Can a Catholic person take communion in a Protestant church?
I was raised Catholic, so I know that Protestants cannot take communion in a Catholic church because they don’t believe in the transubstantiation. But would it be wrong for a Catholic to take communion in a Protestant church?
Absolutely wrong!! That would be blasphemy. It would be submitting to the doctrines of men instead of Christ's teaching.
This may help:
St. Paul taught that we must discern the Body and the Blood of the Lord to receive the Eucharist. We must be prepared by faith, understanding and an examination of our conscience. This is the most holy moment for any Christian and we must be sure of our preparation as every aspect of our demeanor must be prepared to reflect the respect, solemnity and joy that are received at the reception of our Lord and Saviors real body and blood. This is the most extraordinary moment that anyone can experience on this earth. We are to be reminded of the words of the Centurion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.”
Is it possible to have open communion with those who do not share in our belief in the real corporeal presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Could we, in fact be harming those who we allow at the Lord's Table who do not discern the Lord's Body and Blood? Would we be contributing to them bringing condemnation on themselves by sharing the Eucharist with them? Certainly, I cannot receive or participate in Protestant communion where it is only symbolic as it makes a mockery of the Sacrament established by Christ. Under what circumstance do I believe that communion is possible in good conscience? When we share the same respect and reverence in knowing, that it is the Body and Blood of the living Christ that we adore and worship before we receive, then we can share communion. What do I mean by respect and reverence?
We must be in a state of grace, one conscience of grave sin must not receive communion before the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As part of the preparation we must also fast prior to the receiving of the Eucharist. There must also be a union of doctrine and authority as the Sacrament is one of oneness with Christ and His Church, St. Paul taught that we are to be one Body and partake of one bread. This oneness includes the members of the Orthodox communities and certain Catholic communities not in full communion of authority but in agreement on doctrine. The Catholic and the Orthodox Church are to be seen as the two ”lungs” of the one Church of Christ.
Unfortunately, it is impossible for communion with those ecclesiastical communities coming out of the Reformation because they lack a valid priesthood and a means to confect the Eucharist as well as the proper understanding of the sacrament.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
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January 28 2009 08:52 am | Protestant
Panda bear returns again on 28 Jan 2009 at 2:23 pm #
It is not like they ask you wheather you are catholic or Protestant when you take communion
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Peaches on 28 Jan 2009 at 2:32 pm #
YES
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Martin S on 28 Jan 2009 at 2:56 pm #
It wouldn’t be wrong in the eyes of the people at the Protestant church because they believe that God has only one church made up of all born again believers. The Catholic church might not approve however.
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Eric Fadom on 28 Jan 2009 at 3:41 pm #
Yes. There are no rules in a protestant church. You don’t even have to be Christian.
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King James on 28 Jan 2009 at 4:01 pm #
It wouldn’t be wrong, but it wouldn’t be valid either.
My personal belief is that Holy Communion is valid as long as it’s taken within a body of Christian believers. The RCC, however, does not share my views.
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cristoiglesia on 28 Jan 2009 at 4:39 pm #
Absolutely wrong!! That would be blasphemy. It would be submitting to the doctrines of men instead of Christ's teaching.
This may help:
St. Paul taught that we must discern the Body and the Blood of the Lord to receive the Eucharist. We must be prepared by faith, understanding and an examination of our conscience. This is the most holy moment for any Christian and we must be sure of our preparation as every aspect of our demeanor must be prepared to reflect the respect, solemnity and joy that are received at the reception of our Lord and Saviors real body and blood. This is the most extraordinary moment that anyone can experience on this earth. We are to be reminded of the words of the Centurion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.”
Is it possible to have open communion with those who do not share in our belief in the real corporeal presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Could we, in fact be harming those who we allow at the Lord's Table who do not discern the Lord's Body and Blood? Would we be contributing to them bringing condemnation on themselves by sharing the Eucharist with them? Certainly, I cannot receive or participate in Protestant communion where it is only symbolic as it makes a mockery of the Sacrament established by Christ. Under what circumstance do I believe that communion is possible in good conscience? When we share the same respect and reverence in knowing, that it is the Body and Blood of the living Christ that we adore and worship before we receive, then we can share communion. What do I mean by respect and reverence?
We must be in a state of grace, one conscience of grave sin must not receive communion before the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As part of the preparation we must also fast prior to the receiving of the Eucharist. There must also be a union of doctrine and authority as the Sacrament is one of oneness with Christ and His Church, St. Paul taught that we are to be one Body and partake of one bread. This oneness includes the members of the Orthodox communities and certain Catholic communities not in full communion of authority but in agreement on doctrine. The Catholic and the Orthodox Church are to be seen as the two ”lungs” of the one Church of Christ.
Unfortunately, it is impossible for communion with those ecclesiastical communities coming out of the Reformation because they lack a valid priesthood and a means to confect the Eucharist as well as the proper understanding of the sacrament.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
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Edge on 28 Jan 2009 at 4:59 pm #
I don’t see any reason why not. As to protestants not taking communion in a Catholic church. I am a protestant and if I was in a Catholic church and desired to take communion I would. It is not up to man to say who can and who cannot take communion. Nowhere in the Bible does it say you can only take communion if you believe exactly how a denomination does. It is about communion with Christ not with a denomination.
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Marysia on 28 Jan 2009 at 5:36 pm #
i have heard mixed comments on this issue — technically yes and anyone can, however i have heard no that if you do you are accepting their beliefs which either belittle or belie the Catholics.
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amyZ. on 28 Jan 2009 at 6:07 pm #
I don’t think it would be regarded as wrong, as the Protestant communion is more a symbolic gesture. I was told that in the absence of a Catholic church when traveling it is better for a catholic to go to a protestant one for Sunday mass than nowhere at all.
* I am not catholic though
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TheOmniscent on 28 Jan 2009 at 6:18 pm #
Yes it is absolutely wrong, don’t be a hypocrite of your faith.
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Isaiah Now on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:00 pm #
You may take communion in our gathering any time you wish.
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spiritroaming on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:07 pm #
No.
In a nutshell, the Eucharist of the Roman Catholic Church can only be given to those who believe, who adhere to and proclaim the Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation. Conversely, no Catholic person is permitted to take communion in a non-Catholic church. To do so would be a public admission of approval of the Protestant version of Communion, an act that is clearly forbidden by Church Law.
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Karenita EWTN ((Allecat)) on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:56 pm #
no a Catholic can not take communion in a Protestant church
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Christine L on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:23 pm #
Almost all Protestant churches would let you, but the Catholic church won't approve. Others said this, but I wanted to add that there are so many protestant denominations that you may run into one that doesn't accept you.
Obviously, you could misrepresent yourself and take communion; I assume you're not planning to do this.
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Jeancommunicates on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:01 pm #
Whether Catholic or Protestant if you take communion without forgiving your brother or sister or holding any sin you should not take communion. The bread and the blood are cleansing and healing if taken with the correct heart toward the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:24,25-29
And when he had given thanks, He brake it, and said, “Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.”
After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
————————————————-
Nothing speaks to the answer better than the Word of God.
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Sldgman on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:17 pm #
It is improper for you to participate in a non-Catholic Communion service. If you were to participate, you would be saying that you are in agreement with their beliefs, which you are not.
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imacatholic2 on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:05 pm #
At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Take this bread. It is my body.” The he said, “Take this and drink. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.”
Catholics believe this was the First Eucharist, that through some miracle the bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Catholics reenact the Last Supper during every Mass, where the priest, acting in place of Christ, changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
This is a great sacrament of thanksgiving and unity of Catholics.
Anyone who does not believe in the actual presence of Christ and is not united with the Catholic faith is asked, out of respect, not to receive the Eucharist.
Catholics, out of respect for other Christian faiths, do not receive Communion in non-Catholic churches.
We pray that one day Christian unity will succeed and we will all be called to the same table.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1322 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art3.shtml
With love in Christ.
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Dr. Zoom Zoom 3.0 on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:42 pm #
No…
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http://christianforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=26
http://christianforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=966
L on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:57 pm #
NO!
Pope John Paul II said we should not receive Communion in other churches because then we are not showing true witness to the fact that Jesus is physically present in Catholic holy communion but not in physically present in the communion of other christian churches.
God Bless
L
By the way after reading some other comments i'll have to ack people who aren't Catholic to not receive Communion in the Catholic Church. As a Catholic i receive the physical body of Christ, you don't believe that and therefore you are committing sacrilidge and sinning.
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Daver on 28 Jan 2009 at 11:02 pm #
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No, even if the Protestant denomination allows it.
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Yes. It’s not just believe in the Real Presence of the Eucharist. The act of going up and receiving Communion in a Catholic is a profession of belief in ALL that the Church believes and practices.
A Catholic who receives Communion at a non-Catholic Church is professing belief in all that that non-Catholic Church believes and practices. That is why it would be wrong.
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Dakota Z on 28 Jan 2009 at 11:12 pm #
No a Catholic can’t receive protestant communion, it would be a mortal sin. Protestants do not have the power to turn bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. And to attend a protestant service is likewise a mortal sin.
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pepgurli on 28 Jan 2009 at 11:39 pm #
Yes you can but it really isn’t the eucarist because protestants don’t belive that the bread and wine are actually transformed into the body and blood of jesus chrisrt. They see it as a symbol. So it’s just some bread and wine nothing more.
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My Mormon Utah on 28 Jan 2009 at 11:54 pm #
I would say no. I’m a member of both the Catholic and Mormon (LDS) faiths, and have been leaning more Catholic lately. The Eucharist in the Catholic Church is very special and unlike any communion or sacrament or whatever you want to call it in any other church. I’ve taken sacrament in the LDS faith (basically like communion except you pass around water and bread), and it just doesn’t seem nearly as special or sacred as receiving communion at Mass. If you did take communion in a protestant church, it just wouldn’t mean anything if you are faithful to the Catholic Church. I’m not sure if it’s absolutely against the rules of the Church, but it just wouldn’t have any spiritual significance to you!
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