Lost supper
Sir: Sidney Vines's article (8 December) about the excommunication of two Angli- can women by the rector of their village church in Sussex was particularly inter- esting to me because I myself was recently refused Holy Communion in an Anglican church because the rector concerned knew that I am a member of the Roman Catholic Church. But I used to be in the Church of England so he said I would have to be received back first. And I have also been told by a Catholic priest (this summer) not to come to any Mass of which he is the celebrant. This was because I had, in his own words, 'made a shit of [my] married life' by being legally separated from my wife and I had also 'made a shit of [my] religious life' because I preferred to call myself a Christian instead of a Catholic.
However, I have twice this year taken Holy Communion in a Methodist church (the minister knowing my being a Catholic officially) and once in a United Reformed church. I was welcomed in both churches. I was 'a stranger and they took me in'. Catholic and Anglican clergy do not really understand the Eucharist. The Body and Blood of Christ are to be given to any Christian who presents himself or herself for it. They are not rewards for moral be- haviour or ecclesiastic labels. They are not rewards at all. They are gifts — not in the sense of presents tinsel-wrapped but in the sense of being given: not deserved or earn- ed. But like all things given they require a hand to be put into; or a 'hand', be it even
the mouth. The 'hand' required for receiv- ing the Body and Blood of Christ is faith, regardless of works. Faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour. This should be made known to everybody so that it is up to anyone who presents himself for the Body and Blood of Christ to decide for himself whether he is eligible or not.
I know that this will make Roman Catholics in particular gnash their teeth. But I like making Roman Catholics gnash their teeth because they know sweet Fanny Adams about the Christian religion yet purport to know all about it. Which is funny.
Thomas W. Gadd
14 Gynsill Court, Gynsill Lane, Leicester
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