I know Non-Catholics who are receiving Holy Communion

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I attend a private christian University (protestant) and i know that some protestant students here are attending mass at the Cathedral (where i also attend mass) and RECEIVING COMMUNION! One of my good Catholic friends has told them that they are not supposed to receive communion because they have not been accepted by the Church nor have they received ANY initiation Rites…I guess my question is, after approaching them, and if they continue to present themselves for communion, should i talk to my pastor and tell him about the abuse so that he can deny them? I dont’ want to run them off because they believe in the Real Presence, but I also don’t want to see Our Lord disrespected by ignoring the Communion with His Church…
 
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mcgowan8181:
I attend a private christian University (protestant) and i know that some protestant students here are attending mass at the Cathedral (where i also attend mass) and RECEIVING COMMUNION! One of my good Catholic friends has told them that they are not supposed to receive communion because they have not been accepted by the Church nor have they received ANY initiation Rites…I guess my question is, after approaching them, and if they continue to present themselves for communion, should i talk to my pastor and tell him about the abuse so that he can deny them? I dont’ want to run them off because they believe in the Real Presence, but I also don’t want to see Our Lord disrespected by ignoring the Communion with His Church…
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I think you’ve got a good chance here to bring them to the Church. Tell them, of course, that the Eucharist is a sign of unity, and that while we’d love to share it with them, that we can only do so if they’re Catholics.

The next thing to ask them is: if you believe in the Real Presence, and you recognize the CC has it, why don’t you convert?

Depending on the denomination, it may be more or less difficult to sell the idea. With Lutherans, you’ll have to focus on Holy Orders. Anglicans are a far more complex situation (they lost valid orders a long time ago, but regained some through Old Catholic and Orthodox [various schismatic but apostolic lines] in some cases within the last century, I believe, so a given Anglican priest may have valid orders, but then again, he may not). Tell me, what denominations are they?
 
Thanks for the reply…They are nazarenes (split off from methodists)…they are kind of these ultra hippy type (i say that with as much charity as i can muster, but it’s the truth)…the problem is that they have been instructed on all the reasons why they shouldn’t be doing this from intelligent Catholics and their basic response is “we don’t care, we think it is about our personal relationship with Christ, not an institutionalization”…they are very defiant in their stance and that is what bothers me the most…they KNOW better and are doing it anyway…so that’s why it is so hard for me to know how to approach this…
 
Well, if they have already been talked to and explained the Catholic stance by others, but ignore it…
Then they don’t understand the Real Presence (The Catholic Church’s stance)

As for talking to them, as you said they already know what they do and do so anyway…
For their sake, I’d inform the Priest of who they are so he might have a word with them, and if they ignore it, bless them if they try to recieve again.

Just my :twocents:
 
The Eucharist is the ultimate sign of unity. If they are not in unity with the Church they should not be receiving the Eucharist. To do so is not only disrespectful to the Church, but incredibly irreverent in regards to the Eucharist. If this continues I would say to inform the pastor so that he is aware of what is happening.

Matt
 
I would let God deal with them, after having already told them how I felt. As an act of hope, charity and love I would pray to God that He would not be offended by them, but would help them to see, hear, and feel His truth more clearly while He’s inside their bodies.

My niece, a supposeldy atheist pagan stripper, came to my nephews wedding at the Cathedral, celebrant was the arch bishop, and SHE WENT TO COMMUNION. At first I was angry, because she should know better. Then I was angry because she was going to communion and I wasn’t. Then I realized that Christ inside her was exactly what she needed. If he could bring truth to her body and her heart, maybe eventually it would be revealed in her mind. THEN she would realize what it meant, what she did wrong, and how to make it ok. I said a prayer that He would work hard while he was inside her. God has a plan. Who knows, maybe part of his plan is teaching you/me how to see this His way. 🙂
 
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MamaSusie:
I would let God deal with them, after having already told them how I felt. As an act of hope, charity and love I would pray to God that He would not be offended by them, but would help them to see, hear, and feel His truth more clearly while He’s inside their bodies.

My niece, a supposeldy atheist pagan stripper, came to my nephews wedding at the Cathedral, celebrant was the arch bishop, and SHE WENT TO COMMUNION. At first I was angry, because she should know better. Then I was angry because she was going to communion and I wasn’t. Then I realized that Christ inside her was exactly what she needed. If he could bring truth to her body and her heart, maybe eventually it would be revealed in her mind. THEN she would realize what it meant, what she did wrong, and how to make it ok. I said a prayer that He would work hard while he was inside her. God has a plan. Who knows, maybe part of his plan is teaching you/me how to see this His way. 🙂
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Except that the Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that whoever eats and drinks Christ’s Body and Blood without DISCERNING that that is what they are, is eating and drinking DAMNATION on himself.
 
I agree. That’s why I pray for them. The body of Christ is never wrong. It can be in the wrong person for the wrong reasons, but in and of itself, it is perfect. Even inside a filthy rag, it is still our Holy Christ. All I can do is pray that He will be light, and not salt…inspiration not damnation. Prayers have persuaded God to change his mind before, right (Abraham? Moses? Shall I keep going?). At a moment like that, it’s the best I can do.
 
In days gone by, the words, “The doors! The doors! in Wisdom let us attend!” Actually served a purpose in the Eastern Divine Liturgy.
Quietly tell the priest what is going on. Do it so he can get a visual on these people while you are telling him. Maybe the next time they go up they will get a blessing from the priest and not communion.
 
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