Can a Non-Catholic Regularly Attend Mass

[tp9859a]

A friend of mine has a Catholic father and Protestant mother and she attends mass every week but can’t receive communion.

I disagree. I encourage all Catholics on here to correct me if I’m wrong, but Canon 912 states, “Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion.”

 

[Denise1957]

I disagree. I encourage all Catholics on here to correct me if I’m wrong, but Canon 912 states, “Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion.”

I’m pretty sure that by the terms, “baptized person,” the canon is referring to persons baptized in the Catholic Church. Here’s the rest of the canons regarding the reception of communion:

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P39.HTM

My understanding is that non-Catholics can only receive Holy communion by the express permission of a Catholic bishop (or receive from a bishop only). Other Catholics here may have more familiarity with the law than I do.

 

[iheartdance]

My Dad went for 12 years with my family before he converted.

 

[acadiANNA]

Our priest makes an announcement before Holy Communion to the effect that only Catholics are to receive.

 

[Cojuanco]

Worshiping yes, but please refrain from receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. I hear your position, and I really do feel for you. Have you or your husband looked into Natural Family Planning? It might be a good compromise. Either way, you are certainly still a catholic. Catholics sin all the time. God loves and wants you.

I will point out that the questioner is neither Catholic nor a member of one of the apostolic churches, and therefore would be barred from receiving the Eucharist (barring special circumstances) anyway, so this issue is, to some extent, an irrelevant question.

It is also unclear in the question as to who exactly using contraceptives, or what kind, which presents similar, but distinct moral implications.

 

[WillyAL]

Is it ok for me to go to Mass regularly if I can’t become Catholic …

I am not only not Catholic, but I am a non-believer. That said, I have been attending Sunday Mass with my wife ever since we got married…many years ago. So far, no one has tried to block the door to keep me from entering or to kick me out.