Communion controversy in Canada

[Anygma]

Controversy has broken out over a film clip that shows Prime Minister Stephen Harper taking a communion wafer, but does not show him consuming it....

...Harper is a Protestant and would not normally consume Roman Catholic communion.

CTV.ca | PM did not pocket communion wafer: spokesman

if you do a search for "Harper and communion" in youtube, you might be able to find a video footage of the event, but the original video that i saw on there has been taken down. so i'm not sure how long any ones i would post here could stay up for viewing.

some wonder why our MP Stephen Harper accepted communion, i also wonder why did our Bishop gave him communion
i'm talking about "our Bishop" because it's the Bishop of the diocese where i live. and you can bet that if it happened in a high profile event. it does also happen often in any funeral and marriages being celebrated here.

i think our Bishop and a lot of priest in our diocese need prayers.

 

[SolomonVII]

It was more than likely an oversight of the bishop. Most of the time at events where it can be expected that there will be people in attendance who do not know the Catholic understanding on this, they will remind everyone of the custom before the line up.

The reason that Catholics do not share the body of Christ with those outside of the faith is a precautionary one, so that those outside of the faith do not end up being destroyed through receiving Christ unworthily.

Perhaps in comparison to Steven Harper's case, there are Catholic politicians who would face the greater risk in this regard.

 

[Anygma]

It was more than likely an oversight of the bishop. Most of the time at events where it can be expected that there will be people in attendance who do not know the Catholic understanding on this, they will remind everyone of the custom before the line up.

The reason that Catholics do not share the body of Christ with those outside of the faith is a precautionary one, so that those outside of the faith do not end up being destroyed through receiving Christ unworthily.

Perhaps in comparison to Steven Harper's case, there are Catholic politicians who would face the greater risk in this regard.

in our diocese it's not a known practice to remind non catholic of our custom. my mom heard a priest comment that at one such event (marriage or funeral) he made the non catholic aware of this custom and he was shocked that only 5 peoples went to receive communion and said that for that reason, he stopped reminding peoples of the conditions to receive the Eucharist

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

While I'm not Catholic, our Denomination practices closed communion as well. We include a statement in our bulletin that states that only Confirmed members of our Congregation and Congregations in full fellowship may receive the Eucharist. Non members may approach the altar and receive a blessing from the Pastor.

Such a statement could prevent a lot of confusion and problems.

Respectfully,

Mark

 

[Maggie893]

Do you know what denomination he belongs to? Most denominations that take communion, also respect it, perhaps not to the same degree because they don't have the same beliefs but in most denominations that I've seen, it would not be likely that a member would "pocket" or reject the communion offered.

Just curious as there are denominations that revile the respect of communion.

 

[Anygma]

Do you know what denomination he belongs to? Most denominations that take communion, also respect it, perhaps not to the same degree because they don't have the same beliefs but in most denominations that I've seen, it would not be likely that a member would "pocket" or reject the communion offered.

Just curious as there are denominations that revile the respect of communion.

from the information i managed to gather, he belongs to the Christian and Missionary Alliance, an Evangelical denomination.

 

[Rhamiel]

WOW this is horrible
Maybe Harper did not know that the Catholic Church practices closed communion?
the Bishop should have reminded him of that

 

[WarriorAngel]

I suspect something could happen to convert him.

Anyway folks - I will say this again - because I strongly believe this is the ANSWER...!

INTINCTION - INTINCTION - INTINCTION!

 

[Anygma]

WOW this is horrible
Maybe Harper did not know that the Catholic Church practices closed communion?
the Bishop should have reminded him of that

yes, i wish he did, but from experience we notice that our diocese is very lax. I hope this incident brought to public eye will bring more attention of the Pope on the ongoing problems in our diocese.

 

[Anygma]

I suspect something could happen to convert him.

Anyway folks - I will say this again - because I strongly believe this is the ANSWER...!

INTINCTION - INTINCTION - INTINCTION!

Praying

 

[Michie]

TORONTO —

The priest who delivered the homily at the funeral mass of former governor general Romeo LeBlanc said Stephen Harper behaved properly when he took part in the communion service last week.


"The prime minister did consume the host; he did not put it in his pocket," said Father Arthur Bourgeois, who had been a friend of LeBlanc for 30 years.


Harper was caught on a 40-second amateur video, which has been viewed repeatedly on the Internet, being handed the communion wafer at the Memramcook, N.B., church. But instead of eating it right away, as Catholic Church law demands, he is seen apparently walking away with it. That led to rumours that he pocketed the wafer, something the Prime Minister's Office vehemently denied.


Most Protestants view communion as merely a symbol of the Last Supper. But Catholics believe that during the mass the wafer is transformed into the actual body of Jesus Christ. So to do anything with the wafer other than eat is considered a sacrilege.


The Catholic Church also insists that only Catholics can receive the consecrated wafer and so Harper, a Protestant, should have declined.

But Bourgeois said he was not concerned Harper accepted the wafer during the service.


"Generally those who partake in Holy Communion are members of the Church, but in some circumstances if someone (who is not Catholic) participates in a respectful way, not making a mockery of it, and they believe at that moment it is a special kind of bread, then once in a while it's acceptable. When the Pope comes out and says mass to 100,000 people we don't ask for a certificate of baptism and first communion. We hope they believe what we believe," he said.


"It's not the custom that we do it all the time but when it happens we shouldn't make a big, big deal out of it."


He said he was aware Harper was not a Catholic.


He also said Harper may have been caught in an awkward position. Usually Catholics walk up to the priest to receive communion but at the funeral mass the priest approached everyone sitting the first pew so Harper may have been caught off-guard.


"We were so flattered that the prime minister took the time to come down so we feel embarrassed by the whole controversy he faced," he said.


Others have said that Harper should have made himself aware of Catholic ritual — just as he would have if he were going to a Hindu temple or a Jewish synagogue.


Bourgeois said if Harper should find himself at another mass he should observe protocol by crossing his arms across his chest, to indicate he is not a Catholic, and then ask for a blessing.


And if Harper wants to continue to take communion he should become a Catholic, Bourgeois added.

http://www.canada.com/life/Priest+clears+holy+wafer+flap/1775787/story.html

 

[Anygma]

TORONTO —

http://www.canada.com/life/Priest+clears+holy+wafer+flap/1775787/story.html

Father Arthur Bourgeois has some interesting concept of what's an amateur video. this youtube video was a clipping from the national TV broadcast. Radio Canada has even asked youtube to take that video down for copyright infringements.

ah well, not much we can do now anyway. just put it all in God's hands and hope it doesn't happen again.