Refusal of Communion

[MusicMan]

All the more reason to cut down the number of extraordinary ministers.

But how many priests actually scrutinize everyone who comes through the Communion line as to whether or not they can receive? What if you’re at a church other than your own. Should the priest refuse you Communion because he doesn’t know you?

 

[az_4_faith]

I thought this thread was about refusing known Protestants Holy Communion, not about withholding Communion from various people we may think are in a state of sin.

Of course no one has been advocating such.

 

[MusicMan]

They’re pretty well related. The reason why a lay person serving as emHC cannot refuse a Protestant Communion is the same reason why a lay person serving as emHC cannot refuse anyone else Communion. Because the emHC does not have the authority to do so. The reason why the emHC does not have the authority to do so is directly related to speculation about the state of a communicant’s soul. That is not something an emHC is empowered to do.

 

[az_4_faith]

They’re pretty well related. The reason why a lay person serving as emHC cannot refuse a Protestant Communion is the same reason why a lay person serving as emHC cannot refuse anyone else Communion. Because the emHC does not have the authority to do so. The reason why the emHC does not have the authority to do so is directly related to speculation about the state of a communicant’s soul. That is not something an emHC is empowered to do.

They’re two entirely different situations.

Please provide documentation for your position.

 

[MSJoan]

Another wrinkle in this question…funerals, First Communion, Confirmation Masses, the person in line does not extend their tongue or their hands, but reaches for the Host and/or the ciborium and tells the EMHC they aren’t Catholic, but they “want it” and “can have it”.

What would you do?

 

[az_4_faith]

Tell them quietly to see Father after Mass.

Thank goodness no one has ever done that.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

Wow, this is interesting. Funny how someone mentioned Lutherans. I believe polls show that more Lutherans have a belief in the Real Presence than Catholics nowadays. Which is a condemnation of our hierarchy if ever there was one.

One cannot know the disposition of someone’s heart. Maybe they really do belong to the Catholic Church but aren’t public about it for grave family reasons?

Most churches I attend have a handout in the pew instructing non-Catholics to remain in their pews and make a spiritual communion until such a day that all are united in faith. And the announcement is made kindly at weddings and funerals that Catholics in the state of grace may come to receive communion.

And many bishops do not want to create a camera moment with politicians in their parishes. I used to live in a diocese with more than its fair share of “catholic” politicians who undermined Church teaching with every vote. And no one wanted to make Sunday morning a free for all with the press documenting these people being refused communion, I’m sure.

Some priests in their sermons soon invited those kinds of politicians to take their scandalous, sacrilegious self-serving communions elsewhere.

Maybe more priests should talk about it from the pulpit and explain things and it wouldn’t be such a problem.