Protestant communion

[JJM]

Alright I’ve asked this on another thread and it got no where. Is it a sin to receive Communion at a Protestant church? and if so why?

 

[marciadietrich]

We aren't supposed to receive in another church for the same reason that protestants aren't supposed to receive in the Catholic Church. Communion means in communion with ... it indicates a unity of belief, a unity with the Pope and the Catholic Church. Also that in the Catholic Church you receive Christ (your avatar, what do you think that is representing with the host exposed for adoration? ... do protestants do this with their communion?) where in the protestant church it is not Christ.

I think it is probably a sin of some sort to receive in a protestant church, but many might not be culpable on that issue, not realize that they shouldn't. I expect it is a bit of a scandal type issue if a Catholic receives in another church he is saying that he is in communion with those churches which don't hold the same faith and it is lending a status to their communion - saying it is on level with the Eucharist.

I'm not trying to be harsh. Just this is my understanding on the issue. I didn't partake of the Eucharist until I was in the Church, and now that I am in the Church I shouldn't go elsewhere for what only the Catholic (and Orthodox ) church contains ... the Real Presence of Christ.

Marcia

 

[Rising_Suns]

It is not a sin to eat bread and drink wine, which is all you are doing at a Protestant service.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

It is not a sin to eat bread and drink wine, which is all you are doing at a Protestant service.

But it is a sin of disopbence and scandle and possible one of intent

Can. 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ's faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from catholic ministers, except as provided in §2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in can. 861 §2.

 

[Rising_Suns]

But it is a sin of disopbence and scandle and possible one of intent

Can. 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ's faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from catholic ministers, except as provided in §2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in can. 861 §2.

hi aaron,
Yes, although Communion in a Protestant is not truly communion. As you know, it is eating bread and drinking wine, not the Body and blood of Christ, but a symbol. If a Catholic happens to attend a Protestant service on one of the days they pass out the bread and wine, I do not think it would be sinfull to be respectfull and partake in it (unless perhaps the person is moved not to), as long as the heart knows that it is merely bread and wine. It's a matter of the hearts intent I believe.

 

[marciadietrich]

hi aaron,
Yes, although Communion in a Protestant is not truly communion. As you know, it is eating bread and drinking wine, not the Body and blood of Christ, but a symbol. If a Catholic happens to attend a Protestant service on one of the days they pass out the bread and wine, I do not think it would be sinfull to be respectfull and partake in it (unless perhaps the person is moved not to), as long as the heart knows that it is merely bread and wine. It's a matter of the hearts intent I believe.

This is not what I had heard. What I have read on the net and on other boards it seemed pretty clear that protestants shouldn't receive in the Catholic Church and Catholics shouldn't in protestant churches. I thought the only acceptable exception was Orthodox communion, in that they have valid holy orders and substantially the same belief on the Real Presence... but only in case of absolute necessity and should be done with the consent and knowledge of the Orthodox priest. (Perhaps an Orthodox friend can clarify on that, I thought they did not allow reception in Catholic churches ... but I may be getting that backwards.)

Marcia

 

[thereselittleflower]

It is forbidden by the Catholic Church for Catholics to receive communion outside the Catholic Church except where She has expressly allowed it . . such as in EO communions because of what communion is and what it signifies. To do so is hypocrisy on the part of the one doing it.

Holding the Eucharist to be the sign of unity of faith and practice, the Catholic Church naturally considers it hypocrisy for one not having the same faith and practice to receive Communion. Therefore she forbids Catholics to be receiving Holy Communion outside the Catholic Church. (Incidentally some Protestant Communities teach their members the same thing.)

​

Here is the canon that affects this:

Can. 844 §2 - Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, Christ's faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, may lawfully receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.
​

In the Eccumenical Directory,(1993 Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Eceumenism) we see this:

123. Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for any Catholic for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick from a minister of an Eastern Church.

132. On the basis of the Catholic doctrine concerning the sacraments and their validity, a Catholic who finds himself or herself in the circumstances mentioned above (nn. 130 and 131) may ask for these sacraments only from a minister in whose Church these sacraments are valid or from one who is known to be validly ordained according to the Catholic teaching on ordination.
​

You ask if it is a sin to partake in communion in a church service where the sacrament of the Eucharist is not valid . .

What you are actually aksing is, it is a sin to disobey the Church?

if it is . . then it is a sin to partake of communion in churches who do not have a valid sacrament of the Eucharist and according to the instructions and limitations imposed by thr Church upon the faithful.



Peace in Him!

 

[JJM]

Thank you all I understand that it is a sin because in sharing in communion with other churches we are saying we believe what those churches do. But then why isn't it a sin to receive at an Orthodox church. Don't they hold different beliefs?

Also even though it is a sin to partake in communion at a protestant church , is it a sin to attend a service there?

 

[marciadietrich]

JJM ... I believe that the allowance to receive from an Orthodox priest has to do with 1) an extreme situation of necessity 2) that they have valid holy orders (thus it IS the Body and Blood of Christ) and they can validly hear your confession if necessary. Plus the basic understanding of what the Eucharist is seems in common, they don't use transubstantiation as a term, but a similiar idea that the bread and wine are gone and that it is Christ. They don't have exactly the same beliefs (ex. papal infallibility) but they are apostolistic.

Under normal circumstances you probably shouldn't receive in an Orthodox Church, but I see no reason why you couldn't visit one. Probably no sin in attending a protestant service as long as you don't neglect your Sunday obligation and you don't allow yourself to be drawn away from the Catholic faith.

If I'm wrong on that, hope someone will correct me.

Thanks thereselittleflower on expanding on what I thought was the correct viewpoint.

Marcia

 

[Rising_Suns]

What I have read on the net and on other boards it seemed pretty clear that protestants shouldn't receive in the Catholic Church and Catholics shouldn't in protestant churches.

Yes most definately. What I had said was in pertaining to a rare circumstance when a Catholic finds themselves in a service in which they have the bread and wine passed out. I did not mean to give the impression that it is ok for a Catholic to make it a habit of taking communion at a Protestant church in replacement of the mass.