Communion

Jellybaby1

I am going to a RC funeral in a couple of days. I'm not up to date with what the rules and regulations are but can the CoI people attending receive communion, or is that still a no-no?

Peregrinus

The official default position is no, you shouldn't. Taking communion in the Roman Catholic church is a sign of participation in that church. If you don't consider yourself a Roman Catholic, you shouldn't normally take communion in a Roman Catholic ceremony.

But, there are exceptions. A bishop, or a minister delegated by a bishop, can in appropriate circumstances invite any baptised Christian with a eucharistic faith to participate. Situation where this is commonly done are a non-Catholic married to a Catholic, or an occasion such as a wedding or, yes, a funeral.

You can, if you wish, ask the priest beforehand if you can take communion. He may well invite you to.

And, of course, in practice you can just go up and take the sacrament; it's not as if members of the CofI have little horns growing out of their heads. But if you're concerned to do the "right thing", speak to the priest beforehand. Or, if you prefer, approach the altar for a blessing instead of to take the sacrament.

hinault

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I am going to a RC funeral in a couple of days. I'm not up to date with what the rules and regulations are but can the CoI people attending receive communion, or is that still a no-no?

It's a matter of conscience.

No communicant is asked about their spiritual state before receiving communion. Communion is dispensed on trust.

It is taken on trust that the communicant is in communion with the Church and that he/she is not in a state of mortal sin, before receiving.

If you sincerely wish to receive holy communion at catholic Mass, you should as the priest for a quick word explaining your situation and ask him if he agrees that you should receive holy communion.

Jellybaby1

What a palavah. Too much trouble. I will do what I always do then, sit and do nothing. I'm rarely alone in the pews in these circumstances because some RC's don't go for communion either. I don't stick out as much as I used to.

homer911

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

What a palavah. Too much trouble. I will do what I always do then, sit and do nothing. I'm rarely alone in the pews in these circumstances because some RC's don't go for communion either. I don't stick out as much as I used to.

I was just going to say that, last RC funeral I went to only about half the congregation went up for communion

LordSutch

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I am going to a RC funeral in a couple of days. I'm not up to date with what the rules and regulations are but can the CoI people attending receive communion, or is that still a no-no?

NO.

...or at least it was a big No no, up to about ten years ago when I asked my Rector the same thing.
Fundamental differences in belief, regarding communion in particular.

Jellybaby1

I don't suppose quoting 'love your neighbour as yourself' will get me anywhere either. Love is not supposed to go that far I guess. Ah well, I'll go and I'll join in everything that I am familiar with.

lazybones32

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I am going to a RC funeral in a couple of days. I'm not up to date with what the rules and regulations are but can the CoI people attending receive communion, or is that still a no-no?

If you believe that you will be receiving the literal flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, then I won't object to you receiving.
If you believe it is only symbolic, or anything other than the flesh of the resurrected Christ, don't receive.

looksee

I was told by at least one priest many years ago that I could take communion if I wished, with no ifs, whys or wherefores. I never did though.

credoie

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I am going to a RC funeral in a couple of days. I'm not up to date with what the rules and regulations are but can the CoI people attending receive communion, or is that still a no-no?

If you are not a Catholic in the state of grace then you can't take communion in the Catholic Church.

cnoc

credoie wrote: »

If you are not a Catholic in the state of grace then you can't take communion in the Catholic Church.

What if you are a RC and in the state of grace, can you receive Communion in a C of I Communion service?

credoie

cnoc wrote: »

What if you are a RC and in the state of grace, can you receive Communion in a C of I Communion service?

No.

eviltwin

It's a piece of wafer. It's a physical impossibility that it's flesh of anyone let alone a man who died thousands of years ago.

credoie

eviltwin wrote: »

It's a piece of wafer. It's a physical impossibility that it's flesh of anyone let alone a man who died thousands of years ago.

I'm confused. This is a Christian forum about Christian questions.

If you want to ridicule us. I suppose there is no point having this forum???

looksee

credoie wrote: »

No.

I think you can, I can't remember what the words of invitation are, but they suggest that anyone can come and take communion.

Kiwi in IE

What would the consequences be if a C of I person took communion in the RCC when they were not supposed to?

credoie

looksee wrote: »

I think you can, I can't remember what the words of invitation are, but they suggest that anyone can come and take communion.

According to the Code of Canon Law, receiving communion in a Protestant church is generally not permissible. According to canon 844, “Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments to Catholic members of the Christian faithful only and, likewise, the latter may licitly receive the sacraments only from Catholic ministers.” The key term here is licit. If a Catholic receives communion from a Protestant minister, it is generally considered “illicit” or unlawful.

So if you are a Faithful Catholic then you can't receive communion in another church.

Jellybaby1

This is on the CoI website:
http://ireland.anglican.org/information/8

6. Does the Church of Ireland permit members of other Christian Churches to receive communion in the Church of Ireland?
Communicant members of other Christian churches may receive Holy Communion in the Church of Ireland. This reflects the spirit of the Lambeth Conference resolution, affirmed by the General Synod in 1969: 'Christians duly baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity and qualified to receive Holy Communion in their own churches may be welcomed at the Lord's table in the Anglican Communion.' (The Lambeth Conference 1968, Resolutions and Reports, p.2)

The above information copyright
©2002 APCK

Jellybaby1

cnoc wrote: »

What if you are a RC and in the state of grace, can you receive Communion in a C of I Communion service?

To be honest, I am unsure what a 'state of grace' actually means, but all RC's coming to my CoI church always receive Communion. They don't have any problem with it, and neither do we.

credoie

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

To be honest, I am unsure what a 'state of grace' actually means, but all RC's coming to my CoI church always receive Communion. They don't have any problem with it, and neither do we.

If you are a Catholic and live the Catholic Faith then you can only receive communion in the Catholic Church.

Jellybaby1

Well, it doesn't seem to work like that on the ground. The CoI teaches that we are 'Catholic' but not following Rome. Again, from the CoI website: You can just check it out at http://ireland.anglican.org/information/6 for it more fully as its a long text:

1. Is the Church of Ireland Protestant or Catholic? It is both Protestant and Catholic. For this reason it is incorrect to refer to members of the Church of Ireland as ‘non–Catholic’.
The terms Protestant and Catholic are not really opposites.
There are Catholics who accept the universal jurisdiction of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome. Often in consequence they are called Roman Catholics. But there are other Catholics who do not accept the Pope’s jurisdiction or certain doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Some are called Protestant or Reformed Catholics. Among them are members of the Church of Ireland and the other Churches of the Anglican Communion.
It follows therefore that the terms ‘Protestant’ and ‘Reformed’ should be contrasted with ‘Roman’ and not with ‘Catholic’.

.... .... .... etc etc

credoie

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Well, it doesn't seem to work like that on the ground. The CoI teaches that we are 'Catholic' but not following Rome. Again, from the CoI website: You can just check it out at [

1. Is the Church of Ireland Protestant or Catholic? It is both Protestant and Catholic. For this reason it is incorrect to refer to members of the Church of Ireland as ‘non–Catholic’.
The terms Protestant and Catholic are not really opposites.
There are Catholics who accept the universal jurisdiction of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome. Often in consequence they are called Roman Catholics. But there are other Catholics who do not accept the Pope’s jurisdiction or certain doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Some are called Protestant or Reformed Catholics. Among them are members of the Church of Ireland and the other Churches of the Anglican Communion.
It follows therefore that the terms ‘Protestant’ and ‘Reformed’ should be contrasted with ‘Roman’ and not with ‘Catholic’.

.... .... .... etc etc

Unless the Church is in communion with the Bishop of Rome then according to Catholic Teaching its not Catholic. The COI may have its own views and teachings, However the Catholic Church has its teachings. Either you following the teaching of the Catholic Church or you are not a member of the Catholic Church.

looksee

credoie wrote: »

According to the Code of Canon Law, receiving communion in a Protestant church is generally not permissible. According to canon 844, “Catholic ministers may licitly administer the sacraments to Catholic members of the Christian faithful only and, likewise, the latter may licitly receive the sacraments only from Catholic ministers.” The key term here is licit. If a Catholic receives communion from a Protestant minister, it is generally considered “illicit” or unlawful.

So if you are a Faithful Catholic then you can't receive communion in another church.

But the question could be interpreted, would the CofI permit you to, and the answer is, yes they would. The fact that as a Catholic your own church says you should not is a different point.

credoie

looksee wrote: »

But the question could be interpreted, would the CofI permit you to, and the answer is, yes they would. The fact that as a Catholic your own church says you should not is a different point.

Members of COI can't take communion in the Catholic Church. that is the answer to the question asked by the OP.

santing

credoie wrote: »

Unless the Church is in communion with the Bishop of Rome then according to Catholic Teaching its not Catholic. The COI may have its own views and teachings, However the Catholic Church has its teachings. Either you following the teaching of the Catholic Church or you are not a member of the Catholic Church.

Catholic or Roman Catholic comes down to semantics. If the Roman Catholic Institution wants to claim to be the sole expression of Christendom on earth they insist on being (the only) Catholic. As Catholic means 'generic' you can't be Roman Catholic, its a misnomer imho. But when Roman Catholics reach out to others they suddenly understand that they can't say that they are Catholic since that would mean the end of the conversation. So browsing to vatican.va reveals a lot of lot of documentation about the Roman Catholic Church....
So since the name is accepted under some circumstances by the archives in the vatican, it is clear that that is an acceptance of the fact that they are not Catholic.

haveringchick

credoie wrote: »

I'm confused. This is a Christian forum about Christian questions.

If you want to ridicule us. I suppose there is no point having this forum???

Just ignore the troll. Feeding it is pointless, the bitterness and the negativity just starts to bleed into the rest of the thread

looksee

credoie wrote: »

Members of COI can't take communion in the Catholic Church. that is the answer to the question asked by the OP.

That was indeed the answer to the OP's question, but I was answering this question by cnoc:

What if you are a RC and in the state of grace, can you receive Communion in a C of I Communion service?

and the answer is, you can. The Catholic church may not approve, and therefore you would not, but you can (and may) receive communion in a C of I service.

Delirium

haveringchick wrote: »

Just ignore the troll. Feeding it is pointless, the bitterness and the negativity just starts to bleed into the rest of the thread

MOD NOTE

Please don't call other posters trolls.

Thanks for your attention.





It's also worth noting that not all denominations of Christianity believe in transubstantiation.

katydid

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I am going to a RC funeral in a couple of days. I'm not up to date with what the rules and regulations are but can the CoI people attending receive communion, or is that still a no-no?

It's up to you. You are not welcome, but they can't stop you if you want to. Personally, I wouldn't go where I'm not welcome, but..

katydid

lazybones32 wrote: »

If you believe that you will be receiving the literal flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, then I won't object to you receiving.
If you believe it is only symbolic, or anything other than the flesh of the resurrected Christ, don't receive.

Who are YOU to dictate to others?

katydid

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

What would the consequences be if a C of I person took communion in the RCC when they were not supposed to?

None

katydid

credoie wrote: »

If you are a Catholic and live the Catholic Faith then you can only receive communion in the Catholic Church.

The question is about the Roman Catholic church, not the Catholic church.

katydid

credoie wrote: »

Unless the Church is in communion with the Bishop of Rome then according to Catholic Teaching its not Catholic. The COI may have its own views and teachings, However the Catholic Church has its teachings. Either you following the teaching of the Catholic Church or you are not a member of the Catholic Church.

You seem a bit confused. What you mean is "according to ROMAN Catholic teaching". The Anglican church is a Catholic church, as Jellybaby has explained.

ectoraige

It's just a small piece of unleavened bread, it's not really worth getting worked up over. You're better off having a decent breakfast beforehand, funerals can be drawn out affairs especially if your attending the burial itself. Condolences for your loss.

hinault

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

What a palavah. Too much trouble. I will do what I always do then, sit and do nothing. I'm rarely alone in the pews in these circumstances because some RC's don't go for communion either. I don't stick out as much as I used to.

Well that is true. At every Mass there are going to be some of the congregation who do not receive communion.

It might be that they're conscientious Catholics who recognise that they're not in a sufficient spiritual state to receive communion.

martinedwards

dearie me, all this confusion about definitions of words.

Roman Catholic (with a capital C) is the denomination.

catholic (with a small c) is the all encompassing.

the Apostles creed has the line...

"I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church......."

note the small c.

The C of I communion is open to all who profess faith, regardless of denomination.

I know that while kneeling at the communion rail at my church I have had brothers and sisters of many denominations joining me there, including Roman Catholics (and on more than one occasion RC Priests).

so the supplementary question of a RC person having communion in a CofI church? the CofI will welcome you as equal to anyone else at the Eucharist.

What YOUR priest says when you go back and tell him is potentially a whole different thing!

LordSutch

credoie wrote: »

Unless the Church is in communion with the Bishop of Rome then according to Catholic Teaching its not Catholic. The COI may have its own views and teachings, However the Catholic Church has its teachings. Either you following the teaching of the Catholic Church or you are not a member of the Catholic Church.

There is no disputing that Anglicans (Church of Ireland inc) are part of the "One Holy catholic and apostolic Church" . . . of this there can be no doubt.

But notice the small c in catholic, as opposed to the big C in Roman Catholic. Therein lies the difference.

We Anglicans are catholics, but not Roman Catholics (Catholics for short) with a Capital C.

Hope this clarifies things

Skuxx

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

I am going to a RC funeral in a couple of days. I'm not up to date with what the rules and regulations are but can the CoI people attending receive communion, or is that still a no-no?

The question is OP would you like to receive communion? If you would then work away, nobody will be any the wiser!
I did it myself before at a wedding (I'm not a catholic, CofI or anything else) and I'm still alive to tell the tale!

katydid

LordSutch wrote: »

There is no disputing that Anglicans (Church of Ireland inc) are part of the "One Holy catholic and apostolic Church" . . . of this there can be no doubt.

But notice the small c in catholic, as opposed to the big C in Roman Catholic. Therein lies the difference.

We Anglicans are catholics, but not Roman Catholics (Catholics for short) with a Capital C.

Hope this clarifies things

I know it was cited further up, but the Anglican church in Ireland makes it quite clear that we are Catholic with a capital C.

"1. (The CofI) is both Protestant and Catholic. For this reason it is incorrect to refer to members of the Church of Ireland as ‘non–Catholic’.

The terms Protestant and Catholic are not really opposites.

There are Catholics who accept the universal jurisdiction of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome. Often in consequence they are called Roman Catholics. But there are other Catholics who do not accept the Pope’s jurisdiction or certain doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Some are called Protestant or Reformed Catholics. Among them are members of the Church of Ireland and the other Churches of the Anglican Communion.

It follows therefore that the terms ‘Protestant’ and ‘Reformed’ should be contrasted with ‘Roman’ and not with ‘Catholic’."
http://ireland.anglican.org/information/6

GalwayGrrrrrl

I think all of this confusion is a real shame. If communion is supposed to be sharing a meal with your neighbour and Jesus then surely it doesn't matter what variation of Christian faith you subscribe to.

credoie

xfactorfan23 wrote: »

I think all of this confusion is a real shame. If communion is supposed to be sharing a meal with your neighbour and Jesus then surely it doesn't matter what variation of Christian faith you subscribe to.

Communion is not just sharing a Meal with your Neighbour. Its the real true living presence of Christ body and flesh, soul and divinity. You have to share the same faith in Christ to make communion. Only a male priest with valid ordination can consecrate the host and wine.

yes it is sad we are not one as Christ wanted. However if the OP is a Catholic (Catholic as in the Church with the Bishop of Rome as its head) then his answers are found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, not on boards.ie.

If you don't believe in the Catholic Church's teaching then there are 20,000 Christian denominations with their various views and teaching on different issues. Take you pick.

Kiwi in IE

credoie wrote: »

You have to share the same faith in Christ to make communion. Only a male priest with valid ordination can consecrate the host and wine.

What an incredibly arrogant statement! As an atheist I find myself completely siding with CofI followers in these debates due to this type of 'only true church' arrogance so often spouted by RCC followers.

Although maybe from a religious perspective having Atheists feel compelled to defend you is not such a good thing!

katydid

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

What an incredibly arrogant statement! As an atheist I find myself completely siding with CofI followers in these debates due to this type of 'only true church' arrogance so often spouted by RCC followers.

Although maybe from a religious perspective having Atheists feel compelled to defend you is not such a good thing!

That's ok. We'll take common sense and respect from whatever quarter it comes. Not that we need "defence", so to speak. But it is good that people see through the arrogance of some of these people.

katydid

credoie wrote: »

Communion is not just sharing a Meal with your Neighbour. Its the real true living presence of Christ body and flesh, soul and divinity. You have to share the same faith in Christ to make communion. Only a male priest with valid ordination can consecrate the host and wine.

yes it is sad we are not one as Christ wanted. However if the OP is a Catholic (Catholic as in the Church with the Bishop of Rome as its head) then his answers are found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, not on boards.ie.

If you don't believe in the Catholic Church's teaching then there are 20,000 Christian denominations with their various views and teaching on different issues. Take you pick.

It is not only Roman Catholics who believe that the Eucharist is about the true living presence of Christ. You seem a bit confused; RC's believe that this presence manifests itself by the piece of bread actually being flesh while having the appearance of bread. Other Christians don't - but that doesn't mean they don't believe in the Real Presence; they just don't feel the need to jump through theological hoops to believe it. And not all of them believe that the celebrant has to be in possession of male genitalia to do so.

I'm glad you qualified "Catholic" as "in the Church with the Bishop of Rome". At least you realise that there are other kinds of Catholics.

credoie

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

What an incredibly arrogant statement! As an atheist I find myself completely siding with CofI followers in these debates due to this type of 'only true church' arrogance so often spouted by RCC followers.

Although maybe from a religious perspective having Atheists feel compelled to defend you is not such a good thing!

John 15:18 If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.

katydid

credoie wrote: »

John 15:18 If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.

The only one talking hatred here is you. You seem very bitter

credoie

katydid wrote: »

The only one talking hatred here is you. You seem very bitter

I was called arrogant because i follow my churchs teaching.

Delirium

katydid wrote: »

The only one talking hatred here is you. You seem very bitter

MOD NOTE

Less of the personal comments please.

Thanks for your attention.

Peregrinus

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

What an incredibly arrogant statement! As an atheist I find myself completely siding with CofI followers in these debates due to this type of 'only true church' arrogance so often spouted by RCC followers.

Although maybe from a religious perspective having Atheists feel compelled to defend you is not such a good thing!

But what are you defending the CofI from? Nobody in this thread has attacked them or criticised them, or suggested that they shouldn't form and practice whatever policies they choose on extending eucharistic hospitality to other Christians.

It's [Roman] Catholic practice on Eucharistic hospitality which is being criticised here, and it's being criticised basically on the ground that it doesn't conform to the Anglican understanding of the Eucharist and of communion.

I'm not generally one for accusing others of arrogance, but if I were disposed to cast such an aspersion I'd spot a golden opportunity right there!

Kiwi in IE

Peregrinus wrote: »

But what are you defending the CofI from? Nobody in this thread has attacked them or criticised them, or suggested that they shouldn't form and practice whatever policies they choose

credoie wrote: »

Communion is not just sharing a Meal with your Neighbour. Its the real true living presence of Christ body and flesh, soul and divinity. You have to share the same faith in Christ to make communion. Only a male priest with valid ordination can consecrate the host and wine.

yes it is sad we are not one as Christ wanted.

I think there is a clear implication here that other Christian denominations do not share 'the same faith in Christ' (the implication being lesser). And it's sad that we are not all 'one as Christ wanted' (implication being it's a shame not everyone is Roman Catholic because that's what Christ wanted).

The implications are that the RCC 'own' Christ and that other Christian denominations who also worship him are lesser and 'not doing it properly'.

credoie

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

I think there is a clear implication here that other Christian denominations do not share 'the same faith in Christ' (the implication being lesser). And it's sad that we are not all 'one as Christ wanted' (implication being it's a shame not everyone is Catholic).

But They don't..