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Nope - it's a question of whether one accepts the faith as decreed by Rome , not whether one accepts the faith as set forth in the Bible.

Yes, it is exactly a question of whether God left us a Church or a Book. You believe the latter. That is your perogative.

All we ask is that those who do not believe all that we beleive to respect that we are not in union, and not to pretend to be so.

I am a Protestant. My wife is Catholic. We had planned to take our daughter to her first Easter mass this weekend. If I can't participate, I am not going to sanction such a divisive and exclusionary practice by going to get my "blessing."

You do what your conscience tells you. The blessing is there for those who would find it useful. You do not, so you can certainly abstain.

The requirement of belief in transsubstantiation is man-made law, and the Church does itself a disservice by turning away believers based upon it.

I posted the verses from 1 Cor above. They clearly show that one is to discern the Body and Blood of the Lord or to refrain from Communion.

I don't know how much more clear it can be. If you can not see the Body there, then don't partake. It could damn you.

The Church does no disservice in holding on to what we believe and not watering it down so that any old view of what the faith means is acceptable. Might as well become the Unitarians then.

A Church and a Book. The Problem with Catholics is that they insist that the Holy Roman Church is the entirety of the Church.

"Discern the body of Christ" - And you are certain that this means see the actual living body of Christ, as opposed to, say, accept this sacrament as if it is the actual living body of Christ? And you are also certain that the latter interpretation is so far beyond the pale as to justify denying a Christian the sacrament? Are you so certain for any reason except that Rome says so?

What is the Catholic stance on cannabalism? In which verse does the exception for the Eucharist arise?

When you discern, does it still look like unleavened bread? Does it taste like it? Smell? Is there a physical discernment, or do you just "know"?

Nice replies to some vexing questions.

Yes... the Church has laws that are expected to be obeyed, and yes... it can be an affront to others who are not of the same opinion, or belief. But what good would Cannon Law be were it not to be followed strictly?

Those who oppose such rules should repect the Catholics who do.

In the end God will decide what's just.

As a practicing Catholic I choose to follow the teachings of the church.

I could not simply walk into a Jewish Synagogue and expected to be treated as a Jew, even though we are all of the belief in one God. You respect the differences that are out there, and choose your own faith, and practices.