Non-Catholic Communion in care home

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Hello friends

I’d just like your views on this. My mum-in-law recently moved into a private care home here in England, she’s largely confined to her room as she has very poor mobility. She is a Catholic.

I visited today and there was a service going on in one of the lounges. The staff said they’d asked MIL to come down for ‘Communion’, but she didn’t want to. I said she’s Catholic, this will be a CofE service - there were three ladies leading it and there were both communion wafers and a chalice on a table.The staff were confused and said there were other Catholic residents taking part.

Then the service ended, and one of the ladies approached me and asked if they could go up to see my MIL with Communion - they were indeed from a CofE church nearby. I said “thanks, but she’s not well and in any case, we’re Catholic”. She then proceeded to give me a little pep talk on how we all worship the same God but they could just go and see her without the Communion. I politely thanked them, and said maybe next time she’d like to sit in on the prayers.

I wondered about this afterwards. Of course, it’s nice that residents can worship, and I absolutely agree with the sentiment that we’re all Christians. However, many of the residents have dementia and the Catholic ones probably won’t realise that what they’re receiving isn’t the Blessed Sacrament. The staff are kind but not tuned-in to matters of faith.

I’d be interested in the thoughts of other posters here. Thanks.
 
It sounds like you did the right thing, especially since your mother sounds like she is of the same mind (not wanting to receive communion from the CoE). It might be difficult and cause some friction, but I would stand your ground if the issue comes up again. You can be polite about it, but it is right for your mother, as a Catholic, to refuse communion from a church that does not have a valid Eucharist.
 
Thanks for the response. My MIL is usually not confused and when I went up to see her and told her what had happened, she said “we’re not allowed to take non-Catholic Communion.” Good for her. 🙂

I do wonder about the other Catholic residents, though, the ones who are extremely confused all the time.
 
Isca;14542339 said:
The God I believe in would bless them and certainly not hold it against them. God is mercy and loving-kindness, Can you honestly see Him condemning them, or withholding grace from them?
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It is a special circumstance. I would let MIL decide and maybe encourage a little especially if a Catholic Communion service or Mass is not available.

I am not sure, but there may even be a Canon permitting it if Catholic Communin is not available.
 
Michael_Mayo said:
It is a special circumstance. I would let MIL decide and maybe encourage a little especially if a Catholic Communion service or Mass is not available.

I am not sure, but there may even be a Canon permitting it if Catholic Communin is not available.
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Anglican orders are null and void, so it would be an invalid communion from the Catholic point of view so I am not sure that is correct.
 
Protestant communion is fake communion. The bread and wine (sometimes they use grape juice or something similar) does not become the body and blood of Christ himself.
However, I wouldn’t think it of great concern if people suffering from dementia are taking Protestant communion, since they really aren’t aware of what is going on, and then there would be sin on their part.
I am concerned however that Protestants are telling helpless Catholic people how to practice their own faith, and even coming after those who disagree with them.
 
paperwight66 said:
The God I believe in would bless them and certainly not hold it against them. God is mercy and loving-kindness, Can you honestly see Him condemning them, or withholding grace from them?
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I know God would grant His grace, I didn’t even consider that to be an issue. It would just be lovely for those people to have the Blessed Sacrament, which they can - there are many Eucharistic Ministers who will visit.
 
Michael_Mayo said:
It is a special circumstance. I would let MIL decide and maybe encourage a little especially if a Catholic Communion service or Mass is not available.

I am not sure, but there may even be a Canon permitting it if Catholic Communin is not available.
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Thank you, she was attending Mass with me on a regular basis until a few weeks ago, when she became ill with a chest infection. Hopefully she’ll be well enough this Sunday, I know she misses it.
 
adamhovey1988 said:
Anglican orders are null and void, so it would be an invalid communion from the Catholic point of view so I am not sure that is correct.
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I did a quick check and could not back up my statement. But I did find this:

Can. 911 §1. The pastor, parochial vicars, chaplains, and, with regard to all those dwelling in the house, the superior of a community in clerical religious institutes and societies of apostolic life have the duty and right of bringing the Most Holy Eucharist as Viaticum to the sick.

There is a duty for someone to provide “Most Holy Eucharist as Viaticum”. But I guess not Communion as non Viaticum?
 
mdgspencer said:
Protestant communion is fake communion. The bread and wine (sometimes they use grape juice or something similar) does not become the body and blood of Christ himself.
However, I wouldn’t think it of great concern if people suffering from dementia are taking Protestant communion, since they really aren’t aware of what is going on, and then there would be sin on their part.
I am concerned however that Protestants are telling helpless Catholic people how to practice their own faith, and even coming after those who disagree with them.
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“Fake” is a very pejorative term. But then it is also true that because protestants don’t view it as we do they dont celebrate it as often and it is not such a big deal. To some it is but to others not. If a Catholic service or Mass is not available the Protestant service could be helpful with its prayers and songs. But for most Catholic the Communion would be pointless. In nursing homes there can be confusion as to what is going on.
 
Protestant communion is fake communion. The bread and wine (sometimes they use grape juice or something similar) does not become the body and blood of Christ himself.
However, I wouldn’t think it of great concern if people suffering from dementia are taking Protestant communion, since they really aren’t aware of what is going on, and then there would be sin on their part.
I am concerned however that Protestants are telling helpless Catholic people how to practice their own faith, and even coming after those who disagree with them.

The “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” by the way, explains why Catholics have Protestant communion:
“Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, ‘have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders.’ It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible.”
 
It was very nice of them to offer to visit her anyway. Sounds like they were acting out charity for their neighbor, even one whose theology might be quite different.

Imagine that, acting with Charity towards denominations whose beliefs might be different…hmmmmm.
 
mdgspencer said:
Protestant communion is fake communion. The bread and wine (sometimes they use grape juice or something similar) does not become the body and blood of Christ himself.
However, I wouldn’t think it of great concern if people suffering from dementia are taking Protestant communion, since they really aren’t aware of what is going on, and then there would be sin on their part.
I am concerned however that Protestants are telling helpless Catholic people how to practice their own faith, and even coming after those who disagree with them.

The “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” by the way, explains why Catholics have Protestant communion:
“Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, ‘have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders.’ It is for this reason that, for the Catholic Church, Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible.”
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The term “fake” implies the intention of deceit on the part of the Protestants. Objectively, there is nothing fake about it. They don’t purport that what they are distributing is anymore than symbolic bread and wine, which is exactly what it is. It doesn’t have the grace of the Real Presence, but it won’t do MIL of anyone else any harm unless she is gluten intolerant. It would be worse if it was true communion and they were dishing it out to everyone.
 
Isca said:
I know God would grant His grace, I didn’t even consider that to be an issue. It would just be lovely for those people to have the Blessed Sacrament, which they can - there are many Eucharistic Ministers who will visit.
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You are right…Your MIL has the right as a Catholic to receive the authentic sacrament. There are Eucharistic ministers going to all nursing homes, at least here in the U.S.
I wouldn’t object to her going to a religious service but not receive a host which is not consecrated by a priest!
 
No, I don’t think there is deceit on the part of Protestants when they have communion services. I simply say it is fake simply because it is emptied of its reality. Not though that they realize this.
Allegra said:
The term “fake” implies the intention of deceit on the part of the Protestants. Objectively, there is nothing fake about it. They don’t purport that what they are distributing is anymore than symbolic bread and wine, which is exactly what it is. It doesn’t have the grace of the Real Presence, but it won’t do MIL of anyone else any harm unless she is gluten intolerant. It would be worse if it was true communion and they were dishing it out to everyone.
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Michael_Mayo said:
It is a special circumstance. I would let MIL decide and maybe encourage a little especially if a Catholic Communion service or Mass is not available.

I am not sure, but there may even be a Canon permitting it if Catholic Communin is not available.
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No. Certainly not.

Under certain extreme circumstances, Catholics may receive Communion consecrated by priests who are members of Churches with valid Apostolic Succession (and note that the canon is about the status of the Church, not the status of the individual priest).

Under no circumstances (none) can a Catholic receive something that has not been consecrated by a validly ordained priest–which is the subject of the OPs question.
 
paperwight66 said:
The God I believe in would bless them and certainly not hold it against them. God is mercy and loving-kindness, Can you honestly see Him condemning them, or withholding grace from them?
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I certainly cannot. but shame on the ladies for not remembering the rules about things and (for lack of a better term or phrase) taking advantage of these sweet people. But i can not see God in His tender mercy holding it against them.
 
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