Non-catholics receiving Communion at funeral

[Patricsul]

At a local Catholic funeral yesterday, the priest announced that all people present, including non-catholics, were allowed to receive Communion. Is there special permission available for something like this or was the priest wrong in permitting this?

 

[Mike_C]

He was wrong, unless there is a pro-choice politician present, then they can receive.

 

[prodigal]

Sounds like someone should advise the Bishop.

 

[Detroit_Sue]

Major abuse.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

While I have heard that there can be dispensations for reception, they are exceedingly rare, must be cleared by the bishop, etc.

Sounds more like your priest is feeling his ecumenical oats.

Some of the worst liturgical abuses and bad cathechesis I have experienced comes from some of the nicest priests, nuns and other religious. They are charitable, kind, thoughtful, well-read, well-spoken, and full of good intentions. . .but they make terrible, terrible mistakes.

I’d tell the priest that, while you respect him personally, you really are concerned about proper reception of a sacrament. If he tells you not to worry or gets huffy, I’d go on to the bishop. If he tells you that he consulted his bishop and followed proper procedure, that’s a little more reassuring. Even if the bishop was wrong (they can be), it wouldn’t be the priest’s fault, or anyone else’s.

And you’re not being petty.

 

[larryo]

Wrong, wrong, wrong! Canon law clearly sets forth the rare instances where non-Catholics can receive the Eucharist. A funeral is not one of them. There was an instance in South Africa a few years ago where a priest invited President Clinton, who was on a state visit, to receive Holy Communion. Soon thereafter the priest was disciplined by the Vatican. Another example of the spirit of ecumenism gone amok!

 

[Journeyman]

Larryo—
Just so I can get that Canon Law reference----what section of Canon Law is that in?

 

[rfk]

Journeyman:

Just so I can get that Canon Law reference----what section of Canon Law is that in?

Here are the only sections that I found even close to the topic. However, I am also NOT a canon lawyer.

Can. 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ’s faithful, who equally may lawfully receive them only from catholic ministers, except as provided in §2, 3 and 4 of this canon and in can. 861 §2. (rfk note, can 861 concerns who can give a baptism.)

§2 Whenever necessity requires or a genuine spiritual advantage commends it, and provided the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, Christ’s faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a catholic minister, may lawfully receive the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick to members of the eastern Churches not in full communion with the catholic Church, if they spontaneously ask for them and are properly disposed. The same applies to members of other Churches which the Apostolic See judges to be in the same position as the aforesaid eastern Churches so far as the sacraments are concerned.

§4 If there is a danger of death or if, in the judgment of the diocesan Bishop or of the Episcopal Conference, there is some other grave and pressing need, catholic ministers may lawfully administer these same sacraments to other Christians not in full communion with the catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who spontaneously ask for them, provided that they demonstrate the catholic faith in respect of these sacraments and are properly disposed.

§5 In respect of the cases dealt with in §2, 3 and 4, the diocesan Bishop or the Episcopal Conference is not to issue general norms except after consultation with the competent authority, at least at the local level, of the non-Catholic Church or community concerned.

Can. 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which are not in full communion with the catholic Church.

 

[Ivi]

Journeyman:

Larryo—
Just so I can get that Canon Law reference----what section of Canon Law is that in?

I’m taking this from the “Guidelines for the Receptionof Communion” in the inside front cover of “Today’s Missal” Missallette.

For Catholics, Canon 916
Four our fellow Christians, Canon 844 #3 & 4

 

[Charliemac]

The priest was very wrong. He erred in what he said, and what he did, and in that he created a false impression among the faithful present, and in the non-Catholics present. I suppose it is possible the he was unaware of the truth of the matter.

I am not sure what I would do. Technically we are supposed to confront the priest (charitably) with the facts. If we receive no satisfaction we should discuss the concern with the with the pastor. If you really want to follow up I would suggest getting a copy of Jimmy Akin’s book Mass Confusion available from Catholic Answers. Chapter 12 is a thorough guide for handling situations of abuse. It is excellant.

By all means pray for the priest.

Charliemac

 

[space_ghost]

Patricsul:

At a local Catholic funeral yesterday, the priest announced that all people present, including non-catholics, were allowed to receive Communion. Is there special permission available for something like this or was the priest wrong in permitting this?

you might ask the priest why out of curiosity… you might check with his bishop to see if it was ok… I think if you approach the Priest with a true concern for proper reverence for the Holy Eucharist, you might get an answer… who knows, he may have obtained permission prior to the service, and then he may not have. I, like others feel it’s on rare occasion and with proper dispensation that anything of this nature happens… but i would ask… what the worst thing that can happen… deny you communion, not likely, he seems to think everybody should receive.

 

[Catholic_Eagle]

Giving to the Holy Eucharist to nonCatholics is a sacrilege. It is even a bigger sacrilege because the priest said the nonCatholics can.

 

[hawkeye]

An abomination !!!

 

[nordskoven]

Those who eat and drink unworthily, not discerning the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, eat and drink damnation. A blanket statement that anybody can receive Holy Communion isn’t just bad form, it endangers the eternal souls of the non-qualified recipients. This must be taken to the bishop, my friend. Do so or share his culpability. Thanks for your involvement. Stick up for Jesus and He will stick up for you.

 

[Faithful_2_Rome]

I just came back from a funeral on Monday.

I hadnt been to one in over 10 years…I was looking forward to seeing if the Priest was going to say whay they always said at Funerals…ie… we invite all catholics not in a state of mortal sin to come forward and recieve holy communion…and for those who have not been to confession or who are not members of the faith, to please remain seated and in prayer…something to that effect…anyway…I KNEW there were family members there who either hadnt been in a church in YEARS, some were gay, and some didnt beleive at all… what I DID spot was the ones who werent in church in years go up to recieve…AND…sadly, the Priest didnt say what he was suppose to say… sad times indeed… I also found it odd that the (practicing) gay person…whose “sex partner” was there as well… had no problem to get up and read a eulogy…*shudder