some context is needed for this passage.
60Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62“What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?
63“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
64“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.
65And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
66As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
67So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
69“We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Notice when the other followers, who weren't true followers for they didn't believe, left. It was when He accused them of not believing.
If a word search of believe is done in John you'll see the emphasis on faith/belief as being required to have salvation. That is consistent with the NT.
Catholics think Jesus wouldn't let people walk away from Him.
However, there are other accounts where Jesus let people walk away from Him.
For that matter we have an account where He allowed people to try Him and crucify Him.
Ok we’re back to minor distinctions of interpretation of text again.
Let’s take a step back. The overall morality - Some of you are saying the Eucharist is wrong because we drink blood and eat flesh.
First, you also claim it’s NOT flesh and blood anyway. So then we can commit no sin or disgrace here.
Second, is it the intention that’s wrong? But do you deny we merely intend to do what is stated in John 54 ? - “Whoever eats* my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life”?
You cannot say it’s wrong due to breaking Jewish law - either it’s not flesh/blood at all, or we are following the intent of Jesus in Scripture.
Last question: if it IS the flesh/blood of Christ, what would YOU do?