Christian reps tell synod they're sad at lack of eucharistic sharing

Published: 2005-10-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Representatives of Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches offered the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist reflections from their traditions and expressed sadness that Christians are divided at the altar. According to published summaries of the Oct. 11 synod talks and a Vatican briefing on their content, the strongest challenge to Catholic Church restrictions on eucharistic sharing came from the Lutheran and Anglican bishops invited by Pope Benedict XVI to the Oct. 2-23 synod. Retired Lutheran Bishop Per Lonning of Norway told the synod that a young Catholic priest had invited him to receive Communion during a 1971 Mass in Belgium, but he replied, "As a guest, I will certainly do nothing in conflict with the rules of my host." However, he said, over the next 30 years at Catholic Masses in various parts of the world he has witnessed eucharistic sharing and was even invited by a Catholic archbishop to receive Communion. Bishop Lonning said the synod working document's reaffirmations that eucharistic sharing is not permissible in most circumstances "make me rather sad, especially because I know they will make many of my Catholic friends sad."

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