How culpable am I for another's sin?

[michael8975]

Today I went to a funeral mass for a good friends father who passed away this Sunday. He suffered from brain cancer, but lived almost 5 years longer than the doctors expected…thankfully he was strong in his Catholic faith.

Another close friend of mine and his mother(who are Lutheran…and a bit anti-catholic) were sitting next to me, and when it came time for communion…(gulp)…they went up and received. She is a former Catholic who left the church over 30 years ago, and I’m not sure if she remembers that non-Catholics are not supposed to partake. Nor am I sure that her son(my friend) knows either. But there are some things that lead me to believe they did know it was wrong, but went anyway because they disagree with the church “excluding” others from receiving his body and blood. (It’s funny, because just before communion the thought crossed my mind that they might go…perhaps a warning from above. I worried about it for a bit, but then tried to focus on the mass. When it actually happened, I stayed back from communion as it was not proper for me to receive, and saw her directing him to go out of the corner of my eye. I stayed kneeling for a moment to block them, but eventually moved out of their way.)

So how culpable am I for letting this happen?

 

[space_ghost]

michael8975:

Today I went to a funeral mass for a good friends father who passed away this Sunday. He suffered from brain cancer, but lived almost 5 years longer than the doctors expected…thankfully he was strong in his Catholic faith.

Another close friend of mine and his mother(who are Lutheran…and a bit anti-catholic) were sitting next to me, and when it came time for communion…(gulp)…they went up and received. She is a former Catholic who left the church over 30 years ago, and I’m not sure if she remembers that non-Catholics are not supposed to partake. Nor am I sure that her son(my friend) knows either. But there are some things that lead me to believe they did know it was wrong, but went anyway because they disagree with the church “excluding” others from receiving his body and blood. (It’s funny, because just before communion the thought crossed my mind that they might go…perhaps a warning from above. I worried about it for a bit, but then tried to focus on the mass. When it actually happened, I stayed back from communion as it was not proper for me to receive, and saw her directing him to go out of the corner of my eye. I stayed kneeling for a moment to block them, but eventually moved out of their way.)

So how culpable am I for letting this happen?

i don’t think it was your job to be the communion police that morning, so i think your safe… you elude to the fact that they know, and it was their freewill choice to do the wrong thing… no where is it written that you are to chastise someone choosing to do the wrong thing…

now, if they didn’t know, and i felt there was a good chance that they might not know,… hey, what’s it hurt to ask and inform… of course with that decision, be prepared to put on a catchers mask!

 

[AlanFromWichita]

space ghost:

i don’t think it was your job to be the communion police that morning, so i think your safe… you elude to the fact that they know, and it was their freewill choice to do the wrong thing… no where is it written that you are to chastise someone choosing to do the wrong thing…

Ditto.

 

[Shoshana]

michael8975:

So how culpable am I for letting this happen?

Michael,

If this statement were true, I would be burning in hell–the lowest level to boot! I know of many parishioners who are in mortal sin (adultery, etc) that go to communion and if I were to start a ‘police check’, I would wonder how many people would be receiving!?! Second marriages outside of Church is very rampant.

Just among my brothers and sisters, there are three who are living in adultery. I know for certain that one goes to communion every week. My only job is to state a fact to them…‘this is adulterous’ :crying: and then I let it go. If they do not know what that means as far as communion goes, well, I can’t be responsible for their actions.

I also have a anti-Catholic brother who went to communion at our dad’s funeral…and he is in apostasy. He changes churches like he changes his underwear! I gave him a book by Scott Hahn ‘Home to Rome’ but no reaction whatsoever. I’m sure he thinks that Scott is possessed…

We are allowed to state a fact IF it comes into the conversation, and, I believe that is what our job is. Period. I cannot say to them that if they go to communion their chances of hell are that much higher. We do not know if they may repent of all of this one day. Our God is the God of salvation. I am not! We may end up being an obstacle to that repentance! i hope this helps…

Blessings,
Shoshana

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

It was the Pastors responsibility to “instruct” those present about Holy Communion.

 

[asquared]

we have pastors to make pastoral decisions, judge our sins and either forgive them or hold them bound, and guide us through pastoral care situations. if you are not the pastor, your responsibility extends only as far as those you are duty bound to instruct --your family, your CCD class etc… You are bound to what your duty is, instruction and good example, not beyond it. Even if they sin, it is their choice, not your problem.

 

[michael8975]

I want to sincerely thank you all for your comments. It takes a load off of my mind. The priest did make an effort to say something before communion about the eucharist being sacred , but I’m not sure how effective his statement was.

 

[NanaGigi]

I agree with the others that you are not culpable.

I am a “commentator” for funeral and memorial Masses at my parish. We introduce the Celebrant and the readers for the Liturgy of the Word (and do the readings IF there is nobody from the family who wants to read.) We also do the Petitions, announce who will be bringing up the gifts of bread and wine along with a statement as to what is going to happen (the consecration) and indicate to people when to sit, kneel or stand. After the priest receives the Body and Blood of Christ, the Commentator ALWAYS reads a paragraph about the reception of Holy Communion, telling those who are not Catholic that they are welcome to come up for a Blessing from the priest - just stand in his line and merely put their finger over their lips to receive a Blessing and not receive Holy Communion. I see many people doing this.

I know of some who are not Catholic who have received - they did it as a form of protest. I guarantee you that on at least one occasion, the bereaved husband was outraged and gave up the friendship because of it.

Gigi