EDITED: Educating fellow Catholics re: reception of the Eucharist

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Friends of mine (young married couple) who claim to be Catholic don’t attend Sunday mass on a regular basis, support same sex marriage, think contraception is right etc. But they receive Holy Communion when attend mass. I slightly educate them from time to time and pray for them. I’m afraid that if I tell them that they should not approach Holy Communion it will discourage them from going to Church at all. Please advice.
 
Do you have an official role in which you’re authorized to direct people on these subjects, that is are you clergy or a pastoral agent?

Are you aware of whether they did or not go to confession prior to receiving where they confessed missing their Sunday obligation?

If not, I think it’s probably best to not press the issue and instead pray for them.
 
I don’t have any particular advice, and situations like these are always very difficult, as with the eternal questions like, “I want to invite my remarried uncle to my wedding, but . . . .”

Nevertheless, please don’t be discouraged by comments like the one above. No one needs “an official role” to be able to speak to their friends about their spiritual health, nor to stand up for Catholic principles. You might as well ask, “Should I talk to my friend about his alcohol problem?” and be told, “Unless you are a licensed substance abuse counselor, you should not press the issue.” Not good advice.
 
Don’t bring it up to them or they will just think you’re “preaching at them”.

BUT if the subject comes up again, take the opportunity to make sure they are aware of the Church teaching on receiving.

Something like… “You know, I don’t want you to think I’m passing judgment, but you probably shouldn’t be receiving communion if you don’t regularly attend Mass, since the Church considers missing Mass without a valid reason a serious sin.”
 
MarkThompson said:
I don’t have any particular advice, and situations like these are always very difficult, as with the eternal questions like, “I want to invite my remarried uncle to my wedding, but . . . .”

Nevertheless, please don’t be discouraged by comments like the one above. No one needs “an official role” to be able to speak to their friends about their spiritual health, nor to stand up for Catholic principles. You might as well ask, “Should I talk to my friend about his alcohol problem?” and be told, “Unless you are a licensed substance abuse counselor, you should not press the issue.” Not good advice.
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I don’t think it’s our role as laypeople to be the “Eucharistic police”.

That’s the priest’s job. If you feel that true scandal is occurring, or that the person is doing sacrilege to the Host, then you might want to mention it to the priest.
 
Thank you All, I appreciate. Of course I’m not going to be Eucharistic policeman, neither judge anybody.
 
It seems that some people have forgotten or never learned about the Spiritual Works of Mercy (they may also have forgotten about the corporal Works of Mercy!).

The first Spiritual Work of Mercy is “Admonish sinners”.

For those who have forgotten, or never learned them they are:

The seven practices of Catholic charity toward our neighbor’s soul:
» Admonish sinners
» Instruct the ignorant
» Counsel the doubtful
» Comfort the sorrowful
» Bear wrongs patiently
» Forgive injuries
» Pray for the living and the dead
These are based on the teaching of Christ and on Church practice since apostolic times.

The spiritual works of mercy are oriented toward the soul.
 
I believe we all have a right to educate fellow Catholics re receiving the Sacred Host, just as we have a right to admonish them not to commit murder. (1 Cor 11:23-27) 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. (ESV)

We certainly don’t want them to continue to commit a more serious sin by receiving unworthily (without confessing any mortal sins). I was taught that to receive the Holy Eucharist while still guilty of mortal sin and without confessing that sin is a blasphemy.
 
Chatter163 said:
What is a “pastoral agent”? :confused:
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Pastoral Agents is more or less the Canadian term for “Pastoral Assistant” but maybe more since they are often in parishes without priests or responsible for ministering to the pastoral needs of people in the hospital or community health services centres.

I looked up the requirements for a couple of advertised jobs and they require a degree in theology.

I think in Canada the name for this varies by diocese. They are not called that in our diocese and those responsible for ministry in many of our priestless parishes don’t have degrees in theology.
 
I say, "Tell them, … Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for… Remember that one? Tell them. Then drop it. Jesus also said. Do not look at the splinter in your neighbors eye… take the plank out of your own first. Tell them what they are doing is wrong. Then let them choose. “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Is.
Not police or a pastoral agent? As mentioned. But, let them know then let them choose. We all have friends or family that make mistakes …drugs…alcohol and we tell them not to and that we love them. But, they still return to their addiction… sometimes… the do or sometimes they ‘choose’ not to be a slave any longer. No different than teaching our fellow brethren about our faith. Instruct them. Then allow them to choose. God bless you for looking out for their soul.
 
Joan_M said:
It seems that some people have forgotten or never learned about the Spiritual Works of Mercy (they may also have forgotten about the corporal Works of Mercy!).

The first Spiritual Work of Mercy is “Admonish sinners”.

For those who have forgotten, or never learned them they are:

The seven practices of Catholic charity toward our neighbor’s soul:
» Admonish sinners
» Instruct the ignorant
» Counsel the doubtful
» Comfort the sorrowful
» Bear wrongs patiently
» Forgive injuries
» Pray for the living and the dead
These are based on the teaching of Christ and on Church practice since apostolic times.

The spiritual works of mercy are oriented toward the soul.
Click to expand...
I think Joan is an the right track.

Your friends’ immortal souls are more important than anything else in their lives. It would be better for them not to receive if they really are in a state of mortal sin.
Unfortunately life is not simple. I suppose it also depends on how close you are to these particular friends. Maybe you are not the person for the task – or maybe you are.
I’d suggest that you speak to your priest about your conundrum, without naming the people involved of course.
 
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