Quote:
Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin
What I think it is interesting about this discussion as a whole is that all these non-Catholics and ex-Catholics are assuming this means everyone in the Congregation who voted for Obama is just going to stay in the pews on Sundays and not take Communion. I assume this means you think that everyone who has premarital sex, uses contraceptives, is gay and not abstinent, etc., will all also sit in the pews and not take Communion. It should be pretty speedy for the priest to dole it out, what with the 10 people going up.  |
Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticCat
Not all of us non-Catholics have been assuming this.  |
Nor have all of the ex-Catholics.
It's worth noting that, while all Catholics must attend Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation (or attend a vigil Mass the night before), Catholics are not obligated to receive communion every week. Many do - it is a sacrament, after all. But sometimes, people opt out for one reason or another. The reason could be anything from "I just had an abortion and the Church considers that murder, so I need to seek reconciliation first" to "I ate less than an hour ago". And asking someone "Why didn't you take Communion today?" just isn't done.
Catholics who have had their first Communion are required to receive at least once per year. This must happen during the Lent or Easter seasons. This covers a span of about three months, so there are plenty of opportunities to receive (and to go to confession first, if need be).
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