[US Catholic]Bishops Committee Recommends Opportunities for Shared Communion with Lutherans

Aleteia ^ | Deacon Greg Kandra

[marshmallow]

I haven't seen much attention given to this-presumably, the only Holy Communion issues people were writing about and discussing in October involved divorce and remarriage-but this seems to be a pretty big deal:

A U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops committee on ecumenical and interreligious affairs plans to send the Vatican a bold suggestion for "expansion of opportunities for Catholics and Lutherans to receive Holy Communion together." The 118-page text of "Declaration on the Way: Church, Ministry, and Eucharist [PDF]," unanimously affirmed by the committee in October, will be submitted to Cardinal Kurt Koch, the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity at the Vatican.

Promotional materials call the declaration a "unique ecumenical text that draws on 50 years of Lutheran-Catholic dialogue in preparation for the 500th Reformation anniversary coming in 2017." A news release from the bishops claims it "marks a pathway toward greater visible unity between Catholics and Lutherans."

[jafojeffsurf]

How could they share Communion when they are not in communion with the Church??? Well then the answer is simple, Sorry but No! Repent, Return to communion with the Church and then Share Communion in the Church.

God Bless

[RitaOK]

What a jokester that Francis.

He is all but announcing schism, methinks, and taking Vatican City with him, since he sits on top of her presently.

I expect any moment to hear of him announcing a fire sale on the art of the Vatican. It would be so ecumenical and stuff. The Lutherans could find a place for the Piata and the Anglicans a place for Saint Michael, etc.

Brutal. It’s getting brutal out there.

[Secret Agent Man]

It won’t be with my denomination of Lutherans.

[txrefugee]

LOL...which Lutherans would that be, the Liberal ELCA which communes with the apostate Episcopalians? It will not be with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or the Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, neither of which communes with the ELCA or each other.

[txrefugee]

LOL...which Lutherans would that be, the Liberal ELCA which communes with the apostate Episcopalians? It will not be with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or the Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, neither of which communes with the ELCA or each other.

[miele man]

The Lutherans (ELCA) which is whom I think the RC bishops are “dialogging” with, have long since lost apostolic succession and some have women pastors. How does Rome reconcile this.

This is an arrangement very similar to an “intercommunion” arrangement the Lutherans have with the apostate Episcopal Church. There, Lutheran clergy are permitted to celebrate Holy Communion at Episcopal altars and vice versa. Does Rome intend to do this as well?

This is a charley foxtrot in the making.

[hinckley buzzard]

This "Declaration" is the product of dialog between the RCC and the ELCA. Mostly it is a catalog of areas of agreement already settled. Nothing much new here. Just making nice for the Reformation's birthday.

[Secret Agent Man]

LC-MS.

[Secret Agent Man]

LC-MS. That is my dejominatoon and it wont be with us.

[iowamark]

A more positive story about Catholic-LCMS cooperation:

http://stlouisreview.com/article/2015-10-07/statement-catholic
“Statement from Catholic, Lutheran leaders expresses dismay over harvesting body parts from abortion”

[DesertRhino]

Maybe look at it as catholics taking communion —from- Lutherans, recognizing that Lutherans are fully legitimate. It has very little meaning to share communion if to a Catholic that simply means Lutherans are kissing the Roman ring.

[Salvation]

From that link.

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson and the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, walked side by side at the 2015 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Erik Lunsford/The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

[Salvation]

It’s a big difference in the Communion.

Lutherans believe in consubstantiation....still the bread and the wine while ???? the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Where Catholics believe in transubstantiation —

Trans = transfer
Substantiation = substance

The substance of bread and wine appears as bread and wine but is transferred into the Body and Blood of Christ.

[freemama]

ELCA needs to drop the L from their name.

Lutherans will not be communing with Catholics.

[Salvation]

I think it will happen.

Remember how all the Anglicans said that would never happen and it did?

I think the same will happen here.

[rmichaelj]

Are you referring to some Anglican parishes that became Anglican Rite Catholic Parishes, or something else?

[pleasenotcalifornia]

The Pope and the American Catholic Bishops seem to be going out their way to convince Roman Catholics that they need not be Roman Catholics.

[Salvation]

Correct.

[rmichaelj]

Sigh, followed the links to see what the document actually says. Fairly typical committee authored platitudes and best wishes for the future, with the actual differences which need to be resolved buried in the body of the document. Deceptive conclusions which do not look at the facts on the ground. If things get bad enough some Lutherans may convert in groups with permission. But this isn’t like the orthodox churches-we don’t even recognize the Lutheran’s Eucharist as valid!