by The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt

Bishop of New Ulm

The Diocese of New Ulm follows the theologically grounded practice of the Roman Catholic Church that prohibits the sharing of “Holy Communion” between Catholics and non-Catholics in the context of our celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Mass as well as prohibiting the participation of Catholics in Communion Service s of other Christian denominations, whether they be Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist or other Evangelical Protestant churches.

The reason behind this prohibition lies in a clearly articulated difference concerning: 1) the understanding in the nature of “Communion” on the part of the non-Catholic churches involved, 2) the absence of apostolic succession on the part of the Protestant or Reform denominations as well as 3) a lack of recognition of the sacramental dignity of priestly ordination.

The word “communion” comes from the Latin words “cum” and “unum”, which translates “union with.” Because of the above stated differences in understanding, unity of belief is not shared and this unity of belief must be a prerequisite for shared “communion.”

In his most recent encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia , our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, speaks directly to the relationship of the Eucharist and ecumenical activity. He says that since the Church’s unity absolutely requires as a prerequisite for sharing the Eucharist:

   “. . . full communion in the bonds of the profession of faith, the sacraments and ecclesiastical governance, it is not possible to celebrate together the same Eucharistic liturgy until those bonds are fully re-established. Any such concelebration would not be a valid means, and might well prove instead to be an obstacle, to the attainment of full communion , by weakening the sense of how far we remain from this goal and by introducing or exacerbating ambiguities with regard to one or another truth of the faith. The path towards full unity can only be undertaken in truth.” (Paragraph 44)

While the Catholic Church in this Diocese looks forward to the day when the unity among all Christian believers becomes a reality, we cannot approve, let alone encourage, the practice of “intercommunion” as an honest and integral expression of a unity that continues in reality to elude us.

June 2003