Why Can’t Lutherans Take Catholic Communion?

[Isaiah45_9]

Clearly the archbishop of Washington DC must be an agent from the Devil to allow a Lutheran seminarian holy communion.

This site seems to attract those who desperately want a type of Church that is absolutely black and white. And when faced with the reality that the Pope is a compassion and wise vicar of Christ, they prefer to ignore it or perhaps secretly disagree.

But what strikes more than anything else on this topic is the willingness of some to be as unchristian as they possibly can be and still want to be identified with the teachings of Christ.

What does it mean to be an “elder” on this site? Is it merely longevity or does one earn it by showing wisdom and common decency?

Now this is pompous arrogance… and you have been reported.

 

[Michael_Francis]

Closed pending review by moderator Eric Hilbert.

 

[Eric_Hilbert]

The topic, not each other.

 

[RyanBlack]

It would be a mortal sin for a Catholic to receive non-Catholic holy communion, just as it would be a mortal sin for a non-Catholic to partake of Holy Communion in a Catholic Church without first becoming a Catholic.

If they did not repent in this life and make a good Confession of this sin, they would go to Hell for sure.

Go to Hell for sure? Not necessarily. It would be a sin of grave matter for a Catholic to receive communion outside of the Catholic Church (except in an instance in which a Catholic, not having access to a Catholic Mass/DL/Qurbano, receives communion in an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, or Assyrian Church of the East parish with permission, which is not likely to be given), and it would be a sin of grave matter for a non-Catholic to receive communion in the Catholic Church (except in cases where permission is granted). However, for a Catholic to be in a state of mortal sin for receiving communion outside of the Catholic Church, or for a non-Catholic to be in a state of mortal sin for receiving communion in the Catholic Church, there must be both free consent of the will and full knowledge of the gravity of the sin. With respect to full knowledge of the gravity of the sin, it is certainly possible for it to be lacking.

 

[Ad_Crucem]

But you could receive holy communion in Lutheran churches

While Catholics are more likely to be allowed to receive communion in a Lutheran church than most other church body members would, it would only be under very extreme emergency circumstances. Ordinarily, a Catholic would not be admitted to the Lord’s table.

I am, of course, referring to those Lutheran churches that actually believe what Lutheranism teaches.

just like I can in Roman Catholic churches [ie. the author’s story]. You can chose not to commune outside your Church but the option is available.

Would there be a point to breaking a Catholic parish’s rules regarding the eucharist just because you think you can? That sounds like sin under any other name.

 

[JonNC]

=Ad Crucem;10910005]While Catholics are more likely to be allowed to receive communion in a Lutheran church than most other church body members would, it would only be under very extreme emergency circumstances. Ordinarily, a Catholic would not be admitted to the Lord’s table.

And knowing what that Catholic’s Church teaches, we’d be doing them a favor, helping them stay true to their faith. That’s Christian love!

I am, of course, referring to those Lutheran churches that actually believe what Lutheranism teaches.

Would there be a point to breaking a Catholic parish’s rules regarding the eucharist just because you think you can? That sounds like sin under any other name.

Manners. Simple good manners.

Jon

 

[hn160]

Those who have communion outside the boundaries of the Faith are drinking judgement on themselves. The Eucharist is not a kumbaya happy go 'round hospitality table, like you are presenting. It is a matter of the utmost respect.

At this point you are about to cross the line into disrespect. I kindly ask you to stop minimizing the differences that exist between our communions.

You are walking a fine line of trying to proselytize your communion (ELCA) with the Anglican/Episcopalian communion. You are free to promote it on your own forums, but please don’t do it in ours.

This is the official policy of the LC-MS in requires to communion that only Church Bodies that are in communion fellowship with the LC-MS may take communion. Some pastors don’t always follow this rule although the pastor can use his discretion for emergencies. My pastor would not commune anyone from the ELCA let alone from the Calvinist Church Bodies.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

This is the official policy of the LC-MS in requires to communion that only Church Bodies that are in communion fellowship with the LC-MS may take communion. Some pastors don’t always follow this rule although the pastor can use his discretion for emergencies. My pastor would not commune anyone from the ELCA let alone from the Calvinist Church Bodies.

Indeed hn, I know the LCMS is very cautious and respectful with the body and blood of our Lord. That’s why I specified ELCA. All you guys (LCMS) need is a Pope, and we have one waiting for ya’ll .

If I ever get to go with Jon to his Church, something I would really love to do, I would not expect for them to allow me to partake of communion - in like manner, I would not put them in a position of compromise. I would definitely partake in a couple of biers with a side of bratwursts, potatoes and sauerkraut . Goodness… I just got really really hungry. Laters :choocho:

 

[Peter_J]

Old Catholics are clearly not in full communion with Anglicans, though - no Anglican priest would ever go to work for an Old Catholic Bishop, without first needing to convert to Old Catholic - and the other way around, as well - no Anglican Bishop would ever incardinate an Old Catholic priest, unless he first became Anglican.

Hmmm…

Could you elaborate on the highlighted portion?

 

[Peter_J]

I like to believe if someone asks permission to receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church they have some desire in their heart to become Catholic.

I find this idea pretty unbelievable.

I admit I can’t disprove it exactly … but consider, if you will, the many Catholics who desire to receive communion at Orthodox liturgies, and who (from their self-descriptions) have no desire to become Orthodox.

 

[jmcrae]

Hmmm…

Could you elaborate on the highlighted portion?

If they were in full communion with Anglicans, we would be calling them “Anglicans”.

 

[Peter_J]

If they were in full communion with Anglicans, we would be calling them “Anglicans”.

Alright … perhaps I’ll be able to grasp the logic here in the morning.

 

[MaryT777]

While Catholics are more likely to be allowed to receive communion in a Lutheran church than most other church body members would, it would only be under very extreme emergency circumstances. Ordinarily, a Catholic would not be admitted to the Lord’s table.

I am, of course, referring to those Lutheran churches that actually believe what Lutheranism teaches.

Would there be a point to breaking a Catholic parish’s rules regarding the eucharist just because you think you can? That sounds like sin under any other name.

I concur it would be a sin to Commune just because you think you can and should and ‘too bad’ if I do. This applies to people who know better and are aware they are not to Commune if they are not Catholic; not those that do so out of ignorance.

Mary.

 

[MaryT777]

I find this idea pretty unbelievable.

I admit I can’t disprove it exactly … but consider, if you will, the many Catholics who desire to receive communion at Orthodox liturgies, and who (from their self-descriptions) have no desire to become Orthodox.

Well, then they are at an Orthodox liturgy and desire Communion. So despite their self descriptions I believe they have some interest in that Liturgy and perhaps could be considering conversion.

Same with non Catholics. You can’t receive Communion at a Catholic Mass unless you are at the Mass. That says enough to me.

If they are non attending such Orthodox Liturgies or Catholic Masses but just think it’s for all believers then I assume it’s just the ole party line. I WANT COMMUNION give it to me .
You have NO right to deny me that . Selfish and ignorant.

 

[Peter_J]

Well, then they are at an Orthodox liturgy and desire Communion. So despite their self descriptions I believe they have some interest in that Liturgy and perhaps could be considering conversion.

Possibly, people’s self-descriptions aren’t guaranteed to be accurate. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/confused/confused0069.gif Plus, the conversations on the subject that I’ve been involved in haven’t always been very fruitful. (I don’t think it’s helpful when people call inter-communion “refusal to participate in the schism”.)

 

[MaryT777]

Possibly, people’s self-descriptions aren’t guaranteed to be accurate. http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/confused/confused0069.gif Plus, the conversations on the subject that I’ve been involved in haven’t always been very fruitful. (I don’t think it’s helpful when people call inter-communion “refusal to participate in the schism”.)

Yes, I always consider anyone at Mass a potential convert. You never know.

 

[Church_Militant]

Not at all. It would be a mortal sin for a Catholic to receive non-Catholic holy communion, just as it would be a mortal sin for a non-Catholic to partake of Holy Communion in a Catholic Church without first becoming a Catholic

.

**If they did not repent in this life and make a good Confession of this sin, they would go to Hell for sure. It is a very serious matter, not to be treated lightly. **

The guidelines for receiving Communion, which are issued by the U.S. bishops and published in many missalettes, explain, "We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17:21).

"Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law. . . . "

Scripture is clear that partaking of the Eucharist is among the highest signs of Christian unity: “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17). For this reason, it is normally impossible for non-Catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, for to do so would be to proclaim a unity to exist that, regrettably, does not.I’m sorry, but this is not what the Church teaches. There are certain conditions that can be met under which a non-Catholic can receive the Eucharist. In fact, by profession they would actually profess the very same thing that we believe and teach about it. In point of fact they would be professing Catholicism and denying their past beliefs. Furthermore. such a person would very likely be on their way into full communion with the Church.

Asserting that anyone would commit a mortal sin as you have is very much above all our pay grades.

You need to see Pope John Paul the Great’s encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia and most expecially CHAPTER FOUR THE EUCHARIST AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNION with attention to sections 43 - 46 which cover this very specifically.

I would never encourage a n-C to receive the Eucharist, nor would I, or any member of my Catholic family ever take communion in an n-C service, no matter the circumstances, if for no other reason than it would give scandalous false witness that I believe as they do and share a communion with them that I do not. There is more than enough confusion between us that we do not need to ever add more to it with something like this…and the Eucharist is far too precious.

 

[JonNC]

I’m sorry, but this is not what the Church teaches. There are certain conditions that can be met under which a non-Catholic can receive the Eucharist. In fact, by profession they would actually profess the very same thing that we believe and teach about it. In point of fact they would be professing Catholicism and denying their past beliefs. Furthermore. such a person would very likely be on their way into full communion with the Church.

Asserting that anyone would commit a mortal sin as you have is very much above all our pay grades.

You need to see Pope John Paul the Great’s encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia and most expecially CHAPTER FOUR THE EUCHARIST AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNION with attention to sections 43 - 46 which cover this very specifically.

I would never encourage a n-C to receive the Eucharist, nor would I, or any member of my Catholic family ever take communion in an n-C service, no matter the circumstances, if for no other reason than it would give scandalous false witness that I believe as they do and share a communion with them that I do not. There is more than enough confusion between us that we do not need to ever add more to it with something like this…and the Eucharist is far too precious.

Michael,
Just my opinion, but I think the Non-Catholic Religions forum would benefit if you stopped over here more often.

Blessing,
Jon

 

[Peter_J]

I’m sorry, but this is not what the Church teaches. There are certain conditions that can be met under which a non-Catholic can receive the Eucharist. In fact, by profession they would actually profess the very same thing that we believe and teach about it. In point of fact they would be professing Catholicism and denying their past beliefs.

Hi Church Militant. I, too, disagree with the assertion of jmcrae; however, I cannot agree with this ^^ claim either. An Orthodox Christian for example (or a member of the PNCC or ACoE) does not need to profess Catholicism in order to receive communion at the Catholic liturgy.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m sorry, but this is not what the Church teaches. There are certain conditions that can be met under which a non-Catholic can receive the Eucharist. In fact, by profession they would actually profess the very same thing that we believe and teach about it. In point of fact they would be professing Catholicism and denying their past beliefs. Furthermore. such a person would very likely be on their way into full communion with the Church.

Making a Profession of Faith is how a baptized Christian becomes Catholic. If they made a Profession of Faith, they would be a Catholic receiving Holy Communion in a Catholic Church.