed faith couples that attend both services of their respective denominations.
Catholic sources send mixed signals on this; it is my confident belief that there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Catholic occasionally attending a Protestant service and even participating in it by singing, saying the prayers, etc. Catholics aren’t supposed to accept any responsibilities greater than that, though - i.e. do readings, lead the music, preach…
I’m sure there are exceptions even to that, though. For example, my grandfather was Protestant, and obviously at his (Protestant) funeral my father (who is Catholic) certainly helped lead/run the ceremony.
All Catholics are to regard Protestants as our separated brethren: they are orthodox Nicene Christians with a valid baptism, and those facts alone make them our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Protestants ARE allowed in special circumstances to recieve communion in the catholic church. They must go throught the proper channels, but it is permitted in special circumstances.
So there ARE exceptions to “catholics ONLY can receive the Eucharist due to apostalic succession” !!!
Indeed. In fact, there are other exceptions, too:
Most of the time, eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East members, and members of the PNCC are permitted to regularly receive communion.
Of course, most don’t, as their own churches forbid it, but on the
Catholic side they may receive Holy Communion.
And you’re right about Protestants, too, though the restrictions are far heavier. It’s only non-Christians who may
never receive the Eucharist.
I think you have a point here.
At an “altar call” the idea is that one receives justification through faith in Jesus Christ. While Catholics who receive Holy Communion are indeed “receiving Jesus” into their heart and soul, the salvific aspect of an “altar call” is more comparable to what happens at a Catholic
baptism than at a Catholic celebration of the
Eucharist (Mass/Liturgy).
some sunday why don’t you sit up towards the front and simply watch the congregation receive communion. It might really be a good lesson for you. See if you see any signs of repentance, conversion, beleif in the real presence, or even basic respect. You just might find a communion wafer on the floor after mass is over.
I hope not. In any case, what you describe *never *- in my experience - happens in the parishes of my diocese, lisa.
I have been to several protestant and ONE pentecostal service. I took communion and had no qualms about it.
Your religion is listed as “other,” so I don’t think anyone here has any reason to think your doing so inappropriate.
Don’t worry, you will have no urge to genuflect in a Protestant church anymore than there would be in any other non-Catholic venue you might find yourself in. You will immediately notice the absence of the Eucharist by the empty feeling you find in your heart while there.
You presume too much; emotional responses to any given situation differ from person to person, even when the persons involved share the same beliefs.
And certain Protestant churches - e.g. Episcopalian - often have very traditionally designed churches that
can remind a Catholic of his or her faith. In such a church building, a Catholic may indeed have to turn off his or her mental autopilot in order to ensure he or she doesn’t genuflect to nothing.
The civilized way to say what some have been trying to say is that catholics are prevented by CATHOLIC belief from participating in a baptist communion service. What we believe is that the bread is NOT bread, but the body of Christ, the wine (Grape juice has a 12 hour shelf live in Jesus’ day. VERY unlikely they had any) is NOT wine, but is the blood of Christ. From the catholic point of view, participating in the service of a people who don’t believe this and who have rejected the sacrament of Holy Orders which Jesus gave us as the means to receive it is disrespecting the Truth. It’s not meant as a snub to you, it’s just a matter of being consistent with what we know to be true.