You have questions? We're glad you asked....
All people have questions about their faith. Having questions and finding answers is how we all grow in faith. We hope this section of CatholicsComeHomeRockford.org helps you find answers to some common questions about the Catholic Church's teachings and practices.
Some answers might surprise you. You may also find at first that you may not agree with the reasons the Catholic Church gives for its teachings, but we know you will find out how important it is to understand what those teachings are. This should help you begin your reflection, discussion and discernment.
Most of the answers found on this site come directly from Catholic sources, such as the Catechism, diocesan documents, local clergy and other documents of the church.
If you want to talk to someone locally about these or other questions you may have, please use the directory of personnel. They are eager and waiting to help you Come Home.
How Do I Come Home to the Catholic Church?
The most important part of coming home is deciding to do it in the first place. If you are ready to take the next step and begin going to Mass, you can visit www.rockforddiocese.org and find a parish in your neighborhood.
Our parishes are ready to help you return to church by listening to and addressing any needs you may have in getting back to the faith. Let the parish staff know that you have the desire to return to church. They can help you make any appropriate contacts or appointments and even get you prepared to enter their special programs for those who have been away such as Catholics Returning Home. Whether it's finding out where and when you can go to confession or Mass, or how to resolve other issues, you should be able to find out at your local parish. And, as ever, if you have questions or need information you can send your question to info@CatholicsComeHomeRockford.org
How do I know what the Church really teaches?
You want to know what the Catholic Church really teaches? (As opposed to what some people will say it teaches.) Then go straight to the source. You can go online to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and it will provide you with all the straight answers to your questions about what the Catholic Church teaches and why. Catechism of the Catholic Church online
For an overview of the Catholic Church, go to this national link:
http://www.catholicscomehome.org/overview-Catholic.phtml
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AWAY
Why does the Catholic Church care if I come to church as long as I am living a good life?
One of the things "being Catholic" means is "not being alone". Some Christian denominations have a 'me and God' outlook, seeing religion as a private thing between just Jesus and me. Not Catholics. For us, it is 'me, God and others.' We take seriously Jesus' words that "where two or three are gathered, there am I in the midst of them." There's no such thing as a solitary Catholic. We need the presence of others to help us fully experience God and we do so in the Eucharist. And let's not forget the Third Commandments: Keep holy the Lord's Day. The three great monotheistic faiths-Jews, Moslems and Christians-follow this commandment by going to synagogue, mosque, and Church. For the Christian who is Catholic, he or she keeps that commandment by going to Sunday Mass (or Saturday evening). It's a command from God, not a suggestion, and we willingly come together to worship our Lord in the Eucharist. If we claim to be Catholic, part of living a good life means taking part in weekly Mass.
I am a Catholic but have not been practicing my faith. What is the first thing I need to do to come back to the Church?
Come back to Mass! You will need to go to Confession first before you receive Communion, but if you are not quite ready to take that step yet, just come back to a Sunday Mass and experience what you have been missing. We'd love to have you! As you feel more comfortable, take a parish bulletin (the newsletter given out at each Mass), call the parish office, and set up a meeting with the parish priest. If that's too direct, just ask the parish secretary for one of the parish programs that will gradually re-integrate you into parish life. Don't be afraid! You will be most welcome!
It has been many years since my last confession. How can I possibly remember all my sins and make a good confession?
Remember something really wonderful-God wants you back; the Church wants you back. The purpose of the Sacrament of Penance (we also call it the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is for a person to confess one's sins and experience God's mercy. It's not supposed to be a scary thing-though, let's face it, most of us who go sometimes feel some anxiety. But after receiving God's mercy it's like being born anew and given a second chance. Just tell the priest how long it's been since your last confession and tell him you might need some help. Then tell your biggest sins (the most serious/mortal one first) as best you can remember. Your priest and God will take care of the rest. And as for you, please enjoy this great forgiveness that God gives us in this sacrament.
I tried going back to Mass but I don't feel welcome by the people or the priest at my local church. What should I do?
All priests have certain personalities; all parishes have certain characteristics. Sometimes, we and they just don't fit. Before you say goodbye to your local parish, however, make sure you have done these things: Have I identified myself to the priest and parish staff as a newly returned Catholic? Do parishioners know I am newly returned? Have I tried some of the groups or programs the parish offers? If you have done all these things and the parish is still a fortress where you are not welcome; then try the next nearest Catholic parish. Catholics should belong to the parish closest to where they live, but a Catholic may attend Mass anywhere. Go where you are fed.
Can I still come back to the Catholic Church even though I have been going to a Protestant church for many years?
Yes. If you have formally joined a Protestant church by taking an oath or getting re-baptized, please tell your parish priest and he will help make it very easy to return to the active practice of your Catholic faith.
I am living with my boyfriend/girlfriend. Can I still come back to the Catholic Church?
Yes, but you should refrain from going to Communion. Remember, being Catholic means certain things. Catholics have a profound respect for human sexuality and we see its expression properly kept within the bounds of marriage. Sure, the culture says differently and you might believe differently, but if you feel called to return to the Church, come back even with your doubts and try to discover why we believe the things we believe. We'll give you plenty of time to wrestle with these questions and help you learn once again how Catholic morality can help a person really be free and lead a great life in marriage. You don't have to be perfect to come back to the Church. We'd much rather have you question within our parish family, then have you walk alone in the darkness.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MARRIAGE
Click here for Divorce, Remarriage and Support Programs
I was married outside the Church and my spouse is not Catholic. I really want to come to Mass. What should I do?
Come back to Mass! You shouldn't go to Communion just yet, but certainly come back and worship with us. Make an appointment with your parish priest and he will talk to you about the steps you need to take to get your marriage questions answered and your situation regularized within the Church.
My husband and I are Catholics but we did not get married in the Church and we both have the desire to come back. How do we do this?
Come back to Mass right away, but do not come to Communion just yet. Despite the fact that most people think marriage is a private thing between two people, all communities around the world, regardless of politics or religion, claim the right to decide how people get married. The state tells us how that works and we willingly accept what the law tells us. Well, the Church gets to make those kinds of rules too, and for Catholics to get married lawfully within the Church, they must be married before a priest and two witnesses. You and your husband did not do this and though the community of the state recongizes your marriage, the community of the Church does not. Your marriage needs to be validated by the Church. It's very easy to do, provided neither of you were married before. Just contact your parish priest and he will help you.
I want to come back to the Catholic Church but I am divorced and have kids. Can I still come back?
Absolutely! You should begin going to Mass right away. You cannot receive Communion or the other Sacraments yet, but we welcome you to worship with us. If you have not remarried, all you will need to do is go to the Sacrament of Penance in order to beginning receiving Communion. Make an appointment with your parish priest and he will help you take the steps necessary to pursue a declaration of nullity (annulment) from your former spouse. Also, it is time to make sure that your children are up to date on their Sacraments. Enroll them in religious education as soon as possible. Dealing with divorce and marriage problems can be overwhelming. Right now is not the time to worry about all the details. Right now is the time to just come back and make some connections with your parish priest and the people who are part of the Church.
I know I need an annulment but I don't have a job. How much does it cost?
One of the most misunderstood things in the Church today is the widespread misperception that you have to pay to get your marriage annulled, or fixed up, or whatever. Let's get some facts down first. No one is ever denied a declaration of nullity because he or she cannot pay. There are administrative fees for legal procedures within the Church-after all the Church employs people to work in the Diocesan Tribunal which handles ecclesiastical legal matters for the Church and there are salaries and such, etc., etc. So we do ask people to help out if they are able. In this diocese, the full fee for a formal process towards a declaration of nullity in the Church is $435. (For more about annulments and the diocesan Tribunal which handles these issues visit www.rockforddiocese.org/pdfs/tribunal/invalidity.pdf . Most people don't have trouble paying that over time, but if they do, the Diocese and the parish help out. Don't ever let the fear of the cost keep you from pursuing what may be the best way to get you fully participating within the Church.
I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED....
What is the real difference between being a Catholic and a Protestant?
Just look at the word 'Protestant." It means 'one who protests'. If we go back 500 years, we would find a Church deeply disturbed by corruption, laxity and upheavel caused by Europe moving into a new age of exploration, learning, and discovery: a real Renaissance. Some of the early Protestant reformers rightly took the Catholic Church to task over corruption-like the selling of indulgences or the immorality of some priestly lives. But a quest to root out some serious sinfulness took a bad turn when the very things that made Christians Christian began to be questioned. The necessity of the Mass and the priesthood, whether Jesus was really present in the Eucharist, whether the Church needed to exist or whether one could just have a personal relationship with God, whether the Pope was necessary, whether there was even a need for Sacraments-all these things began to be questioned and some Christians left the Catholic Church and began their own communities. We lump all these various groups (Methodists, Lutherans, Evangelicals, Anglicans, etc.) into one category called 'Protestant.' It's fashionable in our day and age to say that all religions and Christian groups are the same. They are not. Protestants exist because they do not accept major parts of our Catholic faith. While we still have much in common, the differences are so big that there is no real union between us anymore. That is so unfortunate and many on both sides continue to work hard to bridge the differences and heal the wounds.
My friends say God gave us the Bible and man made up churches. Is that true?
No. The one, holy, catholic, apostolic Church was founded by Jesus Christ himself when he gathered his apostles together. Jesus did not start a one-on-one religion. He gathered a group of people together to spread his word and message throughout the world. That's simply an historical fact. We believe that this one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church subsists fully and completely in the Roman Catholic Church which has always been present since Christ and the apostles. Your friends make a common mistake thinking that the Bible just sprung up out of nowhere. The Bible comes from the Church because it was the Church which decided which books should be in the Bible. Again, that's an historical fact. Now, some individuals and groups of people upset with the Church down through the ages have formed their own 'churches' or communities. These are creations of human beings and have a weaker link with the true Church.
Why is the Catholic Church against birth control?
That's a very complicated question but to simplify it here try this: The Church sees procreation and the openness to children as an essential part to marriage and sexual activity. Without the link to marriage and children, sexuality becomes simply an animal drive to be assuaged instead of a part of our human dignity. The use of artificial birth control breaks the link between love, marriage, and children. Big deal, you might say. So what? Well, look at the consequences. When Pope Paul VI banned artificial birth in the late 1960's, he said that a contraceptive mentality would lead to a cheapening of life in all areas. There would be more divorce, more abortions, a rush to euthanasia, and a lack of respect for the elderly. Was he right? Did these things happen? Yes. Many of the birth control options available now are no longer contraceptive; they are abortive; in other words, they cause abortions. The Church can't be in favor of the cheapening of life. On the surface, the birth control controversy seems to be about Mr. and Mrs. Smith planning their family so that the kids can have a college education. But it's so much deeper than that. When we make sex just a user-friendly action, it seems that respect for life and human dignity get diminished in the process. For the sake of convenience and so called 'sexual freedom', human life suffers.
The priest sexual abuse scandal made me embarrassed to be a Catholic so I quit going to church. How do I know things have changed?
No doubt about it, the sex abuse scandal in the Church has been horrific and has brought about a crisis of trust and confidence in bishops and priests. If nothing had been done to fix it, who could be blamed for leaving the Church? But the fact is, much has been done. Sin knows no creed, race, or geographic boundary. Sin has always been present in the Church. What makes the Church different than other organizations in the world is that through its history it has reformed itself and tried to walk more clearly in the light. So it has happened with the sex abuse scandal. After the revelations came to light and the depth of the scandal was revealed, the Church pulled itself together, exposed the problem, put in programs and rules to stop the abuse and to this day continues to aggressively wipe this scandal from its midst and make sure children are protected. No other institution in the world-and sex abuse is rampant everywhere-has done what the Church has done to reform itself. This should give hope to all its members. When you come back to the Church you will find information in parish lobbies and in the diocesan newspaper advocating vigilance. You will find priests and parishioners well versed in protecting the littlest amongst us. The Church is not perfect, but it knows how to repent, and it is a stronger and more purified Church now because of its willingness to admit its sinfulness.
Why can't non-Catholics receive Communion?
A lot of people get upset with the Church's teaching on this issue, but it is really very simple to understand. First of all, Communion means "in union with". That means that when I receive Communion, I am in union with my brothers and sisters who are receiving with me. I believe as they believe. Non-Catholics do not believe what Catholics believe about the Eucharist. Most non-Catholics do not believe that the Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Even if they did, their churches do not wish to belong in the Catholic Church. So no union, right? Protestant churches, when the split from the Catholic Church, specifically said they did not believe in the Mass or the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The people who belong to those Christian denominations should be true to their own faith. Similarly, Catholics can't receive Communion in Protestant churches because we do not believe as they believe and we are not in union with them. To do so, would be hypocritical on our part and show a lack of integrity.
All people have questions about their faith. Having questions and finding answers is how we all grow in faith. We hope this section of CatholicsComeHomeRockford.org helps you find answers to some common questions about the Catholic Church's teachings and practices.
Some answers might surprise you. You may also find at first that you may not agree with the reasons the Catholic Church gives for its teachings, but we know you will find out how important it is to understand what those teachings are. This should help you begin your reflection, discussion and discernment.
Most of the answers found on this site come directly from Catholic sources, such as the Catechism, diocesan documents, local clergy and other documents of the church.
If you want to talk to someone locally about these or other questions you may have, please use the directory of personnel. They are eager and waiting to help you Come Home.
How Do I Come Home to the Catholic Church?
The most important part of coming home is deciding to do it in the first place. If you are ready to take the next step and begin going to Mass, you can visit www.rockforddiocese.org and find a parish in your neighborhood.
Our parishes are ready to help you return to church by listening to and addressing any needs you may have in getting back to the faith. Let the parish staff know that you have the desire to return to church. They can help you make any appropriate contacts or appointments and even get you prepared to enter their special programs for those who have been away such as Catholics Returning Home. Whether it's finding out where and when you can go to confession or Mass, or how to resolve other issues, you should be able to find out at your local parish. And, as ever, if you have questions or need information you can send your question to info@CatholicsComeHomeRockford.org
How do I know what the Church really teaches?
You want to know what the Catholic Church really teaches? (As opposed to what some people will say it teaches.) Then go straight to the source. You can go online to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and it will provide you with all the straight answers to your questions about what the Catholic Church teaches and why. Catechism of the Catholic Church online
For an overview of the Catholic Church, go to this national link:
http://www.catholicscomehome.org/overview-Catholic.phtml
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AWAY
Why does the Catholic Church care if I come to church as long as I am living a good life?
One of the things "being Catholic" means is "not being alone". Some Christian denominations have a 'me and God' outlook, seeing religion as a private thing between just Jesus and me. Not Catholics. For us, it is 'me, God and others.' We take seriously Jesus' words that "where two or three are gathered, there am I in the midst of them." There's no such thing as a solitary Catholic. We need the presence of others to help us fully experience God and we do so in the Eucharist. And let's not forget the Third Commandments: Keep holy the Lord's Day. The three great monotheistic faiths-Jews, Moslems and Christians-follow this commandment by going to synagogue, mosque, and Church. For the Christian who is Catholic, he or she keeps that commandment by going to Sunday Mass (or Saturday evening). It's a command from God, not a suggestion, and we willingly come together to worship our Lord in the Eucharist. If we claim to be Catholic, part of living a good life means taking part in weekly Mass.
I am a Catholic but have not been practicing my faith. What is the first thing I need to do to come back to the Church?
Come back to Mass! You will need to go to Confession first before you receive Communion, but if you are not quite ready to take that step yet, just come back to a Sunday Mass and experience what you have been missing. We'd love to have you! As you feel more comfortable, take a parish bulletin (the newsletter given out at each Mass), call the parish office, and set up a meeting with the parish priest. If that's too direct, just ask the parish secretary for one of the parish programs that will gradually re-integrate you into parish life. Don't be afraid! You will be most welcome!
It has been many years since my last confession. How can I possibly remember all my sins and make a good confession?
Remember something really wonderful-God wants you back; the Church wants you back. The purpose of the Sacrament of Penance (we also call it the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is for a person to confess one's sins and experience God's mercy. It's not supposed to be a scary thing-though, let's face it, most of us who go sometimes feel some anxiety. But after receiving God's mercy it's like being born anew and given a second chance. Just tell the priest how long it's been since your last confession and tell him you might need some help. Then tell your biggest sins (the most serious/mortal one first) as best you can remember. Your priest and God will take care of the rest. And as for you, please enjoy this great forgiveness that God gives us in this sacrament.
I tried going back to Mass but I don't feel welcome by the people or the priest at my local church. What should I do?
All priests have certain personalities; all parishes have certain characteristics. Sometimes, we and they just don't fit. Before you say goodbye to your local parish, however, make sure you have done these things: Have I identified myself to the priest and parish staff as a newly returned Catholic? Do parishioners know I am newly returned? Have I tried some of the groups or programs the parish offers? If you have done all these things and the parish is still a fortress where you are not welcome; then try the next nearest Catholic parish. Catholics should belong to the parish closest to where they live, but a Catholic may attend Mass anywhere. Go where you are fed.
Can I still come back to the Catholic Church even though I have been going to a Protestant church for many years?
Yes. If you have formally joined a Protestant church by taking an oath or getting re-baptized, please tell your parish priest and he will help make it very easy to return to the active practice of your Catholic faith.
I am living with my boyfriend/girlfriend. Can I still come back to the Catholic Church?
Yes, but you should refrain from going to Communion. Remember, being Catholic means certain things. Catholics have a profound respect for human sexuality and we see its expression properly kept within the bounds of marriage. Sure, the culture says differently and you might believe differently, but if you feel called to return to the Church, come back even with your doubts and try to discover why we believe the things we believe. We'll give you plenty of time to wrestle with these questions and help you learn once again how Catholic morality can help a person really be free and lead a great life in marriage. You don't have to be perfect to come back to the Church. We'd much rather have you question within our parish family, then have you walk alone in the darkness.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MARRIAGE
Click here for Divorce, Remarriage and Support Programs
I was married outside the Church and my spouse is not Catholic. I really want to come to Mass. What should I do?
Come back to Mass! You shouldn't go to Communion just yet, but certainly come back and worship with us. Make an appointment with your parish priest and he will talk to you about the steps you need to take to get your marriage questions answered and your situation regularized within the Church.
My husband and I are Catholics but we did not get married in the Church and we both have the desire to come back. How do we do this?
Come back to Mass right away, but do not come to Communion just yet. Despite the fact that most people think marriage is a private thing between two people, all communities around the world, regardless of politics or religion, claim the right to decide how people get married. The state tells us how that works and we willingly accept what the law tells us. Well, the Church gets to make those kinds of rules too, and for Catholics to get married lawfully within the Church, they must be married before a priest and two witnesses. You and your husband did not do this and though the community of the state recongizes your marriage, the community of the Church does not. Your marriage needs to be validated by the Church. It's very easy to do, provided neither of you were married before. Just contact your parish priest and he will help you.
I want to come back to the Catholic Church but I am divorced and have kids. Can I still come back?
Absolutely! You should begin going to Mass right away. You cannot receive Communion or the other Sacraments yet, but we welcome you to worship with us. If you have not remarried, all you will need to do is go to the Sacrament of Penance in order to beginning receiving Communion. Make an appointment with your parish priest and he will help you take the steps necessary to pursue a declaration of nullity (annulment) from your former spouse. Also, it is time to make sure that your children are up to date on their Sacraments. Enroll them in religious education as soon as possible. Dealing with divorce and marriage problems can be overwhelming. Right now is not the time to worry about all the details. Right now is the time to just come back and make some connections with your parish priest and the people who are part of the Church.
I know I need an annulment but I don't have a job. How much does it cost?
One of the most misunderstood things in the Church today is the widespread misperception that you have to pay to get your marriage annulled, or fixed up, or whatever. Let's get some facts down first. No one is ever denied a declaration of nullity because he or she cannot pay. There are administrative fees for legal procedures within the Church-after all the Church employs people to work in the Diocesan Tribunal which handles ecclesiastical legal matters for the Church and there are salaries and such, etc., etc. So we do ask people to help out if they are able. In this diocese, the full fee for a formal process towards a declaration of nullity in the Church is $435. (For more about annulments and the diocesan Tribunal which handles these issues visit www.rockforddiocese.org/pdfs/tribunal/invalidity.pdf . Most people don't have trouble paying that over time, but if they do, the Diocese and the parish help out. Don't ever let the fear of the cost keep you from pursuing what may be the best way to get you fully participating within the Church.
I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED....
What is the real difference between being a Catholic and a Protestant?
Just look at the word 'Protestant." It means 'one who protests'. If we go back 500 years, we would find a Church deeply disturbed by corruption, laxity and upheavel caused by Europe moving into a new age of exploration, learning, and discovery: a real Renaissance. Some of the early Protestant reformers rightly took the Catholic Church to task over corruption-like the selling of indulgences or the immorality of some priestly lives. But a quest to root out some serious sinfulness took a bad turn when the very things that made Christians Christian began to be questioned. The necessity of the Mass and the priesthood, whether Jesus was really present in the Eucharist, whether the Church needed to exist or whether one could just have a personal relationship with God, whether the Pope was necessary, whether there was even a need for Sacraments-all these things began to be questioned and some Christians left the Catholic Church and began their own communities. We lump all these various groups (Methodists, Lutherans, Evangelicals, Anglicans, etc.) into one category called 'Protestant.' It's fashionable in our day and age to say that all religions and Christian groups are the same. They are not. Protestants exist because they do not accept major parts of our Catholic faith. While we still have much in common, the differences are so big that there is no real union between us anymore. That is so unfortunate and many on both sides continue to work hard to bridge the differences and heal the wounds.
My friends say God gave us the Bible and man made up churches. Is that true?
No. The one, holy, catholic, apostolic Church was founded by Jesus Christ himself when he gathered his apostles together. Jesus did not start a one-on-one religion. He gathered a group of people together to spread his word and message throughout the world. That's simply an historical fact. We believe that this one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church subsists fully and completely in the Roman Catholic Church which has always been present since Christ and the apostles. Your friends make a common mistake thinking that the Bible just sprung up out of nowhere. The Bible comes from the Church because it was the Church which decided which books should be in the Bible. Again, that's an historical fact. Now, some individuals and groups of people upset with the Church down through the ages have formed their own 'churches' or communities. These are creations of human beings and have a weaker link with the true Church.
Why is the Catholic Church against birth control?
That's a very complicated question but to simplify it here try this: The Church sees procreation and the openness to children as an essential part to marriage and sexual activity. Without the link to marriage and children, sexuality becomes simply an animal drive to be assuaged instead of a part of our human dignity. The use of artificial birth control breaks the link between love, marriage, and children. Big deal, you might say. So what? Well, look at the consequences. When Pope Paul VI banned artificial birth in the late 1960's, he said that a contraceptive mentality would lead to a cheapening of life in all areas. There would be more divorce, more abortions, a rush to euthanasia, and a lack of respect for the elderly. Was he right? Did these things happen? Yes. Many of the birth control options available now are no longer contraceptive; they are abortive; in other words, they cause abortions. The Church can't be in favor of the cheapening of life. On the surface, the birth control controversy seems to be about Mr. and Mrs. Smith planning their family so that the kids can have a college education. But it's so much deeper than that. When we make sex just a user-friendly action, it seems that respect for life and human dignity get diminished in the process. For the sake of convenience and so called 'sexual freedom', human life suffers.
The priest sexual abuse scandal made me embarrassed to be a Catholic so I quit going to church. How do I know things have changed?
No doubt about it, the sex abuse scandal in the Church has been horrific and has brought about a crisis of trust and confidence in bishops and priests. If nothing had been done to fix it, who could be blamed for leaving the Church? But the fact is, much has been done. Sin knows no creed, race, or geographic boundary. Sin has always been present in the Church. What makes the Church different than other organizations in the world is that through its history it has reformed itself and tried to walk more clearly in the light. So it has happened with the sex abuse scandal. After the revelations came to light and the depth of the scandal was revealed, the Church pulled itself together, exposed the problem, put in programs and rules to stop the abuse and to this day continues to aggressively wipe this scandal from its midst and make sure children are protected. No other institution in the world-and sex abuse is rampant everywhere-has done what the Church has done to reform itself. This should give hope to all its members. When you come back to the Church you will find information in parish lobbies and in the diocesan newspaper advocating vigilance. You will find priests and parishioners well versed in protecting the littlest amongst us. The Church is not perfect, but it knows how to repent, and it is a stronger and more purified Church now because of its willingness to admit its sinfulness.
Why can't non-Catholics receive Communion?
A lot of people get upset with the Church's teaching on this issue, but it is really very simple to understand. First of all, Communion means "in union with". That means that when I receive Communion, I am in union with my brothers and sisters who are receiving with me. I believe as they believe. Non-Catholics do not believe what Catholics believe about the Eucharist. Most non-Catholics do not believe that the Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Even if they did, their churches do not wish to belong in the Catholic Church. So no union, right? Protestant churches, when the split from the Catholic Church, specifically said they did not believe in the Mass or the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The people who belong to those Christian denominations should be true to their own faith. Similarly, Catholics can't receive Communion in Protestant churches because we do not believe as they believe and we are not in union with them. To do so, would be hypocritical on our part and show a lack of integrity.
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