Informing others of Church teaching

[srferdave]

So the other day I was over at my friends place. He is Catholic (non-practicing) and he lives with his non-Catholic girlfriend (not sure what she is, probably agnostic). The topic about Church came up and he said that his girlfriend wanted to go to Church. She asked if she could receive communion. He told her no because she is not Catholic, rightly so. But at this time I found it hard to restrain myself from saying that he was not able to receive communion either because he was not practicing Catholic. I did not say this to him. But I really wanted to. I never tell anyone this because I don’t know whats in anothers heart. I don’t know if they are trying to do the right thing even though they are living in sin. But my question is… Is it my duty to inform him of the Churches teaching on this? To tell him that the Church teaches one is not to receive communion when living in mortal sin. It would not be judging because I am just educating him on the teaching. But I do this because I think it is a high probability that he is living in sin. By telling him this he will most likely think that I am implying that he is living in sin. Which is probably the case. But I am almost certain that he is not aware of the Church teaching. So is it my responsibility to inform him of this Church teaching?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

So the other day I was over at my friends place. He is Catholic (non-practicing) and he lives with his non-Catholic girlfriend (not sure what she is, probably agnostic). The topic about Church came up and he said that his girlfriend wanted to go to Church. She asked if she could receive communion. He told her no because she is not Catholic, rightly so. But at this time I found it hard to restrain myself from saying that he was not able to receive communion either because he was not practicing Catholic. I did not say this to him. But I really wanted to. I never tell anyone this because I don’t know whats in anothers heart. I don’t know if they are trying to do the right thing even though they are living in sin. But my question is… Is it my duty to inform him of the Churches teaching on this? To tell him that the Church teaches one is not to receive communion when living in mortal sin. It would not be judging because I am just educating him on the teaching. But I do this because I think it is a high probability that he is living in sin. By telling him this he will most likely think that I am implying that he is living in sin. Which is probably the case. But I am almost certain that he is not aware of the Church teaching. So is it my responsibility to inform him of this Church teaching?

Yes, it is always our obligation to “admonish the sinner”. You of course cannot determine if he is or is not in a state of mortal or venial sin. However you can observe that his actions do constitute sinful behavior. Living as though Married with someone to whom you are not Married, failing to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days, etc.