May an RCIA candidate continue to receive Protestant communion?

[fmagill]

I am sponsoring a candidate in RCIA at my parish. He was baptized in the Episcopal church and is now attending both his Episcopal church and Mass at our parish, with his fellow candidates and catechumens. He asked me today if it’s okay to continue receiving communion at his Episcopal church now that he has gone through the Rite of Acceptance in RCIA.

I told him I know once he is received into full communion with the Catholic Church he can no longer attend any Protestant worship service, much less receive their version of communion, and that while I don’t believe it is actually prohibited, I would recommend he strongly consider no longer attending his Episcopal church and receiving communion there. He should be concentrating on learning and accepting all the teachings of the Catholic Church, and looking forward to the day when he can receive the Real Presence.

Was this advice correct?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

If a person is actively in the process of converting to the Catholic Church, it should be because he believes what the Church teaches and wants full union with it. That should also mean that he believes what the Church teaches about the Eucharist, and would understand that Protestant communion is invalid. If he no longer holds to the Protestant understanding of communion, he should no longer be receiving Protestant communion.

I think your advice to him was essentially correct.