Help! A non-Catholic receives the eucharist?

[steve_b]

The thief on the cross demonstrates that God’s mercy extends to those we would least expect to make it to Heaven.

Let’s talk about that.

That thief did more in 3 hours on his cross, than most people do in their life.

At the crucifixion

While undergoing excruciating pain himself in his crucifixion, the “good thief”

in Luke 23

rebuked the other thief who was taunting Jesus, by saying to the other criminal, “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]”
43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Therefore, the good thief, with saying so few words during his own crucifixion,

• rebuked the other criminal’s insults of Jesus in front of everyone present, while experiencing death by crucifixion himself. That’s huge in itself
• THAT’s witnessing for maximum effect
• He witnesses to the thief and all who are present at the crucifixion but also to all humanity who reads this passage of scripture, that he acknowledges that Jesus is God and he is to be feared. Too many people don’t fear God today to their own destruction
• He admits he has done wrong, and Jesus is innocent. THAT is huge. He confessed his sins to Jesus and EVERYONE present, and all that read this passage till the end of time. That is huge.
• He Asks Jesus for mercy because he is sorry for his sins, and to take him to His kingdom, when they both die, and Jesus honors that. That is huge. What incredible faith he has.

The good thief, summarizes the NT in his actions under huge pain, and suffering, and a few words that he was able to speak under that duress…

TaylorDonBarret:

This conversation, however, is about whether we should make a big deal out of non-Catholic Christians receiving the Eucharist. Such people, already filled with The Holy Spirit, are not unfit to consume God who is already inside them.

There’s a big difference between fit and unfit Re: the Eucharist.

Re: the following
catholiceducation.org/en/…communion.html

From that article, Here’s what’s required of a Catholic.

“A Catholic must be in a state of grace to receive Holy Communion, and anyone aware of being in a state of mortal sin must first receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance (Catechism, No. 1415). Therefore, a non-practicing Catholic who has negligently not attended Mass or who has abandoned the teachings of the Church is not in a state of grace and cannot receive Holy Communion. A non-practicing Catholic who receives Holy Communion commits the sin of sacrilege — the abuse of a sacrament — and causes scandal among the faithful. St. Paul reminded the Corinthians: “Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes! This means that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily sins against the body and blood of the Lord. A man should examine himself first; only then should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Cor 11:26-28).”

If I understand you correctly, you’re saying a Protestant who by definition, ignores all that understanding and theology behind the Eucharist, can just walk off the street and walk up and take the Eucharist?

 

[steve_b]

I agree with your thoughts, but asking about Baptism, Confirmation and first Holy Communion would not give you the information you seek. Any good Lutheran, Anglican, Old Catholic, Orthodox, etc, etc would be able to answer you. And perhaps anyone from those branches of the Church would happily receive communion in an RC Mass.

The “branch theory” as I understand it, is an Anglican theory. What you mention there, those are NOT branches of the Catholic Church.