Can Eucharistic Ministers Refuse Communion?

[MDarte]

Hello,

I am a Eucharistic Minister in a Military Parish. During the Easter Vigil our Priest gave communion to an Anglican priest and his wife. When I approached him after concerning this his response was: “that our Military Bishop has given permission to give communion to non-Catholics who do not have access to their church”. But I know that this is only in times of emergency or their church service is not being held anywhere close by; so in other words, it is permissible for a Catholic priest to offer communion to soldiers of other traditions when they are in the desert in Afghanistan with no re-coarse to their own church and they are preparing for battle.

As a Eucharistic Minister is it permissible for me to refuse communion to someone who is not Catholic if the priest has offered them communion?

Thank you,
Michael

 

[mike182d]

Hello,

I am a Eucharistic Minister in a Military Parish. During the Easter Vigil our Priest gave communion to an Anglican priest and his wife. When I approached him after concerning this his response was: “that our Military Bishop has given permission to give communion to non-Catholics who do not have access to their church”. But I know that this is only in times of emergency or their church service is not being held anywhere close by; so in other words, it is permissible for a Catholic priest to offer communion to soldiers of other traditions when they are in the desert in Afghanistan with no re-coarse to their own church and they are preparing for battle.

As a Eucharistic Minister is it permissible for me to refuse communion to someone who is not Catholic if the priest has offered them communion?

Thank you,
Michael

I’m not sure about the first question, but regarding the latter, unless you’re a priest you are not a Eucharistic Minister but a Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

That being said, your “authority” to give or deny communion *comes *from the Eucharistic Minister (the priest) - it is not an authority you possess on your own by virtue of the ministry - and I would say that you must defer to his authority since it is not by your authority that you hand out communion in the first place, technically.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello,

I
As a Eucharistic Minister is it permissible for me to refuse communion to someone who is not Catholic if the priest has offered them communion?

Thank you,
Michael

I have not undergone the diocesan training for EMHCs (because I don’t believe in the concept) so I am speaking from my own opinion, but to me this is one of the biggest potential abuses in the whole idea of this ministry. Only a priest, not even a deacon, can refuse communion to someone approaches, because only a priest, who has the faculty of hearing, judging and forgiving sins, can make a determination of who is worthy and who is not. To even put someone who is not a priest in the position of having someone approach who, to all appearances, should not receive, is an unfair burden and has potential for abuse. What if a notoriously pro-abort politician approached you? A person you know to be living in an invalid marriage or homosexual relationship? A mob boss?

 

[Sixtus]

During the Easter Vigil our Priest gave communion to an Anglican priest and his wife. When I approached him after concerning this his response was: “that our Military Bishop has given permission to give communion to non-Catholics who do not have access to their church”

I can understand your instinctual feelings of repugnance. But no disrespects, you do not know the full story. No doubt your Bishop and Priest does. It is not given to us to judge…ever!

Unless you are certain that a grave sacraligious act is being or about to be committed, you do not have authority to refuse the Sacred Host to anyone who presents for it. Even then, you would have to defer to the priest before refusing a communicant.

I have known of Catholics who do not believe n the Real Presence and Anglicans who do!

Happy Easter

 

[Sixtus]

…one final point, I have known of Catholics who do not believe n the real presence and Anglicans who do!

I rest my case

 

[Sixtus]

…one final point, I have known of Catholics who do not believe n the Real Presence and Anglicans who do!

I rest my case