I am sorry but I just must speak up now opposing this practice of offering
communion to non Catholics.  We as Catholics believe when the host or bread
and wine is consecrated it becomes the actual body and blood of our precious
Lord.  We believe this by faith so there can be no contradiction.  The bread
and wine are not symbols.  Also, we have to be in a state of grace before
receiving the host or bread.  This means we must first have had to examine
our souls very carefully to make sure all the sins of which we are aware are
forgiven prior to partaking.  If we are married to a divorced person and are
still sleeping with him prior to his marriage being annulled by the church
is an example of a situation of when communion should not be taken.  We
Catholics take communion very seriously because the entire mass revolves
around this sacrament.  Communion should never be given to a person just
because that person is a Christian because one never knows whether he is
aware of it's significance in the context of Catholic belief or dogma.  I
wasn't going to say anything at first but when such a thing is sanctioned by
those on the list I feel something ought to be said.
----- Original Message -----
From: Sharon Hooley <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: God's Humor


> Virgie,
>
> I think it was good of the priest to offer you communion simply because
you
> were a Christian.  One time when my sister was visiting a more
conservative
> Mennonite congregation where they were taking communion.  People were
> sharing, as they might do before partaking of the elements.  She spoke up,
> saying how wonderful it was that we could all get together as brothers and
> sisters, or something like that.  Later she was told that she shouldn't
have
> said anything.  I don't think she was allowed to take communion there.
>
> When I stayed with a conservative Mennonite family, I was not allowed to
> take communion there either.  As I remember and understand it, my care
> provider explained that this was to make sure that they were all in unity
in
> beliefs as a body.  When they had meeting before communion, and I think
also
> during communion, I just stayed home.
>
> When my mother was a girl, certain people were not allowed to partake
> because they wore ties!  I'm glad I had a grandfather who did not approve
of
> this, and went to talk with them.
>
> sharon