Closed communion

[CatholicAtHeart]

^ If that is the right terminology.

Has anyone here ever received Holy Communion within a church which does not allow members of other churches to receive i.e Roman Catholic/Orthodox?

I'm always slightly tempted when I'm at a Roman Catholic mass to receive, as I don't think that the Roman church should limit me from the sacrament, after all we are all one in Christ.

 

[Albion]

^ If that is the right terminology.

Has anyone here ever received Holy Communion within a church which does not allow members of other churches to receive i.e Roman Catholic/Orthodox?

I'm always slightly tempted when I'm at a Roman Catholic mass to receive, as I don't think that the Roman church should limit me from the sacrament, after all we are all one in Christ.

Did we just discuss this on another thread?

I always feel that it's wrong to deliberately and covertly violate the rules of the church that I'm visiting, even if I disagree with their policies. After all I am not a member of that church and am there because of their hospitality. Why, then, would I reward that welcome by doing something I know is considered by them to be wrong and...possibly even a sacrilege?

 

[mark46]

There are many Catholics, including priests, that have advised that it is OK to receive if one believes that the bread and wine are truly the body, blood, soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. After all, much of the Church is as not rule-bound and inhospitable as others.

That being said, this advice is in violation of the rules of the RCC.

I also believe that the issue is hospitality. Are we attending a wedding? What would those who invited us expect us to do?

Many Anglicans have been confirmed in the RCC. Should we be so rule-bound that we never receive in a RCC Church. We are talking about man-made rules, after all.
====================================

However, when I read the OP, I sense that we are discussing something different. The OP seems to be suggesting that we have a "right" to violate RCC rules because we are all one in Christ. There is no mention of acceptance of the RCC priest, no mention of accepting the RCC meaning of Eucharist, and no mention of receiving as being one of the Church throughout the ages (and all the masses throughout the ages).

Clearly, there are many Anglicans who are more comfortable with the RCC sacrament of Eucharist than the sacrrament as practiced in some Anglican churches.

 

[CatholicAtHeart]

I know it violates the rules of the RCC church, but is there any difference between their Eucharist and ours? What makes it their right to decide who can receive at their altars.

I sometimes go because I like to hear a Roman mass, I always receive a blessing but I always think - Why didn't I just open my mouth?

Sometimes the mass at my Anglican church gets a bit 'ooer...' so I seek the traditional Roman churches out to fulfil what I believe is my obligation.

 

[Albion]

I know it violates the rules of the RCC church, but is there any difference between their Eucharist and ours?

Yes. While there are a few Anglicans who accept the Roman belief called Transubstantiation, it is contrary to the Articles of Religion and not what the overwhelming majority of Anglicans believe about the Eucharist.

What makes it their right to decide who can receive at their altars.

It's their church, not a public facility.

I sometimes go because I like to hear a Roman mass, I always receive a blessing but I always think - Why didn't I just open my mouth?

You talk as though there's some emergency involved...but I can't find anything in your description of things that would indicate that if you wait a week before communing, something dire is likely to happen to you.

 

[ebia]

^ If that is the right terminology.

Has anyone here ever received Holy Communion within a church which does not allow members of other churches to receive i.e Roman Catholic/Orthodox?

I'm always slightly tempted when I'm at a Roman Catholic mass to receive, as I don't think that the Roman church should limit me from the sacrament, after all we are all one in Christ.

If the priest knowingly invites me then I'll partake, if not I would see it as an abuse of hospitality.

 

[PaladinValer]

I've accepted Holy Communion at Roman Catholic parishes a number of times, although the reason is due to the fact that they were Requiems of family members who passed away.

Otherwise, I only attend Anglican liturgies anyway, so it really doesn't factor into my life.

My question is, are you attending Anglican liturgies over Roman Catholic ones?

 

[CatholicAtHeart]

I've accepted Holy Communion at Roman Catholic parishes a number of times, although the reason is due to the fact that they were Requiems of family members who passed away.

Otherwise, I only attend Anglican liturgies anyway, so it really doesn't factor into my life.

My question is, are you attending Anglican liturgies over Roman Catholic ones?

Yes, I am. But sometimes I feel that it's best to go hear a Roman Catholic mass. I always outnumber the Roman Masses with Anglican ones.

 

[PaladinValer]

Yes, I am. But sometimes I feel that it's best to go hear a Roman Catholic mass. I always outnumber the Roman Masses with Anglican ones.

Why?

 

[CatholicAtHeart]

Why?

We have female clergy, and for me it's hard to accept them as valid. Also sometimes they have joint Methodist masses.

Sometimes the Holy Mass at my church doesn't show sacredness which my local RC church shows in their Mass..

 

[PaladinValer]

We have female clergy, and for me it's hard to accept them as valid. Also sometimes they have joint Methodist masses.

We have women clergy because of Baptismal theology.

Furthermore, the Methodists in GB and the Church of England are going through a discernment for full communion, which would mean the Methodists would have to accept Apostolic Succession.

Sometimes the Holy Mass at my church doesn't show sacredness which my local RC church shows in their Mass..

In other words, it isn't as high as you want it.

Sorry, but I'm a high-churcher who prefers a traditional solemn liturgy, and I attend a broad church. The churchmanship doesn't make the liturgy valid.

There is absolutely no reason for you to be attending non-Anglican liturgies when you have a local Anglican church to attend. Unless you have a valid reason to attend a Roman Catholic church, their services are no more valid than our own.

 

[CatholicAtHeart]

We have women clergy because of Baptismal theology.

Furthermore, the Methodists in GB and the Church of England are going through a discernment for full communion, which would mean the Methodists would have to accept Apostolic Succession.



In other words, it isn't as high as you want it.

Sorry, but I'm a high-churcher who prefers a traditional solemn liturgy, and I attend a broad church. The churchmanship doesn't make the liturgy valid.

There is absolutely no reason for you to be attending non-Anglican liturgies when you have a local Anglican church to attend. Unless you have a valid reason to attend a Roman Catholic church, their services are no more valid than our own.

I'm not saying that their masses are more valid, or that a solemn mass is valid compared to a less traditional one.
But I feel that the Holy Mass should be sacred, and as part of the most important form of prayer.
I cannot 100% accept female orders, and another Anglican telling me they are valid (even though they know their stuff ) won't change my mind.
That is the reason I change around a bit.

 

[PaladinValer]

I'm not saying that their masses are more valid, or that a solemn mass is valid compared to a less traditional one.
But I feel that the Holy Mass should be sacred, and as part of the most important form of prayer.

You've contradicted yourself...

I cannot 100% accept female orders, and another Anglican telling me they are valid (even though they know their stuff ) won't change my mind.
That is the reason I change around a bit.

There is absolutely no reason for you to be attending a Roman Catholic liturgy.

 

[CatholicAtHeart]

Why have I contradicted myself?

 

[ebia]

Why have I contradicted myself?

Would it be fair to say that you recognise both liturgies to be fully valid but sometimes find the RCC one to be more spiritually helpful?

 

[CatholicAtHeart]

Would it be fair to say that you recognise both liturgies to be fully valid but sometimes find the RCC one to be more spiritually helpful?

Got it in one!

 

[ThePilgrim]

Please, please, never receive the Eucharist in an Orthodox Church unless and until you are an Orthodox Christian. To us, that would be a very serious issue and, as the other posters pointed out here, even from an Anglican perspective, it would be a serious breach of hospitality.

You are always welcome to come to Liturgy and we would love to have you there. Feel free to take some of the prosphora (blessed bread) after liturgy if that is the tradition of the particular parish.

It is not, however, your right to decide what rules of religious groups that you don't belong to you want to violate by deceit.

Forgive me.

In Christ,
Fr. John

 

[MKJ]

You shouldn't do it because it is incredibly rude. Like a plumber stealing cookies out of the oven at the home he is working in. Maybe they should have offered him a cookie - it doesn't mean he can take one.

In any case - in churches where there is closed communion, they see reception of the Eucharist as incredibly intimate. It is not really analogous to sharing a meal with a friend, it is a lot more like sexual intercourse. You don't do that with a friend, you do it with your spouse, and that means they offer it to members who have prepared themselves as they are supposed to and are spiritually unified to the congregation. That means affirming the things they teach to be essential. And you aren't and don't - if you were, you would be a member.

So, it isn't so much like stealing your cookies as maybe the plumber hopping into bed with your wife.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I wouldn't violate the rules of a church I'm visiting.

But neither would I ever join a church that practiced closed communion or did not ordain women, since those are two issues I feel very strongly about.

 

[PaladinValer]

I wouldn't violate the rules of a church I'm visiting.

Agreed. I allow only a few exceptions, one of which I noted and I would agree with Ebia's as well.

But neither would I ever join a church that practiced closed communion or did not ordain women, since those are two issues I feel very strongly about.

I understand the women's ordination, although I gotta say that Anglicanism isn't open communion per se. We require people to be actual members of the Holy Church, which means to be baptized. A Non-denominational 35 year old who was never baptized cannot receive but a 7 year old Oriental Orthodox child may.

Personally, I would also suggest that those who do not agree with Real Presence theology to seriously consider whether to come forth to receive also. Either way, I'd say we practice limited communion, not open communion.