Posted on 01/03/2017 2:57:38 PM PST by ebb tide
From the official website of the German Bishops' Conference:
Hope for shared Holy Communion for married couples
It is already being lived out in many interdenominational marriages: Eucharistic communion. It is, however, not allowed. Bishop Franz-Josef Bode [of Osnabrück] has hopes for a change in this matter — and soon.
The Bishop of Osnabrück, Franz-Josef Bode, would like to see the possibility of Holy Communion for mixed marriages. He said so in a conversation with the Evangelical Press Service [Evangelischer Pressedienst, epd].
Thereby, the Church would allow a practice, reportedly already common among spouses from different Christian confessions. In 2017, the year of the commemoration of the Protestant Reformation, Bode called such a change in the Catholic position "not utopian." From the point of view of the evangelical church, Catholics can already take part in the Lord’s Supper, inviting all baptised Christians to participate. The Catholic Church, however, does not allow her faithful to take part in the Protestant Lord’s Supper, and she usually restricts the reception of the Eucharist to Catholic faithful.
The Church of the Future
Bishop Bode emphasised intensified ecumenical efforts for a "common Church of the Future." Some of the "key points" he named were an agreement about general Eucharistic communion and the ordained ministry of the Churches [sic].
Common ground between the different denominations is already substantial, according to him: "Our common faith in Jesus Christ and a triune God cannot be called a minimal consensus."
[Excerpt translated by reader Wolfgang of Regensburg]
Sounds like this bishop should just convert to a non-denominational christian church and eat a loaf of bread or sandwiches with the masses and call it good.
As a non catholic i dont want catholic communion. People should never take communion anywhere where their beliefs about it are different than yours. It portrays a false unity and makes the differences appear to be unimportant.
How about communion for people who just happen to be walking by on the street?
Does this bishop believe in the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist?
His way of thinking focuses on the person who is receiving communion instead of focusing on Christ present in the Eucharist.
Perhaps Bishop Bode knows the answer to “how many angels can dance on the head of a pin”. What an ass. I am catholic so flame away.
An Irish priest and friend of mine explained it this way; "You don't consume the Eucharist - it consumes you."
It honestly makes no sense to me.
Oh, yes.
That’s perfect.
Thank you for sharing.
Exactly!
I am an ordained minister, non-Catholic, who sings in high-end amateur and professional choirs sometimes.
When these ensembles sing as part of a mass (usually in a “liberal” cathedral), I, an actual Christian, am the only one who abstains from taking the Eucharist.
Even the choir directors typically violate the intent by partaking.
I also abstain in a Protestant denomination to which I do not belong.
Exactly. By the way, this is the orthodox Catholic position as well. It’s too bad that some clergy cannot grasp what a properly catechized child can.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.