Can Catholic Priests Give Communion to Non-Catholics?

[TrueLight]

Canon 844
§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.

Please help me understand what this Canon means.

What does “properly disposed” mean?

What are the other “Churches”? Does this include Protestant churches?

If the Orthodox do not allow Catholics to receive communion in their churches, why are they allowed to receive in Catholic churches.

I am not referring to emergency situations.

Thanks.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

What does “properly disposed” mean?

In a state of grace.

What are the other “Churches”? Does this include Protestant churches?

It would include Churches with Apostolic Succession like the Old Catholic Church, Coptic Churches and other such Churches.

If the Orthodox do not allow Catholics to receive communion in their churches, why are they allowed to receive in Catholic churches.

The Catholic Church does not see an overly dramatic theological split with the Orthodox Churches and thus is very open to intercommunion however the Orthodox are not interested.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Please help me understand what this Canon means.

What does “properly disposed” mean?

What are the other “Churches”? Does this include Protestant churches?

If the Orthodox do not allow Catholics to receive communion in their churches, why are they allowed to receive in Catholic churches.

I am not referring to emergency situations.

Thanks.

“Properly disposed” means that they beleive and express the same things the Catholic Church teaches about the Eucharist. I am not sure, but I think it also means that they are also spiritually properly disposed (not in a state of mortal sin).

I do not think the “other Churches” refers to the Protestants, as the Church calls these “ecclesial bodies” rather than “Churches”. The Orthodox are referred to as “Churches”. I do believe there are exceptions to the Protestants receiving the Eucharist, but that is rare and at the discretion of the Bishop.

Generally the Orthodox do not receive in the Catholic Church except under unusual or emergency circumstances. However, they must have the permission of their priest. We are under the Pope, and the rules have been set by the authority of the Pope. If the Orthodox do not wish to commune Catholics, that is their perogative, they are not bound to the rules of the Catholic Church, and this is not really a tit-for-tat thing. The Pope has opened the door for reconciliation some day. Some Orthodox pastors will allow Catholics to commune (rarely and under special circumstances), but Catholics are only to do this if a Catholic Church or priest is not available and if the Orthodox Pastor agrees.

Perhaps some day we will be reunited. Division is not pleasing to God.

 

[TrueLight]

In a state of grace.

So is the assumption then that these churches have certain definitions in common, like “state of grace?”.

It would include Churches with Apostolic Succession like the Old Catholic Church, Coptic Churches and other such Churches.

Interesting. Do you know if there is a list somewhere of such churches aside from the ones listed above?

Would Anglicans count?

 

[TrueLight]

Perhaps some day we will be reunited. Division is not pleasing to God.

Amen.

So is the purpose of this Canon to open up the door a little wider for reconciliation?

 

[CB_Catholic]

Amen.

So is the purpose of this Canon to open up the door a little wider for reconciliation?

I believe in the case of the Orthodox, yes. In the case of the other Churches Father mentioned, I can’t comment, I know very little about them.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

So is the assumption then that these churches have certain definitions in common, like “state of grace?”.

While they probably wouldn’t use that term, the Eastern Orthodox and other like Churches would have similiar theological understandings.

Interesting. Do you know if there is a list somewhere of such churches aside from the ones listed above?

Off the top of my head I can’t think of where such a list would be but pretty much any Church that split off prior to the Protestant Reformation would most likely have Apostolic Sucession.

Would Anglicans count?

As far as I know, Anglicans would only be allowed under emergency or rare circumstances providing that they share our faith in the Real Presence.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Please help me understand what this Canon means.

What does “properly disposed” mean?

What are the other “Churches”? Does this include Protestant churches?

If the Orthodox do not allow Catholics to receive communion in their churches, why are they allowed to receive in Catholic churches.

I am not referring to emergency situations.

Thanks.

I think the Church makes pronouncements whenever there is a Church that is admitted to communion. One example is the Assyrian Church of the East where there is currently an intercommunion with the Chaldean Catholic Church. The Vatican has produced a document that affirms this.

 

[JReducation]

To the best of my knowledge, there were to Protestant exceptions made, but with very good reason. Both exceptions were made by Pope Benedict. He gave Holy Communion to Br. Roger, Superior General of Taize (RIP) and to Tony Blair.

Brother believed in the real presence. That was the one big issue between him and his Lutheran brothers and sisters.

Tony Blair was in RCIA at the time.

The minister of Holy Communion was the Pope.

Any questions?

I didn’t think so. I wouldn’t sare ask why Pope Benedict did this or that. I take the words of St. Francis very serioiusly. “Never question the Lord Pope or the Lord Bishop, for he who questions either, places hismself outside of this order.” 'Nuff said for me.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[bstorm]

TrueLight, I have a real world example for you. A number of years a go I knew a member of one of the protestant churches who believed in the Real Presence. He grew up in a mixed catholic/protestant family and was raised protestant. He had a deep desire to receive the Eucharist, but did not want to (or was not ready to) convert due to family reasons. He wrote a letter to the Holy See and after an interview with the Papal Nuncius he obtained a special permission to receive the Sacrament of Penance and the Eucharist in Catholic Church. I do not know what happened with him later on, but I suspect that he eventually converted and became catholic, as he was dating a catholic woman at the time. BTW, this case did not happen in the US.