Why does the Catholic Church Deny Protestants Communion?

[MariaG]

Hi,
I found out the hard way about catholics excluding protestants from communion. I honestly had no idea about the real presence because I was not raised catholic. So why would I–right.

I have been to many catholic services and had always received communion. I thought nothing of it when I went to a Holy Communion for my neighbor and went up for communion.

The priest went to hand me the wafer and he said"This is the body and blood of Christ" and then waited for me to respond. Well of course I stood there thinking UH OH Im suppose to say something, but I had no clue. He asked me if I was catholic and of course I said no. He then flicked his hand at me and told me to move along. You can imagine the array of feelings I went through. I was . This priest had given me communion before.

I was so angry because I am a follower of Christ and completely felt rejected. I was so mad I wrote a letter to the Pope. I never sent it. I just needed to vent.

When I told my catholic friends they were shocked that he just didnt bless me. I have to say if he did that I would have been fine. He was just so nasty and a bit hostile because I wasnt catholic and Im sure in his eyes trying to take the Eucharist without knowing the rules. I have to say he turned me off from the CC. You know in Proverbs it says a kind word turns away strife(paraphrasing). There was NO LOVE shown to me that day. He appeared to be rejecting me simply because I was not catholic. I dont care what the rules are–THAT IS SIMPLY WRONG! The blessing would have been the way to show love to someone who isnt catholic.

When I told my protestant friends they said I was better off not receiving communion because I did not believe the same way.

Needless to say, I wont go up for communion anymore. Ive learned my lesson.

Not that this explanation will take away what you felt on that day, but maybe it will help.

Another possibility was that the priest remembered you, remembered that he had given you communion before and now felt responsible for mistakenly giving it to you.

He was appalled at his own lack of judgement. And now he has to deal with his own culpability and guilt for allowing you communion and possibly the fact thay you will “eat judgement upon yourself”.

His own guilt and culpability made it impossible to respond with the Christian charity that he should have.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[rr1213]

the question should be rephrased in light of the actual truth of the situation: Why do Protestans reject Catholic Eucharist? By virtue of the fact that an individual belongs to a Protestant denomination, he has rejected the authority given by Christ to the Catholic Church to confect the Eucharist and to sanctify the world through His sacraments. If they have rejected the authority, they have also rejected the reality of the sacrificial and sanctifying nature of the Eucharist and the sacraments which flow from this. Why would an Protestant who firmly believes the tenets of his faith and the doctrine developed by the reformers in establishing his denomination, cave on those beliefs and seek communion in the Catholic Church? Communion means unity. If he craves that unity, he seeks to become Catholic. If he is not Catholic or does not want to be, he does not want unity with the Church, so why would he ask to be part of the primary sign of that unity?

I think it depends on whether the Protestant believes in open communion or not. As noted by others in prior posts, some Protestant Churches do not allow open communion in their own churches. This position would be consistent with the Catholic position. Many other Protestant Churches, however, hold to the position that the Lord’s Supper is meant for all believers and so, offer the elements to all baptised Christians. If that’s the case, it would not be inconsistent for a believer from one of those churches to seek communion at a Catholic Church if he happened to be attending the service there.

Not that it matters in the big scheme of things, but my personal belief tends to open communion. Nonetheless, when I attend a Catholic mass, I do not take communion. Not because it violates my conscience, because it doesn’t, but because it would pose a problem to the Catholics with whom I would be worshipping.

 

[jmcrae]

Nonetheless, when I attend a Catholic mass, I do not take communion. Not because it violates my conscience, because it doesn’t, but because it would pose a problem to the Catholics with whom I would be worshipping.

Thank you for understanding and respecting our cuture. You are an uncommonly civilized human being.

 

[kotek]

Let me start by saying that I am not a Roman Catholic and that I have and do receive Communion in a Roman Catholic Parish. I am a conseravative Anglican and do belong to a conservative "continuing Anglican Church(The Reformed Episcopal Church), but because of where I currently live their is no way for me to attend there. I cannot stomach the ECUSA, so I go to a local Catholic Parish. I do partake of the Eucharist because I do not and cannot hold to the typical Protestant Evangelical view on what the Holy Communion is. I do affirm pretty much what the Roman Church believes as far as the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I just have “issues” regarding Transubstantiation, not that it is untrue, but rather that it is inadequate to describe a Holy Mystery beyond human comprehension, I simply trust in faith that it is the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharistic Bread and Wine and leave it at that. As a side note if by some chance I do join the Roman Catholic Church would I have to confess that I received Communion without the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

[jmcrae]

As a side note if by some chance I do join the Roman Catholic Church would I have to confess that I received Communion without the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Yes, along with all of your other sins since the time of Baptism.

The reason you are not to receive in the Catholic Church is that you are not currently in communion with the Catholic Church. Even if you were completely without sin, and believed perfectly what we believe, you would still need to make a Profession of Faith in the Catholic Church (that is, you would need to become Catholic) before beginning to receive Holy Communion in the Catholic Church.

I think people confuse the issue when they talk about what Protestants do or do not believe, since it makes it sound like that’s the main issue. Although holding to Protestant beliefs would be an impediment to making a Profession of Faith in the Catholic Church, it’s the Profession of Faith (becoming a Catholic) that is important - believing the right thing is good, of course - but it’s not the whole story. If you find that you believe what we believe, your next step is to become a Catholic, and then receive First Holy Communion.

Even Catholic children, before making their First Holy Communion, are required to attend instructional classes and to indicate that they understand and believe, before they begin to receive Holy Communion. We aren’t just picking on Protestants - or just on adults; this is the requirement for everyone.

 

[Mickey]

I just have “issues” regarding Transubstantiation, not that it is untrue, but rather that it is inadequate to describe a Holy Mystery beyond human comprehension, I simply trust in faith that it is the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharistic Bread and Wine and leave it at that.

This is not a big issue. The Latin Catholic Church felt the need to define what is taking place during the consecration due to certain heresies which confused some of the faithful. The understanding of the “Real Presence” or “True Presence” is completely valid (this is how Eastern Catholics and Orthodox understand this glorious Mystery! It is a common understanding that The Blessed Sacrament is a Mystery beyond comprehension.

God bless you,
Mickey

 

[rr1213]

Thank you for understanding and respecting our cuture. You are an uncommonly civilized human being.

I don’t know about that…but thanks!

 

[mercygate]

Let me start by saying that I am not a Roman Catholic and that I have and do receive Communion in a Roman Catholic Parish. I am a conseravative Anglican and do belong to a conservative "continuing Anglican Church(The Reformed Episcopal Church), but because of where I currently live their is no way for me to attend there. I cannot stomach the ECUSA, so I go to a local Catholic Parish. I do partake of the Eucharist because I do not and cannot hold to the typical Protestant Evangelical view on what the Holy Communion is. I do affirm pretty much what the Roman Church believes as far as the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I just have “issues” regarding Transubstantiation, not that it is untrue, but rather that it is inadequate to describe a Holy Mystery beyond human comprehension, I simply trust in faith that it is the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharistic Bread and Wine and leave it at that. As a side note if by some chance I do join the Roman Catholic Church would I have to confess that I received Communion without the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

God love ya, kotek, out there in your no-man’s-land!

May we assume that you make Sacramental confessions in your own denomination (as I did for years as an Anglican)? As one who has been in a similar position to yours, I counsel abstaining from the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. If you really believe it IS the Body of Christ, then you believe in the essential authority of the Church. Therefore, respect the discipline of the Church as well as her doctrine.

The graces of NOT receiving the Blessed Sacrament, to one in your position, are very great. Desire for the Eucharist is a very powerful and efficacious form of penance.

 

[estesbob]

Let me start by saying that I am not a Roman Catholic and that I have and do receive Communion in a Roman Catholic Parish. I am a conseravative Anglican and do belong to a conservative "continuing Anglican Church(The Reformed Episcopal Church), but because of where I currently live their is no way for me to attend there. I cannot stomach the ECUSA, so I go to a local Catholic Parish. I do partake of the Eucharist because I do not and cannot hold to the typical Protestant Evangelical view on what the Holy Communion is. I do affirm pretty much what the Roman Church believes as far as the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. I just have “issues” regarding Transubstantiation, not that it is untrue, but rather that it is inadequate to describe a Holy Mystery beyond human comprehension, I simply trust in faith that it is the Body, Blood Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharistic Bread and Wine and leave it at that. As a side note if by some chance I do join the Roman Catholic Church would I have to confess that I received Communion without the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Well you have convinced me that you do receive the Eucharist-the point however is that you should not. To do so is a desecration of the Eucharist and an insult to all Catholics. You should either join the One True Church or refrain from desecrating our most sacred Sacrament.

 

[Maureen_Fiore]

Well you have convinced me that you do receive the Eucharist-the point however is that you should not. To do so is a desecration of the Eucharist and an insult to all Catholics. You should either join the One True Church or refrain from desecrating our most sacred Sacrament.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m just noticing something.

Isn’t it interesting, how Protestants who don’t receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church use words like “they,” “the right thing,” and “respect,” while those who do use a lot of “I,” “me,” and “I know, but …”?

Just an observation.

 

[tparsons]

As a side note if by some chance I do join the Roman Catholic Church would I have to confess that I received Communion without the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Absolutely!!!