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Duty to the Church, Duty to people; The responsibilities of a priest
Topic Started: Friday, 29. October 2010, 08:31 (567 Views)
Rose of York
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KatyA
Friday, 29. October 2010, 23:38
Basically, Mairtin seems to have posed the question "Is it acceptable to use the Holy Eucharist like a comfort blanket" and my answer is definitely not.
The woman's reason for receiving Holy Communion will depend to some extent upon whether she is High Church aka Anglo Catholic. To an Anglo Catholic, the reception of Holy Communion is the reception the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. Their main reason for not being Roman Catholic is purely to do with the disagrement about the validity of Anglican Orders. They believe their vicars are validly ordained priests. Our Church teaches that they are not.

Mairtin asked our opinions.
Mairtin
 
So which should be more important to the priest here, his priestly duty to the Church and the upholding of her rules or his Christian duty to help and support a suffering person at a time of such tremendous need when she is clearly reaching out to Christ and His Church for that support?


I did not feel Mairtin was posing the question "Is it acceptable to use the Holy Eucharist like a comfort blanket".

For all we know this lady might belong to a parish that plans to join an Ordinariate.


Keep the Faith!

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Mairtin
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KatyA
Friday, 29. October 2010, 23:38
Basically, Mairtin seems to have posed the question "Is it acceptable to use the Holy Eucharist like a comfort blanket" and my answer is definitely not.
I am most certainly NOT asking that, Katy, and I'm annoyed that you should suggest it when I have made my own feelings about and respect for the Holy Eucharist abundantly clear on many occasions here.
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Mairtin
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For those suggesting that the priest may not technically be breaking the rules, he is. There is nothing in the rules about whether or not the person believes in the Real Presence and the exemption clause for non-Catholics does not apply as she has her own religious services available to her if she wants to avail of them.
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Mairtin
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KatyA
Friday, 29. October 2010, 21:11
The reason for denying the Eucharist to non- Catholics is apparently based on
1 Cor 11:27-29
 
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1 Cor 11:27-29)
so it is quite a serious matter, however sympathetic one may feel towards the lady.
I agree. But I'm struggling to see where the "unworthy manner" is in which this lady is receiving.
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Mairtin
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Derekap
Friday, 29. October 2010, 22:56
The lady we are talking about may be more worthy to receive Holy Communion than many Catholics!
Some of my siblings do not practise their Faith in any way, they never attend Mass except weddings and funerals. On such occasions, they go to Holy Communion in an "along with everybody else" manner.

As an EMHC, I have given them Holy Communion on a number of occasions. I find that much more unsettling than I would giving Holy Communion to the lady described in this thread.
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Gerard

From reading the Gospels I think only two things got Jesus angry:

1. Disease
2. Anything that stood between God and people getting to Him.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Gerard

I know of two baptised people who became Catholics by not attending anything formal but simply by going to communion. One was famous - internationally so. The other anonamous.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Eileenanne

Gerard
Saturday, 30. October 2010, 09:12
From reading the Gospels I think only two things got Jesus angry:

1. Disease
2. Anything that stood between God and people getting to Him.

Gerry
Don't you think that an unwillingness to intervene and invite the woman to become Catholic could be an obstacle to her getting closer to Jesus?

Of course we have no knowledge of how the priest and the husband are actually handling the situation. Maybe they are doing everything right.

I can't think of when disease made Jesus angry. Can you remind me please? Many thanks.

Eileenanne
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Gerard

Quote:
 
I can't think of when disease made Jesus angry. Can you remind me please? Many thanks.


The clearest example is the woman bent over (bound by Satan) in the Synagog.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Mairtin
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Eileenanne
Saturday, 30. October 2010, 09:22
Don't you think that an unwillingness to intervene and invite the woman to become Catholic could be an obstacle to her getting closer to Jesus?
There is no suggestion here that the priest is not helping her on her journey towards Catholicism. The question I posed was essentially whether the priest should stick rigidly to Church rules and refuse her Holy Communion until her journey is complete.
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Gerard

Quote:
 
Don't you think that an unwillingness to intervene and invite the woman to become Catholic could be an obstacle to her getting closer to Jesus?


No.

And just as you are making asumptions so I assume someone has told her that taking communion means coming into communion with the Catholic Church.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Rose of York
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Mairtin
Saturday, 30. October 2010, 08:21
For those suggesting that the priest may not technically be breaking the rules, he is. There is nothing in the rules about whether or not the person believes in the Real Presence and the exemption clause for non-Catholics does not apply as she has her own religious services available to her if she wants to avail of them.
This is from my post No 11 on Page 1

Quote:
 
The parish priest, whilst offering support to this couple who have lost their son unexpectedly in tragic circumstances, might have assessed they need each others' support while they are worshiping in Church and praying for their son and any siblings. If the woman cannot bear to go to church alone during this traumatic period, could that be assessed as deprivation of access to a church of her own denomination for a significant period of time?


If the lady needs her husband with her for emotional support, she might not feel able to attend her own church, alone.
Keep the Faith!

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Eileenanne

It is also possible the lady has already been received into the Church with no public fuss. Although RCIA is the usual route for converts to take, it is not obligatory. Possibly having lived with a Catholic husband for many years and having brought up Catholic children she may have needed minimal instruction. Combined with her recent tragedy, that might have persuaded the priest to expedite her journey to full communion.

Eileenanne
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Gerard

You come closer to my thinking Eileenanne, the difference being my lack of concern for the formalities.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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KatyA

Mairtin
Saturday, 30. October 2010, 08:17
KatyA
Friday, 29. October 2010, 23:38
Basically, Mairtin seems to have posed the question "Is it acceptable to use the Holy Eucharist like a comfort blanket" and my answer is definitely not.
I am most certainly NOT asking that, Katy, and I'm annoyed that you should suggest it when I have made my own feelings about and respect for the Holy Eucharist abundantly clear on many occasions here.
My apologies Mairtin. I did not express myself at all well and I did not intend to infer that your own respect for the Holy Eucharist was in any way lacking. Perhaps if I tell you that I am aware that this occurs in my own church, with far less justification than the scenario you describe, you will see where I'm coming from.
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