Non Catholics and the Eucharist

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Hi all.

I just found this place and it seems great! I look forward to spending a lot of time with all of you.

My question is this. I have a good friend who is a pastor in a nondenominational church. Although obviously not Catholic, he has deep respect for the Catholic Church (he believes the Mass is one of the most beautiful events in existence!) and believes in transubstantiation. Is he allowed to receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church?

The Catechism seems to say no (1399-1401) but the Code of Canon Law (Canon 912) seems to say otherwise.

Am I misreading one or both?

Jeff
 
That particular canon states that a baptised person ‘not prohibited by law’ may recieve. Other canons do state the circumstances in which people ARE prohibited. For example Canons 915 and 919.

These include anyone in a state of unconfessed mortal sin, those who haven’t observed the one-hour fast, children under schoolage - and non-Catholics. The canon covering non-Catholics may not be in the same section as these others, but it’s certainly in the body of Canon Law somewhere.
 
Thanks for the reply. That was always my understanding as well but I thought I may have been wrong all of these years when I went to look it up for him and couldn’t find it in Canon Law.

I’ll keep digging and try to find it.

Jeff
 
TarlsQtr said:
Hi all.

I just found this place and it seems great! I look forward to spending a lot of time with all of you.

My question is this. I have a good friend who is a pastor in a nondenominational church. Although obviously not Catholic, he has deep respect for the Catholic Church (he believes the Mass is one of the most beautiful events in existence!) and believes in transubstantiation. Is he allowed to receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church?

The Catechism seems to say no (1399-1401) but the Code of Canon Law (Canon 912) seems to say otherwise.

Am I misreading one or both?

Jeff
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I have a spot on the top of my head from scratching.😉 Why isn’t he Catholic??:newidea: The Mass IS the most beautiful experience in existence! If only more Catholics saw this. What is that Catholic doing as a pastor in a nondenominational church??:confused: If he believes in transubstantiation tell him to run home where he can receive the Eucharist daily. Just a thought…teachccd
 
The red missalettes given out at the Traditional Latin Masses state that only baptized Catholics who are not in the state of mortal sin are allowed to receive Communion. I think they’ve extended the receiving privileges now to members of the Polish National Church as well.
 
BobP123 said:
The red missalettes given out at the Traditional Latin Masses state that only baptized Catholics who are not in the state of mortal sin are allowed to receive Communion. I think they’ve extended the receiving privileges now to members of the Polish National Church as well.
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Yah, but I think the OP is looking for the Canon law backup for it.
 
Can you explain what non-denominational really means. I realize they don’t affiliate with any particular church…the question is why?

Iowa Mike
 
Iowa_Mike said:
Can you explain what non-denominational really means. I realize they don’t affiliate with any particular church…the question is why?

Iowa Mike
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Usually this means that one has a “personal” relationship with our Lord. Only them and their Bible. Unknown to them is that the pastor is their pope and the few in their congregation is a denomination to remain nameless…teachccd 🙂
 
teachccd said:
Usually this means that one has a “personal” relationship with our Lord. Only them and their Bible. Unknown to them is that the pastor is their pope and the few in their congregation is a denomination to remain nameless…teachccd 🙂
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I call these people the 'pick and choose Christians and I don’t mean to be mean spirited with that comment.

Iowa Mike
 
It’s not really an exception. It’s simply how things are to be done.
 
Hi all and thanks for responding. He is nondenominational because he disagrees with aspects of both Catholicism and Protestantism (although his beliefs are closer to Catholic). I do know he was put off Catholicism as a missionary in Honduras. It bothered him to see such poverty along side large beautiful churches with gold candlesticks, etc.

I do always tell him that he has a home here and use the Scott Hahn line, “You get to look at the menu but we get the food!”

Jeff
 
TarlsQtr said:
My question is this. I have a good friend who is a pastor in a nondenominational church. Although obviously not Catholic, he has deep respect for the Catholic Church (he believes the Mass is one of the most beautiful events in existence!) and believes in transubstantiation. Is he allowed to receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church?
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He is not allowed. The Canon law covering this is 844. He would only be permitted if he were dying or a bishop specifically approved his case due to some other grave circumstance. Your description would not seem to meet the law:
Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and ⇒ can. 861, §2.
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§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.
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§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.
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§4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.
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§5. For the cases mentioned in §§2, 3, and 4, the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops is not to issue general norms except after consultation at least with the local competent authority of the interested non-Catholic Church or community.
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Thanks for the canon law! That is what I was looking for. Thanks to the rest for the responses as well.

Jeff
 
TarlsQtr said:
I have a good friend who is a pastor in a nondenominational church. Although obviously not Catholic, he has deep respect for the Catholic Church (he believes the Mass is one of the most beautiful events in existence!) and believes in transubstantiation. Is he allowed to receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church?
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No, he may not receive communion. If he loves the Mass and loves the Eucharist, why doesn’t he consider converting? It can be difficult for a pastor to do, but they have done it.
 
TarlsQtr said:
It bothered him to see such poverty along side large beautiful churches with gold candlesticks, etc.
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It should bother him more that he gives up the golden gift of Christ in the Eucharist for the poverty of his non-sacramental nondenominational church. Oh well, many also leave for such non doctrinal issues… God Bless 🙂
 
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