Why don't Catholics have Open Communion?

[catharina]

Yea, thats true. We Episcopalians love to make trouble!

Hmmmmmmm … you think we Catholics never noticed that?

 

[catharina]

We already use a lot of your music! Although as a former Episcopalian, I confess I do miss the Willan Mass, so please bring that when you come, OK?

Unfortunately, from what I understand, the Lutherans are more likely to beat it back to Rome than the Anglicans. The American Episcopal church is not making it easy.

Hope you’re devloping a great devotion to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton -
especially since she’s a convert (former Episcopalian) and a mother too.

 

[nhylan]

I’d admit its not a terribly good reason but like you said I agree mostly with everything the RCC says (there are a few things which I’m not overly willing to compromise on so I like to think of that as my reasons for staying in the communion) but mostly its just because all the masses i’ve been to have had terrible TERRIBLE music and there is no sense of general beauty in any of the recent architecture.

PS. I guess the issue that I believe that the Anglican Church is part of the one holy catholic apostolic church could also be a major stumbling block lol

 

[TriuneUnity]

I’m sure the past 50 years are going to be remembered as a kind of “Dark Ages” for the Church, with regard to art and architecture.

Seriously, man. When I was growing up in NY, I remember all the Catholic parishes in the area were all from the 1800s and looked like miniature castles. It was cool as heck. The two here look like warehouses with spiffy crucifixes that have a Christ figure as resurrected.

 

[catharina]

I’m sure the past 50 years are going to be remembered as a kind of “Dark Ages” for the Church, with regard to art and architecture.

Honestly, hate to sound cynical, but I think so,much $$ went to Catholic education
(on every level, starting with the parishes) and the funding got thinned out for new building.
I made my adjustment to the idea of “less is more” in the newer Church buildings
and still totally enjoy being able to be in an older parish Church (like my own!).

:yup:

 

[jmcrae]

Seriously, man. When I was growing up in NY, I remember all the Catholic parishes in the area were all from the 1800s and looked like miniature castles. It was cool as heck. The two here look like warehouses with spiffy crucifixes that have a Christ figure as resurrected.

Yikes.

At least around here, even the “big box superstore” Catholic churches still have real Crucifixes.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Yikes.

At least around here, even the “big box superstore” Catholic churches still have real Crucifixes.

Yeah, I had never seen it before, either. One of these days I will have to ask the priest there why his parish is trying to look Baptist.

 

[jmcrae]

Yeah, I had never seen it before, either. One of these days I will have to ask the priest there why his parish is trying to look Baptist.

I want to know how he reacts to that.

 

[Bbigam]

This is not a fact, its a belief. The Anglican Church considers itself part of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. By portraying your belief as fact you are misleading others.

I know the Anglicans believe this, but that doesn’t make it true. The Church of England separated itself from the authority of the Pope, thus taking themselves deliberately out of communion with the Catholic Church. Note that that Catholic Church believes that the Orthodox have valid Holy Orders but we don’t have full inter-communion with them, because of the schism.

In my analogy, the employees of GE who left said that they were still a part of GE, but openly rejected the CEO and refused to follow him, appointing their own CEO. Claiming that they are still part of GE doesn’t make it so.

 

[Loboto-Me]

Yikes.

At least around here, even the “big box superstore” Catholic churches still have real Crucifixes.

Have you been to St Peter’s? Although it’s not a big box superstore, they’re missing our Christ Has the cross surrounded by saints looking up at it. In all fairness, they do put the processional crucifix up there during mass… at least.

Then there’s the practicing of the choir up front, next to the altar… Good thing I only go there one Saturday a month (confessions).

 

[choy]

This is not a fact, its a belief. The Anglican Church considers itself part of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. By portraying your belief as fact you are misleading others.

the Orthodox also belive they are the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church

just remember, there is a difference between using the Catholic in the 4 marks of a true Church (One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic), and being part of the Catholic Church, which is to be in communion with the Bishop of Rome

there have been recent schismatic and protestant religions that use the name Catholic, but they are separated from the Catholic Church

Anglicans are for the most part separated from the Catholic Church, they are not in communion with the Bishop of Rome. but recently some small groups of traditional Anglicans have begun the process of reunifying with Rome. but this doesn’t mean that the entire Anglican Church is coming into communion with Rome

for you to be allowed communion, your Church (or a better term is Particular Church) should be in communion with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope)

 

[jmcrae]

Have you been to St Peter’s? Although it’s not a big box superstore, they’re missing our Christ Has the cross surrounded by saints looking up at it. In all fairness, they do put the processional crucifix up there during mass… at least.

A similar situation exists at St. Michael’s - and actually, St. Michael’s really does look like a Protestant church.

St. Albert’s looks good, though.

Then there’s the practicing of the choir up front, next to the altar… Good thing I only go there one Saturday a month (confessions).

Yeah, I’m not a fan of that, either. I like how they do it at Sacred Heart, with the choir in the back balcony.

 

[Loboto-Me]

Ah, Sacred Heart, yes That’s where we try to go the rest of the month. We go to the early Mass and enjoy the quiet cantor and his organ, very reverent and I like his voice too… and, I wouldn’t know what he looked like if I tripped over him! But I think he does a fine job.

Now I wish father ********* wouldn’t recite the Creed so darn fast!! Otherwise, I really can’t complain, I think Sacred Heart is a blessing.

 

[CMatt25]

Being as the Eucharist is truly the Real presence, the priest would knowingly be allowing these people to be guilty of the body and blood of Christ.

In full disclosure of strongly dissenting from Church teaching on this… my belief is a Christian can not be guilty of the body and blood when he or she discerns what He did on the cross for all of us. And since Christ is always present in at least spirit wherever we may be. And in Jn 6:37 He clearly taught He would never turn away anyone who the Father brings to Him. And to then recite, Lord I am not worthy to receive You but only say the word and I shall be healed. But after all of that we still want to stop folks from coming to Him even if they are not worthy but have been called… I can’t help but wonder how sad Christ might be to see us keeping a Christian from Him.

 

[CMatt25]

I agree wholeheartedly with this, Loboto. We have always practiced closed communion (along with the Missouri Synod Lutherans).

My local MO Synod church at least allows anyone who believes in RP to receive. From my understanding it is left up to the individual pastors. Unless my MO Synod church’s practice is in opposition to what the MO Synod says,

 

[CMatt25]

Communion means to become one with
when we receive communion, we become one with the body of Christ. and what is the body of Christ? the Church. so if you’re not part of the Church, how can you be part of the Body of Christ?

Perhaps by being a Christian?

 

[CMatt25]

I’m not sure how you would know this, but even if it’s true, it is between them and God, whether or not they receive Holy Communion. Hopefully they aren’t doing so in a state of mortal sin, but again, that’s nobody’s business but theirs, if they are adults (and nobody’s business but their parents’ if they are children or teens).

 

[Tantum_ergo]

In full disclosure of strongly dissenting from Church teaching on this… my belief is a Christian can not be guilty of the body and blood when he or she discerns what He did on the cross for all of us. And since Christ is always present in at least spirit wherever we may be. And in Jn 6:37 He clearly taught He would never turn away anyone who the Father brings to Him. And to then recite, Lord I am not worthy to receive You but only say the word and I shall be healed. But after all of that we still want to stop folks from coming to Him even if they are not worthy but have been called… I can’t help but wonder how sad Christ might be to see us keeping a Christian from Him.

And as a Christian, my belief is that the Catholic Church teachings are correct.

So what do we do, Matt? By whose authority do we ‘know’ whether your ‘dissenting beliefs’ are correct or whether my ‘obedient’ beliefs are correct?

Furthermore, I strongly and emphatically deny that Catholics keep Christians from Christ. Just where do you get off making this accusation?

I can’t help but wonder how sad Christ might be to see a Christian who thinks that his fellow Catholics "keep Christians from Christ’ as though his fellow Catholics were applying different ‘rules’ than God Himself would. . .as though Catholic ‘beliefs’ were man-made and in opposition to God’s teachings. I think he would be very, very sad indeed.

 

[CMatt25]

And as a Christian, my belief is that the Catholic Church teachings are correct.

So what do we do, Matt? By whose authority do we ‘know’ whether your ‘dissenting beliefs’ are correct or whether my ‘obedient’ beliefs are correct?

Furthermore, I strongly and emphatically deny that Catholics keep Christians from Christ. Just where do you get off making this accusation?

I can’t help but wonder how sad Christ might be to see a Christian who thinks that his fellow Catholics "keep Christians from Christ’ as though his fellow Catholics were applying different ‘rules’ than God Himself would. . .as though Catholic ‘beliefs’ were man-made and in opposition to God’s teachings. I think he would be very, very sad indeed.

Hi again Tantum, nice to see you again. Well on this, Christ was clear in the Scripture I referenced. We shouldn’t need an earthly authority to interpret that one. I “get off” on that one because the Church does attempt to keep other Chrisitans from approaching Christ. Otherwise your Lutheran, Methodist, what have you, Christian neighbor wouldn’t be told not to come to Him. God bless and peace.

 

[choy]

Perhaps by being a Christian?

and how do you become a Christian?
is it not through the Sacraments? first of which is Baptism. and the source and summit of all Sacraments is the Eucharist

that is why Baptism and the Eucharist, along with Confirmation, are called Sacraments of Initiation, they initiate you into the Christian life. and of those three, only the Eucharist is what you can receive more than once