Sir, - Courtesy, generosity and co-operation are essential for the successful promotion of ecumenism, especially in combined worship.
The Catholic Church forbids its members to receive the Eucharist in any churches of the Reformed tradition and it allows members of Churches of the Reformed Tradition to receive the Catholic Eucharist only in very exceptional circumstances. The Eastern Catholic Churches do not allow their members to receive the Catholic Eucharist.
How do we resolve the sensitivities of these problems? It is necessary to give the right directions because large groups of different religions go nowadays to ceremonies in each others churches and are embarrassed about questions of the Eucharist - should they receive it or not? Would their good friends and neighbours be embarrassed if they do or if they don't? Obviously a clear instruction is needed.
Such an instruction was provided by the Church of Ireland at the reception for Archbishop Tutu at Christ Church on April 14th 1991, in the Order of Service leaflet provided. It was stated under the heading of "The Communion of the People".
"The general invitation to Communion is now given. It is offered to all who are regular Communicants within their own Christian tradition, as the custom and law of their own Church permit".
This was a very generous, helpful and charitable arrangement. It took the embarrassment off people who did not wish to be discourteous. It eased the situation. We would be very grateful if this arrangement was standard practice in all churches which have a Eucharistic Celebration when there is a mixed congregation present.
The Catholic Church is willing to share its Eucharist with the Eastern Orthodox Churches. But the Eastern Orthodox Churches do not find it acceptable for their members to receive Communion in Catholic Churches. In the US, where there are large numbers of Eastern Orthodox Christians living with Catholics, the Catholic Churches encourage Orthodox members who attend a Mass to respect the discipline of their own Church. We would be very grateful if the "Tutu" notice was used at all Church of Ireland Eucharistic Services. That type of notice was what Cardinal Connell was asking for and it has been mentioned at ecumenical meetings. - Yours, etc.,
Mgr Denis Faul, Co Tyrone.
Sir, - I write in response to James Mahon's defence (February 28th) of Cardinal Connell's recent comments on Communion. Since the Catholic Church "cannot change its teachings to suit its critics", is it simply lack of faith in the public's memory that makes the cardinal reissue offensive statements? - Yours, etc.,
Anthony Thuillier, Clonturk Park, Dublin 9.
Sir, - "The corn that makes the holy bread
By which the soul of man is fed,
The holy bread, the food unpriced,
Thy everlasting mercy, Christ."
(- John Masefield)
More poetry, less casuistry, please! - Yours, etc.,
Gabriel Rosenstock, Gleann na gCaorach, Co Atha Cliath
Sir, - During occasional weekends spent with friends in Northern Ireland, I have chosen on Sundays to go to Mass in a local church, returning sufficiently early to accompany my friends to Service in their church. I see this worshipping together as an extension of our friendship and it is an experience which I greatly value. The atmosphere in the church is devout and cordial, the prayers thoughtful and fervent, the music, incidentally, of a higher standard than I am accustomed to.
At the Communion, I remain in the pew while my friends go to the altar. For me personally this is somewhat saddening. It doesn't feel right. But, importantly, I am saved from any significant sense of embarrassment by the words of welcome for visitors contained in the "service leaflet". There the invitation extended to us to receive communion ends with the phrase "according to conscience".
I readily accepted these words as (1) an acknowledgment that notwithstanding the sincerity of the invitation, conscience comes first, and (2) an assurance that declining the invitation on the grounds of conscience will not give offence.
Would C.T. Greenan OP (February 26th) now have me see in those same words a covert invitation to a Catholic to "violate the laws of his own church"? - Yours, etc.,
Fred O'Callaghan, Deansgrange, Co Dublin.