Can Catholics receive Mormon Eucharist?

[Lauren S]

First off, I am not confident in my knowledge of Mormons receiving communion or much of anything to do with mormonism so please inform me. My friend (Mormon) and I(catholic) want to go to each other's church's to experience different types of religion. We have talked for hours at the differences between each other's and we both are fascinated. I will be going with them to their church(ward?) In a few weeks and I was wondering if it would be considered disrespectful to receive communion. If so, how can I politely refuse IT? Also would it be disrespectful for them as a Mormon to receive catholic communion

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

First off, I am not confident in my knowledge of Mormons receiving communion or much of anything to do with mormonism so please inform me. My friend (Mormon) and I(catholic) want to go to each other's church's to experience different types of religion. We have talked for hours at the differences between each other's and we both are fascinated. I will be going with them to their church(ward?) In a few weeks and I was wondering if it would be considered disrespectful to receive communion. If so, how can I politely refuse IT? Also would it be disrespectful for them as a Mormon to receive catholic communion

I'm fairly sure the CC doesn't recognise their eucharist as a Eucharist, so as far as the Church is concerned, you can probably do what you like with it. The Mormons, on the other hand, probably require you to have gone through whatever their equivalent of Holy Communion Preparation is, and vice versa. I know the CC is decidedly NOT cool with non- Holy Communion Prepared people taking communion, IIRC, it's considered downright sacrilegious. It's great you want to go and experience each others' services, but I'm pretty sure Holy Communion is a no no, both ways. If in doubt, ask your priest.

 

[Glaurung]

If you are Catholic, you should not participate in the rites of other religions. It's a sin to do so because it constitutes false worship. It's a first commandment issue.

It's quite alright to have Mormon friends and associates. But having said friends doesn't give a Catholic license to compromise their own religious conscience by communing with (what is in Catholic eyes) a false sect. No more than having Hindu friends gives you license as a Catholic to perform puja.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

If you are Catholic, you should not participate in the rites of other religions. It's a sin to do so because it constitutes false worship. It's a first commandment issue.

I believe it's OK to participate as an observer, certainly in other Christian denominations. Again, if in doubt, ask your priest.

 

[Glaurung]

I believe it's OK to participate as an observer, certainly in other Christian denominations. Again, if in doubt, ask your priest.

The traditional teaching forbade Catholics to even so much as to pray with non-Catholics, yet alone attend their rites and ceremonies. This admittedly has been drastically relaxed in the current day. For example, you may now attend your Lutheran friend's wedding without incurring sin.

But to take a Mormon communion is to go beyond mere attendance, it's outright acquiescence to false worship. That is unambiguously sinful for a Catholic.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

The traditional teaching forbade Catholics to even so much as to pray with non-Catholics, yet alone attend their rites and ceremonies. This admittedly has been drastically relaxed in the current day. For example, you may now attend your Lutheran friend's wedding without incurring sin.

But to take a Mormon communion is to go beyond mere attendance, it's outright acquiescence to false worship. That is unambiguously sinful for a Catholic.

It's only false worship if you believe it is the Eucharist. That said, if you DON'T believe it, the Mormons prolly don't want you recieving it.

 

[Glaurung]

It's only false worship if you believe it is the Eucharist. That said, if you DON'T believe it, the Mormons prolly don't want you recieving it.

If that were the case, the early martyrs were a silly bunch. It's not like the Romans required sincere belief in the emperor's divinity.

If you were to burn incense to Shiva you commit idolatry, it matters not in the slightest that you only did so as an outward observance to appease a Hindu friend. The very act of puja is a religious declaration in and of itself. Likewise, taking communion from a group that denies key Christian doctrines, even if done again only to please one's Mormon friends makes it no less an acquiescence to false worship because to take communion is a religious declaration by the act.

It is the same reason why it is considered a mortal sin to particulate in Jewish rites. Because by that very act you tacitly deny Christ as the Messiah. (Even if that's not the one's personal intent). It's the same principle and if you can't see that then we're going to have to agree to disagree.

 

[Katzpur]

First off, I am not confident in my knowledge of Mormons receiving communion or much of anything to do with mormonism so please inform me. My friend (Mormon) and I(catholic) want to go to each other's church's to experience different types of religion. We have talked for hours at the differences between each other's and we both are fascinated. I will be going with them to their church(ward?) In a few weeks and I was wondering if it would be considered disrespectful to receive communion. If so, how can I politely refuse IT? Also would it be disrespectful for them as a Mormon to receive catholic communion

Latter-day Saints call communion "the sacrament" (realizing, of course, that it's actually just one sacrament of several). The sacrament is offered weekly and everyone stays in their pews as young boys pass trays containing first bread and then water up and down the rows. (We started using water a number of years ago when attempts were made by our enemies to poison our wine.) We don't believe in the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, but rather eat the bread and drink the water in remembrance of the sacrifice of our Savior. We also do it as a way of renewing the covenants we made when we were baptized, which were to take upon ourselves His name, to always remember Him and to keep His commandments. Technically speaking, the sacrament is intended for members of our Church, but if someone outside of our Church were to wish to receive it, and were to do so with the right frame of mind, I honestly don't think anyone would care in the slightest -- much less God. And in the end, it's really only His opinion that matters.

As far as your Mormon friend receiving communion at Mass, I thought a person had to be Catholic in order to do that, and that he had to have just recently gone to confession. I could be wrong, but I'm probably not the one to ask.

I love how you and your friend are going to go worship with each other. I had a Catholic friend as a young teenager and we used to talk a lot about the similarities and differences between our religions. Learning about one another's beliefs can only lead to greater understanding and respect for each other, and the world needs a lot more of that.

 

[Katzpur]

@Lauren S, I noticed that several posts preceding mine have told you that, as a Catholic, you'd be committing a sin to partake of the LDS sacrament. While I believe that's a matter between you and God, I'll just say that it would not be difficult for you to refuse the sacrament while attending your friend's LDS worship service. As I said before, young boys pass the sacrament. They hand the tray to the person on the end of an aisle and after taking the break or cup of water, that person just passes it down the row to the next person. If you don't feel comfortable taking it or decide not to for any reason, simply take the tray when it is offered to you and pass it on without taking anything from it. No one will care and few will even notice, since their attention is supposed to be on the Lord at this time, and not on you anyway.

 

[Glaurung]

As far as your Mormon friend receiving communion at Mass, I thought a person had to be Catholic in order to do that, and that he had to have just recently gone to confession. I could be wrong, but I'm probably not the one to ask.

This is correct. Because Catholics believe in the real presence it is absolutely essential that one approach the sacrament properly disposed. That means being a confirmed Catholic in a state of grace. (Not conscious of mortal sin). Of course, non-Catholics may attend Mass, so long as they refrain from taking the sacrament there's no issue.

 

[Prestor John]

First off, I am not confident in my knowledge of Mormons receiving communion or much of anything to do with mormonism so please inform me. My friend (Mormon) and I(catholic) want to go to each other's church's to experience different types of religion. We have talked for hours at the differences between each other's and we both are fascinated. I will be going with them to their church(ward?) In a few weeks and I was wondering if it would be considered disrespectful to receive communion. If so, how can I politely refuse IT? Also would it be disrespectful for them as a Mormon to receive catholic communion

I am a Latter-day Saint.

Anyone can take the Sacrament(Communion) at our Sunday meetings.

Anyone can also refuse to take it by simply shaking their head at the Deacon who presents it to them.

As far as I know, there is no issue with any member of the Church taking the communion at another church's service.