Sixth Sunday of Easter
25 May 2003
Dear Friends in Christ,
Since my instruction on how to receive Holy Communion, many of you have asked about the discipline concerning Catholics receiving the Eucharist in non-Catholic Churches. Here is a brief summary of Church teaching.
In the 11th century, the Orthodox Churches of the East ceased to be in full communion with the Catholic Church because the Bishops of the Orthodox Church do not acknowledge the Bishop of Rome to be the Pastor of the Universal Church. The Orthodox Churches, however, retain all seven sacraments instituted by Christ, including the apostolic succession of bishops and priests and therefore a true celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist. For this reason, the same sacrifice and sacrament are present in the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Churches as are present in the Mass of the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, it is inappropriate (except for special circumstances) for Catholics to receive Holy Communion in an Orthodox Church or for Orthodox to receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church because the Churches themselves are not in full communion. Until the end of the schism of 1054 by formal reconciliation among our bishops, Catholics are free to attend the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church (an act, by the way, which would fulfill the Sunday obligation to assist at the Holy Eucharist) but should refrain from receiving Holy Communion.
In the 16th century, the unity of the Western Church was broken by the Protestant Reformation, but unlike the Orthodox, Protestant Christians lost five of the seven sacraments given by Christ to the Church. Protestant Churches of every variety have only two sacraments remaining: Baptism and Marriage. Because they lost the apostolic succession of priests and bishops, Protestant Churches also lost the valid celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, and Confirmation. For this reason, even when a Protestant congregation celebrates the Lord’s Supper, they are not doing the same thing that is done in the Catholic Mass or the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, and for that reason, no Catholic or Orthodox Christian may ever receive Holy Communion in a Protestant Church and attending a Protestant worship service does not fulfill the Sunday obligation to assist at the Holy Eucharist. This includes the Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and all of the smaller Protestant movements.
That we must entertain such questions should be a cause of salutary sadness to all who confess Christ as Lord and serve as an impetus to work and pray for the restoration of full, visible communion in the restored order of a Church which is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
Father Newman
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.