[Mr. Lucky]

When taking communion in an AME church, does the Senator believe the body and blood of Christ to be truly present

[old-ager]

Communion is not just a personal thing. It's part of a "commun"al confession of faith and doctrine. So he declared his oneness with the doctrine of that church when he "communed" with them. Needless to say, if you are on the side of the RCC that says there is definite doctrine, you would not be doctrinally at one with any Protestant church.

Specifically: (1) they probably did not use wine (there was no such thing as refrigerated or frozen "grape juice" when Communion was instituted) (2) the public confession of that church would be that Holy Communion is only a human work of obedience or remembrance, not a Sacrament (mysterious transmission of forgiveness from God to man via earthly elements).

So what he did was not even Communion. But it _was_ a mockery of Communion.

[AppyPappy]

Be serious. He's a politician. All rules are out the door.

[aruanan]

When taking communion in an AME church, does the Senator believe the body and blood of Christ to be truly present

No, when he's in an AME church, he believes what they believe, though I doubt that many of them could explain the difference between con and transubstantiation. Actually, though, I don't think he believes what any of them believe. I think he's a complete cynic.