Catholic Dopers: A Question Regarding Communion

[Baker]

Different kinds of Lutherans regard the reception of Communion differently. I grew up Missouri-Synod Lutheran, very conservative. Only LCMS Lutherans can take communion in their churches. I changed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, one which generally welcomes any baptized Christian to Communion. They also(gasp!) hold that women have an equal place with men in the church, something the LCMS doesn’t. Neither of these two denominations believes that the bread and wine actually become the flesh and blood of Christ(transubstantiation), but they both believe it’s more than a simple memorial, that Christ is “In, with and under” the elements(consubstantiation)

I am now Episcopalian(too long a story for here). In my congregation the priest generally says something like this “All who love God are welcome at the Lord’s Table,” or “this is not the Episcopalian’s table, but the Lord’s.” We of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (ECUSA) try to be open and affirming. Just ask Gene Robinson.

[saoirse]

@Guinastasia

Since I’m lapsed, on the rare occassion I go to church (usually on holidays to please my dad, and even then it’s rare), I’ll usually sit out Communion.

There’s nothing that can drive you from the church like a left-wing priest who says that everyone can receive communion. Instead of being one of a dozen or so sinners who sit out, you wind up being the only one still sitting in the pew. And of course everyone else is thinking, “Man he must some kinda mass murderer.”

[yBeayf]

There’s nothing that can drive you from the church like a left-wing priest who says that everyone can receive communion. Instead of being one of a dozen or so sinners who sit out, you wind up being the only one still sitting in the pew.

Heh. Almost as bad as a traditional Russian or Serbian church, when only two people go to communion, and you’re one of them. And people after the service come up and slap you on the back and say “Congratulations!”