Can a validly baptized, non-Catholic Christian receive Holy Communion if he or she is a catechumen?

[Scoobydoojoe]

A friend of mine who has recently been given the Rite of Welcome for catechumenate is a Christian validly baptized (he was baptized with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit) in their Christian church. One Sunday he lined-up for holy communion and he was denied the Eucharist. He explained to the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion that he has received baptism already and that he is presently in the catechumenate program. He was still denied holy communion, and instead the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion gave him a blessing. Feeling confused, my friend took a second line to the priest. The priest gave him holy communion. Was he supposed to have been given holy communion the first time he lined up for it? Did the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion commit a mistake?

Thank you.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

No; more than being validly baptized is required for reception of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. The person must be in the state of grace and if not, he or she must go to Confession. There is a reason why your friend is in the RCIA. He needs to be instructed in the ways of our faith. He is not allowed to receive the sacraments in the Catholic Church until he has completed his period of instruction and has made a profession of faith in the Catholic Church. The only exception to this is that he will need to go to Confession after he has learned how to do this.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.