Priests refuse to give Holy Communion to people kneeling

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naylordaisy

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Hello,
Can anyone please advise me on this issue.
A week before Christmas one of the priests at our parish church refused to give Holy Communion to a woman who was kneeling. She was the last person in line so was not causing any obstruction to people. She was refused by the priest. He asked her to stand, She refused. Then to my shock he tried to force her to stand by grabbing her arm.
I was serving as Eucharistic minister at hat particular mass. She continued to refuse to stand. HE then rushed away from her. She remained kneeling for a long 3 more minutes or so.
It was heart-rending to see her. The priest claimed t was in the rules of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan that people had to stand as he rushed away from her.
But this is not so. The guidelines for Japan clearly say not to refuse anyone who is kneeling.

Then last Saturday week my English friend visiting Japan from South Korea came to mass at our parish church and he was refused the Holy Communion because he was kneeling. In this case it was our parish priest. However my friend decide to stand when requested by the priest.

But when I was leaving the church this parish priest essentially admonished me for my friend’s kneeling behaviour and with that my friend came over to us and told the priest that he was in error about kneeling. The priest said he was not. In the short exchange, the priest went on to tel my friend never to come back to our church even as my friend was being polite but firm with him in this exchange. My friend turned away and the this priest spoke disparagingly to me about my friend. He also made clear in the exchange that he did not want to receive any emails from me nor my friend that would show he was in error. I finally spoke and defended my friend as being an honourable person and that in fact the priest was in error.
In all of this this priest was very rude.

Both of these experiences have left me with a feeling of shock and frankly disgust.
The priests are from America as we are an international Catholic Church.

There have been other issues too including heterdoxical teachings.

But right now, the immediate reason I write this message is to ask for advice from anyone about what to do.
I know Canon Law says contact our local bishop who is Japanese but what if the bishop here does not take any action?

Another question is has anyone ever had such an experience with priests who behave like this?
I am still trying to come to terms with their behaviour.
Am I wring to believe that they are in error, that their behaviour seems mist un-Christ-like and all this in the Jubilee Year of Mercy?

God Bless
Neil
 
Can’t believe he did that.

I pray for our Church daily.
 
naylordaisy said:
But right now, the immediate reason I write this message is to ask for advice from anyone about what to do.
I know Canon Law says contact our local bishop who is Japanese but what if the bishop here does not take any action?
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You can write to your bishop if you want. If no action is taken, my advice is to simply move on and endure. The priest won’t be there forever. I have outlasted a number of people in parish employ and a few priests who were difficult to work with.
naylordaisy said:
Another question is has anyone ever had such an experience with priests who behave like this?
I am still trying to come to terms with their behaviour.
Am I wring to believe that they are in error, that their behaviour seems mist un-Christ-like and all this in the Jubilee Year of Mercy?
Priests are people. They make mistakes. They do dumb things. They hurt people’s feelings.
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In other words, if I had to choose a hill to die on… this one wouldn’t be it.
 
I used to see this happen 25+ years ago in the US. Haven’t seen it recently.
 
From Redemptionis Sacramentum
[90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.
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[91.] In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them”. Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.
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Refusing someone Communion because they kneel is a liturgical abuse. Forcibly dragging someone up is a criminal assault. Neither are acceptable.
 
naylordaisy said:
Another question is has anyone ever had such an experience with priests who behave like this?
I am still trying to come to terms with their behaviour.
Am I wring to believe that they are in error, that their behaviour seems mist un-Christ-like and all this in the Jubilee Year of Mercy?
Click to expand...
There’s two types of ‘kneelers’. Those who are culturally familiar with it and are happy to stand if directed by the Priest… and those who use it to register a protest against Vatican II reform and ‘moderns’. They give off different vibes.

I witnessed that a couple of years back. The Priest involved is now a Bishop and well respected among his peers. It was the mother of the family of ‘kneelers’ that knelt first and Father quietly asked her to stand up but she very aggressively refused. The rest of the family then upon winning the victory of the communion line, all knelt and received. Thankfully they never came back with their hostile obstinence.

canonlawmadeeasy.com/2008/01/11/can-you-be-refused-holy-communion-if-you-kneel/
 
You should write to the bishop. When you do so, you should provide evidence that this occurred, if possible, and give exact information on the specific mass and the priest or priests who did this.
Some years ago people were refused communion because they were kneeling in a diocese in Texas. The Vatican learned of this and ordered the bishop to put a stop to it, refusing communion to someone being a serious offense against them. Reports of the Vatican’s response appeared in the media at the time. The Vatican also said that they would follow up later and make sure this abuse had stopped.
I recommend that if your bishop won’t take action, that you write to the Vatican. We aren’t allowed to post people’s addresses here, but the address for Vatican offices should be on the web. Your diocese also should have a webpage identifying a mailing address to use to write the bishop.
I would understand if you didn’t write. If I had seen this myself, however, I would have acted by writing.
 
I’ve seen this happen several times. In one instance, the priest said, “You think you are holier than thou?” The person responded, “No, I’m a sinner. But this is Jesus Christ Himself and I want to be on my knees to receive.” This family ended up leaving the parish because the priest would refuse to give them communion.

Several of you have responded that this isn’t a battle work fighting. I disagree. As Catholics, it is our RIGHT to have our sacraments, and the Mass, according to canon law and the GIRM. So many threads discuss all kinds of abuses going on in the Church- some deliberate though many out of ignorance. Are we partly to blame because we just keep our mouthes shut and say nothing?
 
That’s very sad. Definitely should note the particulars and inform the bishop- not to cause a stir but just so he’s aware.
We are blessed here in Vancouver. As long as I’ve been here (a decade), and as I understand it for many years before, the altar rail has been in regular use at the cathedral downtown. There are four weekday masses daily and seven on Sunday. At all masses you have the option of processing up the front aisle to receive standing or along either side to receive kneeling at the altar rail. I would say the faithful are split half and half in preference. Even with good size crowds EMHCs are kept to a minimum (and at many nasses not used at all) because a) using the altar rail is always faster / more efficient and b) the wonderful priests (there are 9 in residence) take shifts to come out during communion time to help distribute.
 
Regina7 said:
I’ve seen this happen several times. In one instance, the priest said, “You think you are holier than thou?” The person responded, “No, I’m a sinner. But this is Jesus Christ Himself and I want to be on my knees to receive.” This family ended up leaving the parish because the priest would refuse to give them communion.
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Exactly the point. Every time I see someone get on their knees to receive I get a little scared for them, I pray the priest doesn’t give them trouble. I receive on the tongue and i worry theyre going to give me trouble. Sometimes… you really have to wonder about some priests. Lately I’ve begun praying more often for them.
 
Former Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine on Faith had this to say about kneeling to receive communion.

youtube.com/watch?v=EcZhjmYn1K8

Rome has made it clear that Bishops can decide on a general norm, some have chosen standing. However Rome has instructed on one proviso “that those who want to receive kneeling on the tongue are to be allowed full freedom to do so”. This applies worldwide.
 
Don’t forget Communion Kneeling and on the Tongue is the Traditional and Preferred Form.

"Unfortunately “we have reached a stage where some are against kneeling… if you believe that Christ is God and He is present why don’t you kneel? Why don’t you crawl? Why not show? Show respect.” - Cardinal Arinze (former Prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine on Faith)

youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0g3UMRtMM
 
SAVINGRACE said:
Don’t forget Communion Kneeling and on the Tongue is the Traditional and Preferred Form.

"Unfortunately “we have reached a stage where some are against kneeling… if you believe that Christ is God and He is present why don’t you kneel? Why don’t you crawl? Why not show? Show respect.” - Cardinal Arinze (former Prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine on Faith)

youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0g3UMRtMM
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My wife and I had to attend Holy Mass at a different parish this past Sunday - our first time at this particular parish, in fact.

The parish we regularly attend only offers the Novus Ordo; but it is rather traditional and conservative in its culture. We, and many others at our parish, receive the Holy Eucharist on the tongue (I also genuflect before hand - not convinced that a mere bow is sufficient).

Anyways, when I went up to receive the Eucharist, the Eucharistic Minister had a look on her that almost made me laugh when I put my tongue out and not my hands. I am willing to bet that we were the only two at Mass that received the Eucharist that way.

The look on her face was priceless, but after a slight hesitation and realizing that I was not going to put my hand out, she placed the Eucharist on my tongue.
 
I don’t know…but I really am offended by people who wish to “school” the priest on the Real Presence.

All these liturgy experts in the pews.
I feel sorry for the good priests.
They have to juggle all kinds of personalities. At Mass no less. :eek:
 
I don’t know…but I really am offended by people who wish to “school” the priest on the Real Presence.
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Wow. Any priest that assaulted me from wanting to receive Communion kneeling would receive a prompt letter from my attorney.

Wow, just wow. We have really sunk pretty low when kneeling before Christ at Communion is looked upon disparagingly.
 
pianistclare said:
I don’t know…but I really am offended by people who wish to “school” the priest on the Real Presence.

All these liturgy experts in the pews.
I feel sorry for the good priests.
They have to juggle all kinds of personalities. At Mass no less. :eek:
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My feeling is one of offense as well. Not just for the Priest saying Mass but all the many old religious sisters and brothers you see at Mass who after a lifetime of serving God, always bow and receive in the hand according to the norm. It’s as though some people think all those people aren’t as respectful of the Eucharist as they themselves are.

The bottom line is that we aren’t redeemed by discipline. We are redeemed by the infinite unmerited love of Christ. Pope Francis warned of the temptation of Pelagianism of the ‘restorationists’ for their over emphasis of formalism.
 
I can understand rights and preserving the sacredness and all that, but if one isn’t willing to follow the house rules on receiving then perhaps he isn’t properly disposed to receive in the first place. One isn’t disrespecting the sacrament if he stays in his pew during communion distribution. Being in the state of grace is only one condition of being properly disposed and one is only required to receive once during the Easter season. I think we’ve had this discussion before.
 
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