Would Synod document open path for Protestants to receive Communion regularly?
October 08, 2015
In the latest in a series of Letters from the Synod, "Xavier Rynne" calls attention to a passage of the instrumentum laboris, or working document, that open the way for allowing Protestants to receive Communion in the Catholic Church.
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Paragraph #128 of the instrumentum laboris has not received much attention, "Rynne" remarks. But that paragraph could be read as a justification for allowing the reception of Communion by a Protestant who is married to a Catholic. The passage suggests that it could be deemed a case of "grave necessity" if baptized Christians are married to Catholics and "their own pastors are not available." That language could be interpretted liberally to apply to many Protestants who are married to Catholics.
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Posted by: unum -
Oct. 09, 2015 10:19 AM ET USA
Hmmm! I would have to hear the definition of "grave necessity" before I could give a meaningful response since our clergy are all over the map on their beliefs.
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Posted by: chady -
Oct. 09, 2015 6:11 AM ET USA
Wow! I think we have to be careful what we say about God's forgiveness for non - Catholics and we do not find ourselves judging other Christians out of hand [Matt 7:1-5]. Regarding repentance and forgiveness - Catholic and non-Catholic alike are bound by sacred scripture [1 Jn 1:9]. Lord we pray teach us goodness, discernment and knowledge, we trust in your commands. Even in our fumbling, stumbling and bungling may you still be honored and glorified.
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Posted by: brownjudith2930 -
Oct. 08, 2015 6:17 PM ET USA
Of course this is where this 'modernist' approach is going. In fact, opening up communion to Protestants has already taken place in Canada. At the CCCB's plenary session Fall 1996, the proposal to adopt a posture of 'eucharistic hospitality' was discussed. It was brought back to my cathedral parish as a 'done deed'. The priest announced that any baptised Christian who earnestly desired to receive holy communion could come forward and do sod. And that is what happened.
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Posted by: ElizabethD -
Oct. 08, 2015 3:44 PM ET USA
I thought that passage was completely outrageous. What kind of prelates could possibly sign off on that in a Church document? Some bishops (not my own!) want to slap us ordinary catechists who teach kids Eucharistic discipline. Protestants have not been absolved of sins committed post-baptism, and there's no mention of belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which St Paul says is a requirement for reception of Holy Communion--otherwise they "eat and drink judgement on themselves."
