Communion for RCIA before the profession of faith; is this right?

[ploga1]

I signed up to be an RCIA “at-large” sponsor i.e. unassigned to a particular candidate at the beginning of the process. Last week was a Q&A session for the candidates and one person asked about why he couldn’t receive communion. The deacon who heads up the program proceeded to tell the gentleman that as long as he believed in the “real presence” that he could and insinuated that the pastor was in alignment with this view. I brought up the fact that the candidates had not yet gone to first confession and therefore, presumably, not in a state of grace. He changed the subject a bit and then moved on. I didn’t want to make a big deal about it in front of the candidates so I let it go at that point. At the end of the evening he again encouraged the group to go to communion. Am I missing something here or was the deacon in serious error with his guidance?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Dear friend,

The deacon is clearly out of order. Those in the RCIA (who do not belong to any of the Eastern Orthodox churches) who have already been baptized are not allowed to receive the Eucharist until they have gone to Confession and have made their profession of faith. He should know this. You need to talk to him about this. If he resists your words, go the pastor. If he resists, write to your bishop.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.