Because there is a completely different understanding about what is going on. I don't even take communion in a Lutheran church; and probably shouldn't in a Baptist church, either, since they don't even consider it a sacrament.
A Protestant that would present himself for Communion at a Catholic church is woefully ignorant. (And the reverse is equally true.)
Threads like this are good. And the current Pope has been great for the Catholic church.
Likewise, a Catholic who would present himself for Communion at a Protestant church, would be equally ignorant.
Personally, I can't imagine wanting to participate in Communion at a Catholic church anymore than I would go to confession. Not gonna happen!
what about this?
http://www.faithabq.org/sacraments-baptism-holy-communion
I’m not defying -— just asking. I’m interested.
Ditto all that.
But is there really a “completely different understanding about what is going on”?
I have talked to several priests about this (both Catholic and Lutheran) and this is my understanding of the issue:
I am Lutheran and my understanding of communion is that Christ is present in the Eucharist. Christ is present in the Lutheran perception of Eucharist, we just don’t go the next step and define HOW he is present. The catholic church does. That makes me question how different the two forms of a similar sacrament actually are.
I know that communion in the Catholic Church also acts as a bond between the worshiper and the one true church. By accepting communion a follower is accepting Catholic doctrine and entering fellowship with others of the same beliefs. That is why I don’t take communion from the Catholic Church. Not because of the metaphysical presence of Jesus as defined by the Catholic Church, but out of respect for those who adhere to the practices of Catholicism. They have a right to exclude me from the sacrament, because I do not profess my allegience to their church.
Calling someone “woefully ignorant” because they took communion at a Catholic service isn’t necessary. The underlying theology is a shade of Grey and is easily misunderstood.
I’m sure many of you will disagree, but I hope this clears up some of the misconceptions about the Lutherans believing Jesus isn’t there and the Catholics believing they are eating Jesus’s flesh. The theology is much more complicated than that (like most theology is :)
Ask your priests (or your fellow perisheners). You’ll be shocked at the number of different explanations you receive for what the sacrament means, their interpretation of it, and the reasons it is restricted to followers of the Church .