Can other Christians take part in Roman Catholic services, and how?

Question

As an Episcopalian, I know I'm not permitted take Holy Communion in an Roman Catholic church, because the Anglican churches are not in communion with Rome. But apart from that, can I fully take part in worship at a R. Catholic service? Could I request a blessing from a priest instead of taking Communion?

Also, isn't there a provision in R. Catholic doctrine which says Christians from churches not in communion with Rome can obtain permission to take Communion in an R. Catholic church under extraordinary circumstances? What would such circumstances be?

P.S. Just for the record - R. Catholics are welcome to take Communion in an Episcopal church. I hope that someday the Vatican will take a similarly catholic attitude towards us.

Answer 1

Except for receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, you are more than welcome to fully participate in the Catholic mass by praying and singing with us in worship of God.



Yes, you may come up and receive a blessing from the priest. This is very common in most Catholic churches. There are times in which it is not proper for Catholics to receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Mass.



I think that you may receive communion at a Catholic Mass at special events such as weddings and funerals as a sign of oneness with those who the Mass is being said for.



It does not cause pride among Catholics that only they may receive the Eucharist at Mass. if anything it is a source of sadness because it is a sign that we are not in full communion with our Christian brothers and sisters.

Answer 2

The ONLY things a non-Catholic is not permitted to participate in is the sacraments (other than baptism, but that makes you Catholic of course). So, in mass, the only thing you can't participate in is receiving the eucharist as you already know. Instead of receiving communion, you may cross your arms across your chest and head up with the other people at communion. The priest will know what the crossed arms means and give you a blessing instead. You don't even have to say anything.



As for non-Catholics receiving - this is feasible, but ONLY if the non-Catholic has shown that they believe exactly as the Church does in regards to communion. Most people don't. Some get close with what is called consubstantiation, but that doesn't cut it.



And while an Episcopal church might allow us to receive in your church, we are still not allowed by our own church.



This is, as above, because we have quite different beliefs about the Eucharist.

Answer 3

Anyone is welcome at a Roman Catholic Mass and fully participate. However, you are right - other Faiths cannot receive Communion. A Priest can give you a blessing.



I was allowed to take Communion at a Roman Catholic Mass when I was not a Catholic. (now I am) The Priest (Monk) in a Monastery gave me permission. He was a former Abbot and only requested that I acknowledge it is the "true Presence" of Jesus.

Before I was Catholic, I was not allowed to receive Communion at the local Catholic Church (only at the Monastery)

Answer 4

Yes, it's possible. You can participate in the whole of the mass except, I think, the consumption of the host. If you want to get a blessing from a priest, line up when people are getting communion and when you get to the priest, cross your arms around your chest, hands touching the shoulders, and bow slightly, the priest should put his hand on your head, sometimes makes the sign of the cross, and bless you. It's the same with us, we can go participate in worship of other denominations but we can't get communion though.

Answer 5

Ive been to Catholic masses where you can request a blessing instead of communion. You stand in the communion line but when your turn in front of the priest comes you cross your arms over your chest in an X fashion and he blesses you instead of offering the communion wafer.

Answer 6

Given the churches immense and obscene (Often mis gotten) wealth tax payers in NSW , Australia have had to pay out $76 mill for the Popes junket for youth day.



That money should be used for schools and hospitals .Even a Catholic priest has come out and said this visit is a waste of money



So i guess we all take part in RC services whether we like it or not.

Answer 7

Yes YES Yes ,,, I just read on that topic recently ,,, Ah friend of mine who I play music with sometimes playes at the catholic mass with me ,,, I didn,t say he couldn,t receive Communion ,,, but later one of the elders said for him not to receive communion ,,, I think its ok ,,, Some times church law is just church law ,,, When I go to someone elses church they don,t tell me not to participate in their services ,,, WHERE IS THE CHRISTIAN ,, there to worship the Lord , and that includes receiving HIM ,,, By the way I just also read in the Bible where it said in the end times before the world comes to an end their will be no separation with christians ,,, all will worship as christians , not as ah seperate church ,,, All will be One together to praise the Lord ,,, Remember man has ah bunch of rules and laws that change all the time ,,,, God said 10 to moses ,,, and then Jesus said 2 ,,,, as ah catholic and ah christian I,m gonna listen to what Jesus said Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , soul and mind , and love thy neighbor as thy self ,,,, thats it ,,, may God forgive if i,m wrong , ,, but I know Jesus and what He said , if Jesus wants you not to receive Him ,,, He will leave the Sacred Host , ,, Go and Receive Him ,,, may God bless ,,, oll nick ,,,

Answer 8

It is my belief that there can be only one true Church on earth and I do not think either of the Catholic churches or their breakaways are in that category. Look to its origins.Henry the 8th broke away because of personal and carnal desire.This cannot be seen as a christian act.

Answer 9

the two faiths finally believe interior the comparable issues. they're the two Christian. the two faiths properly known salvation via Christ's crucifixion, the two faiths believe in an all-powerful god. Now the two disagree on the extra superficial factors of religion. maximum severely, baptists take the Bible because of the fact the literal and unquestionable word of God. They study it therefor, that's genuine. Catholics study the Bible as frequently a metaphor, something that desires to be interpreted. to no longer different from fixing a riddle. This distinction in interpretation leads to many diffused transformations. Transubstantiation, by making use of St. Thomas Aquinas' reason, is a mix of theological interpretation and Aristotelian logic. Baptists reject transubstantiation, because of the fact that's no longer, word for word, interior the Bible. this theory is a manner between the two faiths and on their disagreements. additionally worth of no longer, as properly he infinite rather diffused transformations, their is a great distinction between religious tone amoung the two faiths. As i'm useful you could tell merely from the responces, Catholics look much less confrontational, whilst the Baptists look extra agressive. This stands to reason that a faith it relies of absolutes would be somewhat extra fanatical and much less accepting of transformations. whilst maximum of Catholicism particularly recognizes the smaller Protesant denominations. in fact, maximum Europeans have never heard of a popular Baptist. So thats rather the conflict in a simplistic nut shell. i could additionally prefer to be conscious that the Catholic Church has an extraordinarily useful dating with Anglicans, Lutherans, and the eastern Orthodox faiths. exciting to be conscious, none of those faiths take the Bible actually eather. a great number of those faiths have their disagreements, even if that's in lots of situations extra theological and much less fanatical, interior the prominent era besides. As a Catholic, I would desire to declare that no faith is carefully genuine or thoroughly incorrect. and that i think of that's immportant and morally genuine to admire the Baptist faith, look at their ideals and honor its finer factors whilst rejecting is worse traits. i actually want all faiths could respectfully disagree, yet they cant.

Answer 10

Why would you do so, thereby denying that Christ is risen? The Catholics teach that Jesus is sacrificed every day on the altar, meanwhile their very own Bibles teach that Jesus can never be sacrificed again and that only the one sacrifice on the cross will atone for sins.



Read Hebrews 9-11:



http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb%209-11;&version=9;

Answer 11

i dunno about escopothingy stuff(no offence) how? walk in , attend the mass as usual , im not sure about the host though, i don't think you are allowed



O.o i did not know! cool

Answer 12

what a christian got to do with rituals?

Answer 13

Why?

Answer 14

its a lie......try something new....