What would Tim Russert do?

Tim Russert was a premier journalist and a good man. After his memorial service I stood outside the Kennedy Center and marveled at the double rainbow across the Washington sky. I took in that rainbow but I would not have taken communion at his funeral.

Why not? After all, I'm a Christian who believes in Jesus Christ. Communion is all about Jesus. It's not about me. It's not about Tim Russert. It's about Jesus. As a follower of Jesus I delight to celebrate him, his death and his resurrection in holy communion.

But, I'm not a Catholic and my priest friends have told me that Catholic communion is just for Catholic Christians. That's not the way I see communion. I believe that anyone who believes in Jesus is welcome to share the bread and the cup. But in a Catholic service I show my respect by following the Catholic traditions. Just as I would follow the host when I am a guest for a dinner party, so I try my best to follow the limitations of the religious traditions when I am a guest.

Does this mean that I would violate my conscience to participate in a religious practice with which I disagree? Of course not. But, I certainly can hold back from a communion altar to which I am not invited.

I wonder what Tim Russert would do?

By Leith Anderson  |  July 8, 2008; 7:00 PM ET  | Category:  Personal Religion , Religion & Leadership Save & Share:                 
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