Can a person be Catholic and not believe in the transubstantiation of the eucharist?

Of course a person can be Catholic and not believe in transubstantiation. The Catholic church doesn't excommunicate people these days.

In addition, Catholics don't randomly toss around the word transubstantiation all that much. Meaning, although a Catholic might know it was added to Catholic Canon at the Council of Trent, everyday Catholicism is focused on the experience their faith provides, not on the theocratic explanation behind the experience.

Well, any Catholic who denies the doctrine and truth of transubstantiation would incure Latae sententiae. They can still remain Catholic, however, they are to be excluded from various sacraments until they correct themselves.

According to canon 1364 of the Code of Canon Law of 1983, the heretic as well as the apostate from the Faith and the schismatic incur automatic excommunication, a.k.a. latae sentenciae excommunication or ipso facto excommunication.

Canon 751 defines these three crimes: “Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after Baptism of a truth which must be believed by divine and Catholic faith. Apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith. Schism is the withdrawal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or from communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”

No. One can be interested in Catholicism and they are welcome to attend mass and RCIA classes. They are welcome to ask questions about the Eucharist and transubstantiation. Perhaps they might change their minds in the future. Anyone who does not believe that Jesus is in the Eucharist should not take the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. It would be a sacrilege.

No, because the catechism of the Cahtolic Church says that the Eucharist is the "Source and Summit of the Christian Life". "Source" means that you must partake in the Eucharist to be a Catholic. The Eucharist really changes us to be more like Jesus, but you have to believe in it first.

Technically, no. But in reality I'm sure most educated Catholics do not believe in transubstantiation.

they shouldnt be, but there probably is a few that dont understand it, and will not believe until its true. this happens in every religion by the way.

i dont believe that transubstantiation is true doctrine to make the sacraments pure blood and flesh of jesus.

that would be cannibalism or vampirism

i think the power of sacrament is the Holy Ghost and remission of sins, and renewal of the mind. but the spirit will only do this as one has faith and is always repentant.

Orthodox Catholics (AKA Eastern Orthodox) also believe -- and must! -- that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus both promised and mandated. Orthodox don't go quite so far as trying to describe the change so closely as RC doctrine does, and so use "change" rather than "transsubstantiate". It is the same concept - true body and blood of Christ - without the scholastic definitions.

Forgive me.

/Orthodox

To believe that Jesus isn't truly present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity during Mass is (in my eyes) not believing Jesus was crucified or established the church. This is one of the most important parts of our Catholic faith which Jesus Himself started at the last supper.

as an ex-catholic who loved being in the church but could not stay because of inconsistencies between the bible and so called sacred traditions it is my understanding that the mandatory embracing of the sacraments are a non negotiable part of being Catholic

you don't get to decide that.

If that is their definition of Catholic, then yes.

There is no actual, God given definition

of Catholic

or any other word.

But they should not be surprised

to find people who disagree

with their definition.

Humans decide what words mean.

--

Regards,

John Popelish