Denial of Holy Communion at Funerals, etc

[PerfectTiming]

Hello:

But then you have this story that was recently in the news. Was the priest right for what he did, or did he step over the line?

nydailynews.com/news/national/lesbian-woman-barbara-johnson-denied-communion-mother-funeral-article-1.1031166

The priest was right, IMO. Perhaps he should have spoken to her beforehand but he was completely right not to profane the Holy Eucharist by giving it to her. Knowingly allowing someone living in a mortally sinful state to receive the Eucharist is far graver than any hurt this woman may have experienced. Not to mention, the article suggests she went to Catholic schools and was raised Catholic so she should have known better than to try and receive.

 

[MissRose73]

I’m of the opinion that it is the minister’s responsibility to enforce rules regarding communion. I’m sorry that it offends some when they can’t receive, but those are the rules.

This is not about political correctness; this is about protecting the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

I have no issue with the priest who said that at the Masses my aunt was attending. I just never have encountered such an announcement personally, and I’ve been a Catholic all my life.

 

[Mountain_Man]

When I attended my grandmother’s funeral several years ago, the priest invited practicing Catholics to come forward for communion. Around two-thirds of those present received the Eucharist, the rest remained seated. I hadn’t been to church in years, so I remained in the pew. It really wasn’t a big deal.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

I wish more priests would do this, particularly at weddings at funerals. I’ve seen some really nutty and disgraceful behavior at both. One several occasions I’ve seen people go up and walk around with the host, looking at it like they weren’t sure what to do with it. At another, what looked to be a homeless man showed up and went through multiple lines multiple times, getting a host and taking a big drink each time. The worst was the funeral where the non-Catholic family brought all three kids up, and when the priest finally caught on and didn’t let the youngest of their three kids have a host, the three boys started wrestling up next to the altar, fighting over who’d get the two they’d received. The mother, who hadn’t eaten hers yet but instead stood there laughing about her boys’ behavior, finally gave them hers to put an end to the fight.

 

[MissRose73]

I’m of the opinion that it is the minister’s responsibility to enforce rules regarding communion. I’m sorry that it offends some when they can’t receive, but those are the rules.

This is not about political correctness; this is about protecting the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

I am not offended to say the least, but I’ve never heard any priest in my life ever saying before Communion was to be given that you must be a practicing Catholic and in a state of grace. Then again, too many forget that you should be always be going to Mass on Sundays, etc.

 

[agnes_therese]

I am participating in the “Living the Eucharist” program through my mother’s parish. During our most recent class, my aunt (who is the group leader in the class session I am in) mentioned at a few funerals and weddings she has attended in the past few years that the priest mentioned before Communion that only practicing Catholics may receive the Eucharist. ** I found that quite unusual for a priest to say that at Mass. **

That’s very sad.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

They usually phrase it the form of an invitation:

Practicing Catholics and those in union with the Church are invited…

Rather than:

If you are not a Catholic or are not practicing then you cannot come to the altar for Communion.

My priest gives the reminder during the announcements prior to the sermon even on regular Sundays.

He’ll usually say something along the lines of,
"Just a reminder, for those who may not have received communion in the traditional Latin Mass before, that it is received at the communion rail, kneeling, and on the tongue. If you are unable to kneel, that’s okay. When I come to you, stick out your tongue and I will place the host on it for you. In the traditional form of communion reception, you don’t say “Amen”. The priest says it for the communicant.

Also, in order to receive communion, one must have fasted for at least one hour prior to receiving communion, not be in the state of mortal sin, and must be a regularly practicing Catholic. I say that because some Catholics will only go on certain days, such as Christmas and Easter.

Finally, one must not judge those who do not go up to receive communion to be in the state of mortal sin. They may not have fasted, or may not wish to receive this Sunday. So…yeah…, communion is received at the communion rail, kneeling, and on the tongue."

 

[superamazingman]

Hello:

But then you have this story that was recently in the news. Was the priest right for what he did, or did he step over the line?

nydailynews.com/news/national/lesbian-woman-barbara-johnson-denied-communion-mother-funeral-article-1.1031166

No he was not wrong. It was not told out that this woman came into the sacristy before Mass and introduced her lover to the priest (introducing her as her lover, not as a friend). She wasn’t quiet about it, and if she is going to do things like that, it’s no surprise that the priest denied her.

And also, the priest did not “walk out.” He felt ill, and found a substitute priest to complete the graveside rites.

 

[EasterJoy]

No he was not wrong. It was not told out that this woman came into the sacristy before Mass and introduced her lover to the priest (introducing her as her lover, not as a friend). She wasn’t quiet about it, and if she is going to do things like that, it’s no surprise that the priest denied her.

And also, the priest did not “walk out.” He felt ill, and found a substitute priest to complete the graveside rites.

The supreme authority on how pastoral care is to be handled in a diocese is the diocesan bishop, not the individual priests. If this priest’s bishop had let him know previously that Holy Communion was not to be denied under this kind of circumstance, because in the bishop’s judgment the possibility exists that the person’s culpability (rather than the gravity of the sin) might not rise to the level of a mortal sin, then the priest was wrong.

I can’t imagine he will be removed from the ministry for this, however. If the bishop removed every priest who made judgement calls like this against his wishes, he’d soon have very few priests left! This world is nothing if not a pasture full of thorny pastoral issues.