Can a Catholic attend an Anglican service as a visitor?
The short answer
Yes. But because the Anglican church lacks valid holy orders, Eucharistic intercommunion is not possible (CCC 1400).
Yes, you may attend as a visitor. But because the Anglican church does not have valid holy orders, Eucharistic intercommunion is not possible.
The Catechism explains that ecclesial communities that came from the Reformation and are separated from the Catholic Church have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because they lack the sacrament of holy orders, and so intercommunion with them is not possible for the Catholic Church (CCC 1400).
Continue exploring
- Was it wrong for my diocese to give money to rebuild an Anglican church?Q&A
- When Jesus spoke of "one flock, one shepherd," did he mean the Catholic Church alone?Q&A
- Why do Catholics call priests "Father"?Q&A
- Why does Rome call itself a "Church" but other churches "ecclesial communities"?Q&A
- Anti-Catholic MythsTract
- Are Catholics Christian?Tract