Would Jesus have withheld communion from anyone who believed in him I do not understand why I as a Christian cannot receive communion in the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

From my understanding, you are not a Catholic , but a Christian who belongs to a different denomination. As you are not a Catholic, the Church does not allow you to receive Holy Communion because 1) you are not Catholic, 2) you don't accept or don't understand the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation which declares that the bread and wine is consecrated by the Holy Spirit through the priest into the Body and Blood of Christ and 3) you probably don't believe that the bread and wine are truly the Body and Blood of Christ and see them only as symbols.

This is all based on assumptions from your question. I'm not trying to make any judgment on your character.

The Catholic Church teaches that in order to receive Communion in the Church, you must be a practicing Catholic and accept the doctrine of transubstantiation and fully believe with no reservations that the Bread and Wine truly becomes the Body and Blood of Christ and know that is not symbolic. This is what the Church teaches. It may be said (or it is said) that the Catholic Church practices what is called "closed communion" which means only members of the Catholic Church may receive Communion precisely for the reasons I stated above.

Yes, Jesus welcomes all, but in the Catholic Church we believe that Communion is not symbolic. If you want to receive Communion in the Catholic Church than you must be Catholic. Receiving Communion is much more than a emotional experience and the fact of believing in Jesus so therefore every Christian should be allowed to partake, but the reason is that Communion is receiving and communing Christ Himself during the Mass. It's not to be mean, but this is the Truth.

Catholic Answer

All of the above answer is very good. Please note, that the Church desperately wants everybody to be in communion with Her (as the Church is the Body of Christ (see Colossians 1:15-2:3, especially verses 18 and 24 and Acts 9:1-5)) and by definition anyone who is a believing Christian who has been validly baptized and believes in the Nicene Creed in its traditional interpretation is part of the Body of Christ, howbeit imperfectly, if they are not a full member of the Catholic Church. The verse which determines "closed communion" is from St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians 11:29 "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord." Even Catholics should not be going to Holy Communion if they have not been to confession recently and are in a state of sin. However, all is not lost, as I say, that Church desperately wants everyone to receive the Body and Blood of Our Blessed Lord, and to this end starts RCIA classes each August for people who are curious and want to know more about the church. Call the local Catholic Church, speak to the priest, inform him of your interest in receiving Holy Communion, and talk to him about joining the next RCIA class.