First, let me say that almost always this question is sincerely voiced with the best of intentions to grow in understanding. While the great divide may include a very different understanding what the Eucharist is – as Catholics, Who the Eucharist is – the problem is that Catholics do not share the Protestant conception of Church.
Our Catholic Church understands all seven Holy Sacraments as sacred encounters with Christ Jesus in a manner that every time proclaims, “Here is the Church!” Stated differently, to receive any of the seven Holy Sacraments means, “I believe the Church that offers me these Sacraments.”
Integrity demands that words and actions be one and the same. To act in contradiction with what we believe simply is a lie.
When approached by a Protestant about receiving Holy Communion at Mass, I often will ask them some questions to help them grow in understanding and appreciation of what the Sacrament means to Catholics:
- Do you believe everything the Catholic Church teaches?
- Do you understand that receiving the Eucharist is a pledge of your faith and obedience to the Catholic Church?
Then I ask:
- If you do believe this, why are you not a Catholic?
- If you do not believe this, then why would you want to say with your actions that you believe in the Catholic Church if you actually reject it?
Finally, no less than the authority of Saint Paul warns about the dangers of receiving Holy Eucharist unworthily.
Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
