Can a Coptic Christian receive communion in a Catholic Church?

[nimbus123]

Hello all,

Can someone in the know give me the skinny on this? Can an Egyptian Coptic (NOT an Eastern Catholic, but an orthodox Coptic) receive communion in a Catholic Church?

My understanding thus far was that YES, the sacraments of both Churches are acceptable to the other. However that the reverse was just a little stricter, that a Catholic would have to receive permission from a Coptic Archbishop first.

How about the other Orthodox faiths?

Thank you all for your help in understanding this matter!

 

[ConstantineTG]

Hello all,

Can someone in the know give me the skinny on this? Can an Egyptian Coptic (NOT an Eastern Catholic, but an orthodox Coptic) receive communion in a Catholic Church?

My understanding thus far was that YES, the sacraments of both Churches are acceptable to the other. However that the reverse was just a little stricter, that a Catholic would have to receive permission from a Coptic Archbishop first.

How about the other Orthodox faiths?

Thank you all for your help in understanding this matter!

I believe that Christians of the Apostolic Churches (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian Church of the East) are welcome at the Lord’s Table in the Catholic Church. There is even in fact a limited intercommunion between the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East in their homelands in the Middle East.

 

[RyanBlack]

From the Catholic perspective, yes, Coptic Orthodox who are properly disposed may receive Holy Communion. So may all of the other Oriental Orthodox, the Eastern Orthodox, and those of the Assyrian Church of the East, along with a few others, such as members of the Polish National Catholic Church. However, with the Orthodox, their bishops generally do not permit them to commune in Catholic parishes.

 

[dzheremi]

No. No Coptic Orthodox person may receive communion in a non-Orthodox Church. We are to commune only in the churches of our own communion (Coptic, Syriac, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Armenian, Indian/Malankara). If this is not possible, occasionally individuals or families can receive permission from their bishop to commune at Eastern Orthodox (Chalcedonian) churches, if the Chalcedonian counterpart allows it. This is not the case with regard to other, non-Orthodox churches, with whom we are absolutely not allowed to commune (even if they allow us or encourage us to).

 

[Vico]

I wouldn’t think that either the Coptic or Catholic Churches would allow it. The Copts are monophysites, and given the difference in understanding of what Jesus truly is, it would follow that there is also a difference in understanding what the Eucharist truly is.

Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, can. 671, §2-§3 and the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms of Ecumenism, n. 123. give instruction on this.123. Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is lawful for any Catholic for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick from a minister of an Eastern Church.128
128 Cf. CIC, can. 844, 2 and CCEO, can. 671, 2.
vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19930325_directory_en.html

For the Assyrian Church of the East:4. Guidelines for admission to the Eucharist

Considering the liturgical tradition of the Assyrian Church of the East, the doctrinal clarification regarding the validity of the Anaphora of Addai and Mari, the contemporary context in which both Assyrian and Chaldean faithful are living, the appropriate regulations which are foreseen in official documents of the Catholic Church, and the process of rapprochement between the Chaldean Church and the Assyrian Church of the East, the following provision is made:

1. When necessity requires, Assyrian faithful are permitted to participate and to receive Holy Communion in a Chaldean celebration of the Holy Eucharist; in the same way, Chaldean faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister, are permitted to participate and to receive Holy Communion in an Assyrian celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
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vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20011025_chiesa-caldea-assira_en.html