Can EMHCs refuse Communion to anyone?

[Elizium23]

There was a recent question from an extraordinary minister of holy Communion about whether he could refuse communion to a Mason. While the question about the Masons was answered, it was not addressed whether an EMHC can in fact refuse Communion to anyone who requests the sacrament. I do not believe they can.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

In principle, EMHCs can refuse to give Communion to someone who has no right to receive it. In the early Church, a young boy named Tarcisius was martyred for his defense of Communion, which he was taking to prisoners, from a gang of boys who demanded to see it.

Ordinarily though, an EMHC has no way to know whether or not someone presenting himself for Communion is disposed to receive it. In charity to that person, the EMHC should assume that the person is properly disposed and distribute the sacrament. Only if the EMHC has been directed by his pastor not to give Communion to a particular individual should the EMHC refuse that person Communion.