Kneeling Catholics denied communion

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Polak

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So I have seen some videos of kneeling Catholic laity being denied communion on the tongue by the priest or bishop. I was wondering what people on here make of this?

Personally I can understand it during the pandemic, where the Church in some countries has specifically instructed its clergy to only give communion in the hand. Watching a video of a person being denied communion by a priest does make me feel a little weird, but at the same time I can understand the priest’s reasoning for this and don’t feel we should be making a big deal out of it. The priest isn’t denying the person communion, they are just refusing to give it to them in a way deemed unsafe, and also because this is what they have been instructed to do, and they probably don’t want to be disobedient.

I have however also seen a video of people being denied communion when they have knelt down before a priest. In one video from 2019 in Chile (perhaps it was discussed here last year?) a lady knelt down, but the priest did not give her communion. She then got up and was given the Eucharist on the tongue. The priest was happy to give communion on the tongue, but for some reason not to people who were kneeling. This I do find a bit strange.
 
Polak said:
was wondering what people on here make of this?
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The Church allows Roman Catholics to recieve the Eucharist kneeling or standing, in the hand or in the tongue. Denying someone communion in their preferred manner is wrong.

However, as you have correctly pointed out, sometimes there are external circumstances, such as a pandemic, that force the Church to limit communion to a certain mode of reception. In that case, the faithful are obligated to receive in the approved manner out of consideration for public safety, and priests can refuse communion for the same reason. I realize that some people are insistent on receiving the Eucharist on the tongue and normally they are free to do so, however, during a pandemic it is A) dangerous and inconsiderate, and B) disrespectful of the Church’s authority to insist on one’s preferred mode of reception.
Polak said:
I have however also seen a video of people being denied communion when they have knelt down before a pries
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The video you mention was indeed discussed on the forum and if I recall correctly there were other factors not shown in the video that influenced the priest’s decision. Perhaps someone who remembers the video and its circumstances can pop in with a refresher, as I cannot recall anything about it at all.
 
Polak said:
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The priest was happy to give communion on the tongue, but for some reason not to people who were kneeling. This I do find a bit strange.
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It could take longer, so in that case arrangement could be made to receive after Mass.
 
Vico said:
It could take longer, so in that case arrangement could be made to receive after Mass.
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It can also be very awkward or even painful if the priest has to bend down a long way.
 
Receiving Communion on your knees WITHOUT THE KNEELER and then getting up without support is an athletic commitment not to be underestimated … I’d not even try … perhaps the priests know that many people of a certain age do the “beau geste” but then trying to get up they crash on the floor 😉
 
Polak said:
So I have seen some videos of kneeling Catholic laity being denied communion on the tongue by the priest or bishop. I was wondering what people on here make of this?
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The people involved can go to their own priest or bishop and discuss this.
It’s not happening in the churches I attend so I don’t have any opinion on it.

In the local churches here, people are encouraged to receive in the hand. If you still wish to receive on the tongue, or have to because of a physical disability, then most parishes just ask you to go into a special line or to wait till the end of the line to receive. I have seen several people receiving on the tongue in this way with no problems. I would also note we have a relatively low COVID rate here at this time.
 
Salibi said:
I realize that some people are insistent on receiving the Eucharist on the tongue and normally they are free to do so, however, during a pandemic it is A) dangerous and inconsiderate, and B) disrespectful of the Church’s authority to insist on one’s preferred mode of reception.
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Actually, during the last pandemic, the Church ruled that nobody could abrogate the right to receive on the tongue, no matter what the circumstances.

So you appear to have it backwards about Church authority.
 
I was actually wondering when the first person will pounce to defend receiving on the tongue during a pandemic.

I will be muting this thread now as, after two years on this forum, I am unfortunately no longer interested in these debates. I do not them fruitful for anyone involved.
 
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Vico said:
It could take longer
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Well in this situation the lady was kneeling and the priest was just waiting for to get up and not continuing the communion until she did. It probably would have been a lot quicker if he just gave her communion.
Salibi said:
The video you mention was indeed discussed on the forum and if I recall correctly there were other factors not shown in the video that influenced the priest’s decision.
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This is possible. If anyone knows/remembers what these were, please share.
 
Salibi said:
I realize that some people are insistent on receiving the Eucharist on the tongue and normally they are free to do so, however, during a pandemic it is A) dangerous and inconsiderate, and B) disrespectful of the Church’s authority to insist on one’s preferred mode of reception.
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All my life I have received Communion on the tongue.

When for the first time for Covid 19 the priest said that Communion had to be taken in the hand, I thought about it for about 10 seconds, then I decided that AS THE NEW RULE WAS RIGHT AND MOTIVATED, I would take Communion in the hand, as I continue to do still.

Maybe I’ll go to hell - as is possible for everyone - but not for this thing 🙂
 
In a local parish, a communicant who normally received on the tongue was asked by the priest to receive last, so he wouldn’t have to sanitize after distributing to her in the middle of the communion line.
 
Polak said:
So I have seen some videos of kneeling Catholic laity being denied communion on the tongue by the priest or bishop. I was wondering what people on here make of this?
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My personal opinion is that the laity should conform themselves to the instructions provided by the priest who is administering the sacrament for the purpose of good order.
 
The point, of course, is to get the Eucharist inside you. Far more important than hand or tongue is this concept of Christ becoming a part of your physical body, and how everything we eat becomes a part of every cell in our body. It’s an amazing truth. I don’t mean to minimize those who feel strongly about it, but to me, the magnificent reality of Christ inside me far outweighs how it got there.

In Saint Faustina’s diary there’s a funny little passage where an extra host slipped off the priest’s sleeve into her hands while she was receiving on the tongue. Afterward Jesus said to her, I wanted you to hold me in your hands and not just in your heart. It was such a sweet little story and interchange. Whenever these discussions come up I’m tempted to quote it and post it.
 
VeryBlessed said:
In Saint Faustina’s diary there’s a funny little passage where an extra host slipped off the priest’s sleeve into her hands while she was receiving on the tongue. Afterward Jesus said to her, I wanted you to hold me in your hands and not just in your heart. It was such a sweet little story and interchange. Whenever these discussions come up I’m tempted to quote it and post it.
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Do you know where in the diary this is mentioned? I love that story, and Faustina herself–she is my confirmation saint.
 
Hodos said:
My personal opinion is that the laity should conform themselves to the instructions provided by the priest who is administering the sacrament for the purpose of good order.
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I agree and believe it an act of charity and selflessness to receive the way the priest offers based upon his superiors’ instruction. I imagine it gives no priest pleasure to deny their flock Eucharist in the manner they prefer. But their vows of obedience require, well, obedience to instructions, including serving in a manner deemed safest for the greatest number of people during a pandemic. I don’t think we should put our priests in a situation to have to choose to obey the diocesan rule or serve us in our preferred manner.
 
“Deemed safest”–can you provide some documentation of the safest mode of distribution of Holy Communion please?
 
Polak said:
I have seen some videos of kneeling Catholic laity being denied communion on the tongue by the priest or bishop. I was wondering what people on here make of this?
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I wonder what is the purpose of setting up a gotcha moment during Communion and videoing it?
 
This document does not support your claim. Where are the phrases “no one” or “regardless of circumstances”. This letter points to the Canon law, law can be suspended or even changed.

Also, could you shed light on the 2009 pandemic? I must’ve slept through that one.
 
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