When a Catholic accepts communion at a Protestant Church

[Renton405]

My husband comes from a family of Baptists, in fact, Baptist ministers and it changes nothing…we go to Mass when we are back visiting and on the occassion we go to their service, we respectfully say no to communion.

I have the same problem. I don’t wanna seem rude. however my wifes church is non-denominational and they don’t even have the eucharist. So I don’t take communion except only in the Catholic Church.

now whether attending another church is a sin I dont really know, it could be defined as apostacy. i definatly don’t intend to make a habit of it…I think its best to confess it to a priest though

I do find that churches that use grape juice(instead of wine) and crackers is a mockery…

 

[teadough]

Why would you think it rude? Would you also feel it rude of them if they refused Holy Communion at a Catholic Mass?

By participating in their communion, you have made a statement that you agree with their ideology and are part of it or at a minimum see it as a valid alternative to your own faiths Communion.

On a side note shouldn’t you be attending the Catholic Church now? Or do you attend both?

I see this as a problem that many people have today. There has been such a blurring of the the lines between what is real and what is fake, what is acceptable and what is unacceptable and what true adherance to Catholicism really is that many people don’t have a clue what to do in a given situation. They are afraid, as you are of being thought of as rude or arrogant or superior or whatever else.

The plain truth is you need to stand up for the faith and defend it. Explain why you cannot receive. Don’t be ashamed to tell them. Lay it on the line man.

I attend Mass and have been for some time. The time will come when my Sisters children will get Baptized.One of them has,so the others will soon. There is no way I will not be at that service no matter what kind of beliefs they have.

As far as communion at their church? We will just have to wait and see. Being that protestant churches are only eating a piece of “Leavened” bread and a bit of grape juice I really don’t see the problem. I am pretty sure God knows my heart and understands that because of my troubled past,and all the stuff I put my family through, the last thing I need to do is be a rude brother or son. Sorry,that the people who grew up Catholic don’t understand.

 

[Aquinas74]

Thanks guys for the answers. I didn’t expect so many responses so fast. Thanks and God Bless.

 

[teadough]

"The plain truth is you need to stand up for the faith and defend it. Explain why you cannot receive. Don’t be ashamed to tell them. Lay it on the line man".

I don’t see how me explaining to my families protestant church that they are wrong, when I am an invited guest, will help the matter much.

 

[Aquinas74]

"The plain truth is you need to stand up for the faith and defend it. Explain why you cannot receive. Don’t be ashamed to tell them. Lay it on the line man".

I don’t see how me explaining to my families protestant church that they are wrong, when I am an invited guest, will help the matter much.

Take courage and heart my friend. Ask God for the courage to do what is right, I will pray for your family members, please pray for mine.

 

[jmcrae]

Sorry,that the people who grew up Catholic don’t understand.

I am a convert, and I understand you perfectly - I am the only Catholic in my whole family, and I have been given the whole encyclopedia of emotional black-mail and guilt tripping - footnotes and all.

If being Catholic is important enough to you, you will withstand it simply by saying, “Sorry, I don’t practice your religion any more; I’m Catholic now.” Period, end of story.

 

[Aquinas74]

I am a convert, and I understand you perfectly - I am the only Catholic in my whole family, and I have been given the whole encyclopedia of emotional black-mail and guilt tripping - footnotes and all.

If being Catholic is important enough to you, you will withstand it simply by saying, “Sorry, I don’t practice your religion any more; I’m Catholic now.” Period, end of story.

jmcrae were you at one time on the catholic.org forum?

 

[bear06]

From a Catholic perspective.Isn’t the Bread and Wine(grape juice at most Protestant churches) considered to be exactly that…just bread and wine? Protestants say they are eating bread and and drinking wine in remembrance anyways. Nobody is trying to even pretend like there is more to it.

What am I supposed to do when I visit my families church from now on? I don’t always know when they have communion and can’t imagine just refusing it. They already think I am sort of crazy for becoming Catholic. It would seem rude.

Why should it be a big deal to them? Obviously the term communion means that you share common beliefs which you don’t. Just explain it to them.

 

[bear06]

"The plain truth is you need to stand up for the faith and defend it. Explain why you cannot receive. Don’t be ashamed to tell them. Lay it on the line man".

I don’t see how me explaining to my families protestant church that they are wrong, when I am an invited guest, will help the matter much.

It’s an opportunity to share your Faith.

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t see how me explaining to my families protestant church that they are wrong, when I am an invited guest, will help the matter much.

There is absolutely nothing that says you have to accept the invitation. If it is leading you to sin because you fear appearing “rude,” then you shouldn’t go.

 

[palmas85]

"The plain truth is you need to stand up for the faith and defend it. Explain why you cannot receive. Don’t be ashamed to tell them. Lay it on the line man".

I don’t see how me explaining to my families protestant church that they are wrong, when I am an invited guest, will help the matter much.

Will it help more to ignore your faith? It seems to me that your families approval is more important to you than the exercise of your faith and doing what is required of you. And if that is indeed the case, then you need to seriously re-evaluate your committment to the Church. Sorry to be so blunt but that is true.

We were taught that we were to always give a spirited defense of the faith whenever necessary as we were soldiers of Christ. I teach those in the RCIA programs that I am involved with to do that. Have you never heard of it?

You don’t have to be disrespectful, mean angry or anything like that. Just tell them thats all. Simple. If they don’t accept it that is on them. Pray for them. But don’t compromise your beliefs so they feel better, or in some vain attempt to show them that you are still somehow part of** THEIR **communion You are not. At least you shouldn’t be except in the barest possible sense. That is misplaced and misguided ecumenism and just plain wrong.

Being a true Catholic actually requires you to make some hard choices and always has. It has never been the easiest path in Christianity despite what some will try to have you believe.

 

[blossom02]

Teadough Can you just say No Thank you with a smile and let it go?

 

[teadough]

After sleeping on the issue I can say that not taking communion is the right thing. As far as not attending a service for by nephew or nieces baptism? I will go to that. That is not me saying I agree with that particular churches religious ideas. I guess if that is the case, I should reprogram my radio stations because all the ones in my area play mostly protestant musicians. God forbid if I sing along to a song praising Christ

 

[Seatuck]

From a Catholic perspective.Isn’t the Bread and Wine(grape juice at most Protestant churches) considered to be exactly that…just bread and wine? Protestants say they are eating bread and and drinking wine in remembrance anyways. Nobody is trying to even pretend like there is more to it.

What am I supposed to do when I visit my families church from now on? I don’t always know when they have communion and can’t imagine just refusing it. They already think I am sort of crazy for becoming Catholic. It would seem rude.

You may visit your families church as long as you see to your own Sunday Obligation. You may not participate in the communion there. This is your moment to dig down deep and profess your faith. Your moment of evangelization. God will give you the grace to do this if you ask. Be calm and explain politely if asked. Otherwise just say No, Thank you or pass the tray or whatever.

 

[teadough]

Here is a quote I got from another Website. I would link the site but figure someone would flame me because it is not a Catholic site.

" The other reason for the restriction is that open Communion would be somewhat dishonest, signaling a church-wide unity that does not yet exist."

I think that sums it up pretty well.

Like I mentioned a little bit ago. I slept on it and feel better about being able to make the decision to refuse communion and being able to explain why. I had a really tough day yesterday and it was easy to allow the way I felt show through anything I said or did.Actually,I am still a little offset but have faith that today will get better.I could really use some prayers today

 

[Eric_Olsen]

Tell them your believes prohibit you from receiving communion at their church. If they can’t accept that and think you are crazy, so be it. My family on my wifes and my side thought I was crazy to leave the ELCA and go back to my roots in the Catholic church.
I left because of the moral issues in the ELCA which is a topic for another thread.

From a Catholic perspective.Isn’t the Bread and Wine(grape juice at most Protestant churches) considered to be exactly that…just bread and wine? Protestants say they are eating bread and and drinking wine in remembrance anyways. Nobody is trying to even pretend like there is more to it.

What am I supposed to do when I visit my families church from now on? I don’t always know when they have communion and can’t imagine just refusing it. They already think I am sort of crazy for becoming Catholic. It would seem rude.

 

[mikew262]

Personally, because they are just having bread and wine, I refuse, it seems a mockery of our Eucharist.

It’s not a mockery. They just don’t hold to the same belief as Catholics. They are just as sincere in their beliefs, as Catholics are in theirs.

 

[mikew262]

I find these questions funny in some ways and frustrating in other ways. We are all Christians!!! Even though a Protestant faith may not feel the same way about communion as Catholics, they are still following Christ, and their form of communion is still their way of honoring and remembering him. If a Catholic happens to go to a Protestant service, and takes their form of communion, we are still honoring Christ and doing it in the fellowship of other Christians.

Do any of you truly think this is really going to anger God?

 

[teadough]

It’s not a mockery. They just don’t hold to the same belief as Catholics. They are just as sincere in their beliefs, as Catholics are in theirs.

I think there are some Catholics that feel that way. In a very short time I have run across some very “Fundamental” Catholics that are in the same line with the Extreme Protestants. They don’t appear to be able to show or recieve Love and Grace.They only look at what you can’t do. No wonder so many people could care less about the Catholic Faith. I am so thankful that God has placed some wonderful Catholics in my life that live the Faith.

 

[Aquinas74]

I find these questions funny in some ways and frustrating in other ways. We are all Christians!!! Even though a Protestant faith may not feel the same way about communion as Catholics, they are still following Christ, and their form of communion is still their way of honoring and remembering him. If a Catholic happens to go to a Protestant service, and takes their form of communion, we are still honoring Christ and doing it in the fellowship of other Christians.

Do any of you truly think this is really going to anger God?

Yes mike, Catholics are not supposed to take Communion in a protestant church, by taking the Communion you are assenting to what that Church teaches and believes. That would be contrarian to what the Church has taught.