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I don't want to cause a big problem here as I am a conservative Lutheran. As much of a problem I have with Kerry, and I have a lot of problems with him, I think that taking communion in another church causes no problems whatsoever. If we look at what communion is for, why would anyone have a problem with it? I believe is it silly church doctrine that would restrict people to only taking communion at certain places. That being said, I believe Kerry is pandering to the religious for votes and nothing more.

>>>>I think that taking communion in another church causes no problems whatsoever. If we look at what communion is for, why would anyone have a problem with it?

Well, you have a very different definition of what communion is for than Catholics do. That is the first problem. Second problem is that you are not in communion with Catholics. It may seem silly to you, and it appears that at least some AME folks don't care either, but to a real Catholic it's a rather serious matter.

patent

Church Doctrine is Church Doctrine. The point is that Kerry wants somehow to identify himself as a Catholic while maintaining NONE of the precepts to which the Catholic Church holds. If it walks like a giraffe, and talks like a donkey and quacks like a weasel there is a problem with calling it a duck.

If we look at what communion is for, why would anyone have a problem with it?

Actually, it is an important distinction here since Sen. Kerry is claiming to be a practicing Roman Catholic. Any statements or actions that he undertakes to show that he is not conducting himself as a practicing Roman Catholic would be relevant regardless of our individual religious beliefs.

Of course, the only people that this will really matter to are the sort of people who wouldn't vote for Kerry in the first place.

>>> I am a conservative Lutheran..... I think that taking communion in another church causes no problems whatsoever..<<<

Does NOT look that way to me for at least one Lutheran body, re "the real presence of Christ's body and blood " and "cannot express such unity with the ELCA..". Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a conservative Lutheran body, says at their website:

"...To attend communion together people need to be believers in Christ, since beneficial reception is impossible without faith in Christ. To attend communion together people need to recognize the real presence of Christ's body and blood , since otherwise they will be receiving the sacrament to their condemnation. These points are covered in 1 Corinthians 11:17-32...

and

...Another element of attending Communion is that it is an expression of unity and fellowship between those who attend 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. Christians have always regarded the Lord's Supper as one of the strongest expressions of unity. We cannot express such unity with the ELCA, for example, because of its denial of the inerrancy of Scripture and other basic doctrines of the Bible...."

Looks like Kerry violated some Lutheran policies also. I get the impression not only does the candidate 'look' French, his staff is also working a French style work-week and NOT getting the 'job' done.

http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=57&cuItem_itemID=5687