When a Catholic accepts communion at a Protestant Church

[Aquinas74]

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.

I am glad that you have had a wonderful faith experience, A lot of people have no use for the Catholic Faith because it’s the one institution in this money and materially obsessed world that speaks the truth. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

 

[Bennie_P]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Christine Blake forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_cad/viewpost.gif
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.

Mike you are so correct, it is not a mockery, unlike the days of the original schism and breakaway from the Catholic Church (Reformation period time in History), today the average non-Catholic Christians are not usually trying to make a statement against the Church, the Pope, etc. they are trying to live out their lives with expression of worship toward Christ as they understand it. From time to time I find myself attending non-Catholic services for different reasons ( I work with non-Catholics in ministries for the homeless and those suffering from addictions) , and my protestant friends have no “real” problem with me not taking communion, though some of them don’t have a full understanding of why I can’t, if they did, then they would not be non-Catholics.

Response to the OP - After doing my Sunday obligation going mass at my parish two weekends ago I went to an Anglican service so I could see and hear Bishop John Rucyahana of Rwanda speak. The scripture readings were exactly the same as the ones I heard at my own Parish that Sunday. After the Bishop did the liturgy of the Eucharist the pastor of the Church expressed that all baptized Christians were welcome at the communion rail. He added if for any reason that you felt you couldn’t take communion (such as being RC) to feel free to come foreword and be blessed. In a sign of hope for future Christian unity I went foreword and with my arms crossed over my chest and received a blessing from their bishop and I truly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.

I would not, could not, will not do the same thing at an American Episcopal Church (ECUSA), but it being a Church of the conservative Anglican Mission in theAmericas I felt I needed to show some sign of approval to their commitment to seeking the truth. The body of Christ has many parts, the fullness of the faith is found in the Catholic Church, but we are to pray for unity and those that truly are seeking the same in non-Catholic churchs will respect our commitment to Rome, knowing just saying we are in full communion doesn’t make it so and it will be in Christ’s time, not ours, when it will be accomplished.

Dear Christine not all non-Catholics use Grape Juice The reason to refuse communion with non-Catholics should be based on our obedience to the magisterial guidance Christ gives through our bishops, not our personal wrong attitudes and pre-judgments. Not saying that you are expressing such.

 

[palmas85]

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.

Sincere in their beliefs. Does that in any way make their beliefs correct? Does it make it acceptable for Catholics to ignore the demands and rules of their faith to accomodate them? That is one of the reasons that Catholicism is in such a sad state today in many places. Unfortunately as I said, Catholicism, true Catholicism isn’t particularly easy to do at times. This is one of them.

 

[TC2]

We are also forbidden to actively participate in any way in these services, which precludes not only the reception of Holy Communion, but also any joining in of prayers, singing, or recitations.

This bothers me. It bothers me alot. Hurts, actually.
Why can’t you (Catholics) pray with us (protestants)?
Same God, going through the Son, asking forgiveness and blessings on all.
No singing? If the song doesn’t contradict Catholic teachings, why not? It’s a form of worship.
Recitations? From the Bible? Maybe you won’t agree with the interpretation of scripture, or the sermon based around the passage, but then, we don’t always, either.

Communion? Okay, I’ll go along with that, that you can’t share in this, no problem. But the other? We’re all Christians, and praying together isn’t necessarily agreeing with all parts of that church, just fellowshipping and worshipping with your brothers and sisters.

 

[teadough]

We are also forbidden to actively participate in any way in these services, which precludes not only the reception of Holy Communion, but also any joining in of prayers, singing, or recitations.

"This bothers me. It bothers me alot. Hurts, actually.
Why can’t you (Catholics) pray with us (protestants)?
Same God, going through the Son, asking forgiveness and blessings on all.
No singing? If the song doesn’t contradict Catholic teachings, why not? It’s a form of worship.
Recitations? From the Bible? Maybe you won’t agree with the interpretation of scripture, or the sermon based around the passage, but then, we don’t always, either.

Communion? Okay, I’ll go along with that, that you can’t share in this, no problem. But the other? We’re all Christians, and praying together isn’t necessarily agreeing with all parts of that church, just fellowshipping and worshipping with your brothers and sisters."

TC2,

I think it has already been cleared that it is OK to attend services. Like I stated about going to a service where my niece and newphew will get Baptized and such. Same church I was Baptized at. The Catholic Church recognizes my Baptizm as valid. Like I said. There are tons of finger pointers in the Church who want nothing more than to point out the worlds mistakes while playing the “I am right you are wrong” game. Somehow that have that game mixed up with what it means to live the Faith.Oh,well.

 

[mikew262]

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.

I am well aware of what the Catholic Church teaches. I’m just not sure I completely go along with it.

 

[mikew262]

Sincere in their beliefs. Does that in any way make their beliefs correct?

Does it make them incorrect? Who are you to judge whether one’s belief in God is correct or not? This is what infuriates me about not only my fellow Catholics, but other religions and denominations as well. Everybody is judging and condemning each other on how they worship God. It’s just sad!!! :banghead:

 

[jmcrae]

Does it make them incorrect? Who are you to judge whether one’s belief in God is correct or not? This is what infuriates me about not only my fellow Catholics, but other religions and denominations as well. Everybody is judging and condemning each other on how they worship God. It’s just sad!!! :banghead:

No, they are judging whether it conforms to what they want to publicly affirm as their belief.

For example, would you want to affirm the belief that gays can be married? If not, then you don’t want to receive Holy Communion in a church where they perform gay marriages.

And if you don’t want to affirm that Our Blessed Lady was “just a suitcase for Jesus,” then you don’t want to receive Holy Communion in churches that teach that about her.

When we receive Holy Communion, we are making a public declaration of total belief in everything that that particular denomination holds to be true. It’s not a “fellowship supper” - fellowship suppers are usually much more substantial than that.

 

[mikew262]

We are also forbidden to actively participate in any way in these services, which precludes not only the reception of Holy Communion, but also any joining in of prayers, singing, or recitations.

This bothers me. It bothers me alot. Hurts, actually.
Why can’t you (Catholics) pray with us (protestants)?
Same God, going through the Son, asking forgiveness and blessings on all.
No singing? If the song doesn’t contradict Catholic teachings, Ywhy not? It’s a form of worship.
Recitations? From the Bible? Maybe you won’t agree with the interpretation of scripture, or the sermon based around the passage, but then, we don’t always, either.

Communion? Okay, I’ll go along with that, that you can’t share in this, no problem. But the other? We’re all Christians, and praying together isn’t necessarily agreeing with all parts of that church, just fellowshipping and worshipping with your brothers and sisters.

You are so right!! It’s very sad. Why my Church doesn’t take friendlier attitude towards it’s fellow Christians, I’ll never know. I’m afraid, God may ask a lot of us to account for that attitude someday. BTW, it’s just not the Catholic Church who has this attitude; there are other non-Christian Churches who have a deep dislike for us Catholics.

 

[mikew262]

No, they are judging whether it conforms to what they want to publicly affirm as their belief.

For example, would you want to affirm the belief that gays can be married? If not, then you don’t want to receive Holy Communion in a church where they perform gay marriages.

And if you don’t want to affirm that Our Blessed Lady was “just a suitcase for Jesus,” then you don’t want to receive Holy Communion in churches that teach that about her.

When we receive Holy Communion, we are making a public declaration of total belief in everything that that particular denomination holds to be true. It’s not a “fellowship supper” - fellowship suppers are usually much more substantial than that.

As I mentioned above, I’m afraid a lot of us Christians, Catholics and non-Catholic Christians alike are going to have something to answer for on how we treated each other while on this earth. It’s not going to be pretty.

 

[anamchara]

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.

Thank you!

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?

I think the Catholics you find on here who dig their heels in when attending Protestant churches with their families is because they are coming from a more evangelical background where their families gave them a hard time about converting in the first place. They come from backgrounds where one is right the other gravely wrong and there is no in between and any sign of ecumenicism is seen as weak minded and giving in. Someone has to be a winner in their minds.

 

[anamchara]

For example, would you want to affirm the belief that gays can be married? If not,

 

[Aquinas74]

I am well aware of what the Catholic Church teaches. I’m just not sure I completely go along with it.

Thats something you will have to come to understanding with eventually. I have a Protestant BIL and I was very up-front and honest with him about how I felt. Being honest is the best thing you can do.

 

[palmas85]

Does it make them incorrect? Who are you to judge whether one’s belief in God is correct or not? This is what infuriates me about not only my fellow Catholics, but other religions and denominations as well. Everybody is judging and condemning each other on how they worship God. It’s just sad!!! :banghead:

I don’t condemn anybody. I believe what the Catholic Church teaches. Thats all. If the Catholic Church is the **one true Church **then what can the other Churches and their beliefs, whatever they are, be?.

They may have bits and pieces of the truth in them, granted, some more and others less. but none of them have the fullness and completeness of truth. None of them, not one, period. They never have had and the only truth they do have is what they got from the Holy Mother Church. And something that is not 100% truthful and factual is by necessity. a lie, again to one degree or another. No matter how polite you are, no matter how ecumenical you are, no matter how much you try to bend things so that everything fits neatly into the big picture, it doesn’t work. You cannot change what is true and what has been true no matter how much you may want to.

Hey, I’m not the one who started saying the Church has the fullness of truth in it. The Church did. It is up to you whether or not you believe it and accept it.

 

[mikew262]

I don’t condemn anybody. I believe what the Catholic Church teaches. Thats all. If the Catholic Church is the **one true Church **then what can the other Churches and their beliefs, whatever they are, be?.

They may have bits and pieces of the truth in them, granted, some more and others less. but none of them have the fullness and completeness of truth. None of them, not one, period. They never have had and the only truth they do have is what they got from the Holy Mother Church. And something that is not 100% truthful and factual is by necessity. a lie, again to one degree or another. No matter how polite you are, no matter how ecumenical you are, no matter how much you try to bend things so that everything fits neatly into the big picture, it doesn’t work. You cannot change what is true and what has been true no matter how much you may want to.

Hey, I’m not the one who started saying the Church has the fullness of truth in it. The Church did. It is up to you whether or not you believe it and accept it.

I suppose one of the differences between you and me is that you have blind faith. I on the other hand, question. I find it very hard to accept that one Christian has a “leg up” on another just because their methods of worship may differ. If each sincerely believes they are following the teachings of Christ and lives a good life, how can God hold that against them? I don’t think he does, not the God I believe in.

 

[Aquinas74]

I suppose one of the differences between you and me is that you have blind faith. I on the other hand, question. I find it very hard to accept that one Christian has a “leg up” on another just because their methods of worship may differ. If each sincerely believes they are following the teachings of Christ and lives a good life, how can God hold that against them? I don’t think he does, not the God I believe in.

“Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches.” St. Thomas Aquinas

 

[Christine_Blake]

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.

Mike, what you are missing is that Catholic believe that Christ is PRESENT in the Eucharist…perhaps you know that on an intellectual level, but on a faith level…do you understand those repercussions? If one Is God and the other Symbolizes God - it is a clear mockery ( not a making fun of, but mockery as in pretend)…Protestant Communion is going through the motions while Catholic Eucharist is participating in the sacrifice, the one time, all time sacrifice of Jesus. On paper I can see being flippant, but if one truly believe God is present in the Eucharist, eating bread is pretending (mocking) this.

 

[jmcrae]

I suppose one of the differences between you and me is that you have blind faith. I on the other hand, question. I find it very hard to accept that one Christian has a “leg up” on another just because their methods of worship may differ.

It has nothing to do with “methods of worship.” The Catholic Church is Christ’s Church because Christ founded the Catholic Church in 33 AD, in the same way that Martin Luther founded Lutheranism in 1517 AD, and in the same way that John Knox founded Presbyterianism in 1560 AD.

These are three entirely different churches, established by three entirely different men - Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, and John Knox - in three different countries and in three different periods of history.

If each sincerely believes they are following the teachings of Christ and lives a good life, how can God hold that against them? I don’t think he does, not the God I believe in.

How does us following our own traditions in the belief that they come to us directly from Christ negate God’s love for others?

 

[THutch04]

If you’re offered Communion, just politely decline. If it’s a church where the congregation just receives Communion in their seats, it probably won’t even be noticed.

 

[teadough]

“Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches.” St. Thomas Aquinas

Clearly St.Thomas didn’t have to worry about Protestants…zing

Actually,I really do like that quote. I just couldn’t resist that one:thumbsup: