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PeteZaHut
Guest
How can a priest ever be justified in refusing communion to someone? Even if someone is a known mortal sinner, who is to say that person didn’t repent and go to confession just before Mass?
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Spirithound
Guest
Canon 915: Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.
The problem is that in being a manifest sinner, that is, the sin is widely known to the public, that person is also committing the sin of scandal, for which an equally public repudiation of their past beliefs may be called for, in order to cease the scandal.
The problem is that in being a manifest sinner, that is, the sin is widely known to the public, that person is also committing the sin of scandal, for which an equally public repudiation of their past beliefs may be called for, in order to cease the scandal.
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adopted_heir
Guest
That is up to the priest because he is the one responsible for how the body of Christ is dispensed. He wants to give it to all the believers, but it also aware that receiving Christ unworthily is a danger to the recipient’s soul, as well as blasphemy and sacrilege. In the case of very public sinners (like pro-abortion politicians who pretend to be ‘good Catholics’) I would imagine Confession would be the beginning, and part of the penance and reparation would be a public retraction or repentance of that sin. There isn’t necessarily any way to ensure the person didn’t confess and repent, other than the priest’s (hopefully wise) discernment. The person in question could discuss the issue personally with the priest, either during confession or privately later (if they had already been refused, for example).
In some more conservative parishes, a priest will deny communion based on attire, like if a female communicant is showing too much boob, she’ll be denied until she shows up more modestly, out of respect for Our Lord and for her brothers and sisters in Christ.
There have been instances where a worthy recipient has been refused on the basis of how the Eucharist was being received by the person–my sister in law, in a very liberal modernist hinky parish, knelt to receive on the tongue and was refused. She stayed down, knowing that she was worthy and receiving in that manner has been the norm for nearly two thousand years and is perfectly valid and extremely reverent. That’s a tough situation. Personally, I hope I could’ve done the same, then after Mass, write the priest a letter and cc the bishop.
In some more conservative parishes, a priest will deny communion based on attire, like if a female communicant is showing too much boob, she’ll be denied until she shows up more modestly, out of respect for Our Lord and for her brothers and sisters in Christ.
There have been instances where a worthy recipient has been refused on the basis of how the Eucharist was being received by the person–my sister in law, in a very liberal modernist hinky parish, knelt to receive on the tongue and was refused. She stayed down, knowing that she was worthy and receiving in that manner has been the norm for nearly two thousand years and is perfectly valid and extremely reverent. That’s a tough situation. Personally, I hope I could’ve done the same, then after Mass, write the priest a letter and cc the bishop.
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BenedictFTW
Guest
Satanists have been known to frequent the Church and steal the Body of Christ. If the priest knows what this person is up to, it is his responsibility to refuse to give the Communion. I would like to think that Our Blessed Lord was being protected by our priests/shepherds in this way.
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Theophorus
Guest
The priest is guardian of the sacramnet and as such has a duty to see it’s respected. If someone is known to be objectively in mortal sin the priest should do so for the sake of the sinner as well so they dont bring codemnation on themselves cf. 1 cor 11:29How can a priest ever be justified in refusing communion to someone? Even if someone is a known mortal sinner, who is to say that person didn’t repent and go to confession just before Mass?
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Bernadette47
Guest
This is such a delicate problem! I am an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and when we were in training the priest told us that under no circumstances were we ever to refuse someone communion - which often times at a funeral and or a wedding I know family members who are divorced/remarried - non-practicing Catholics come up to recieve - at other times at other churches ( Catholic) I have seen priests read the guidlines for the proper reception of Communion … it is very confusing. I blame the lack of good priestly formation in part.
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Corki
Guest
Communion isn’t a once in a lifetime event for most people. If a person was a known public sinner and had recently reconciled with the Church, he/she should make that known to the priest before or after Mass. If the sin is well known, the sinner knows this and should not put the priest in the position of having to make a decision on the spot.How can a priest ever be justified in refusing communion to someone? Even if someone is a known mortal sinner, who is to say that person didn’t repent and go to confession just before Mass?
There are also some cases where the Bishop has declared that someone is not able to receive Communion. In those cases, the priest should refuse Communion until the Bishop lifts the ban.
Unless there is something in the public circumstances of the person (ie divorced, remarried, no annullment), the instances where a priest would refuse Communion would be very rare.
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justsayit
Guest
Priests can be very bitchy at times.How can a priest ever be justified in refusing communion to someone? Even if someone is a known mortal sinner, who is to say that person didn’t repent and go to confession just before Mass?
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twopekinguys
Guest
Yes, you are right, this is a very delicate situation.This is such a delicate problem! I am an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and when we were in training the priest told us that under no circumstances were we ever to refuse someone communion - which often times at a funeral and or a wedding I know family members who are divorced/remarried - non-practicing Catholics come up to recieve - at other times at other churches ( Catholic) I have seen priests read the guidlines for the proper reception of Communion … it is very confusing. I blame the lack of good priestly formation in part.
That is why as an EMHC, we are directed not to refuse. We are not privy to all of the information a priest is.
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adopted_heir
Guest
Right–and a priest has the authority to make such decisions. A layperson does not. In my mind, it falls under “Whatsoever thou shalt loose” etc.Yes, you are right, this is a very delicate situation.
That is why as an EMHC, we are directed not to refuse. We are not privy to all of the information a priest is.
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Cider
Guest
What’s the alternative? Should our priests just being vending machines of Christ?How can a priest ever be justified in refusing communion to someone? Even if someone is a known mortal sinner, who is to say that person didn’t repent and go to confession just before Mass?
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domandcarols
Guest
Wouldn’t that be an argument against having so many EMHCs? o.0Yes, you are right, this is a very delicate situation.
That is why as an EMHC, we are directed not to refuse. We are not privy to all of the information a priest is.
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neophyte
Guest
Like it or not, this is something that Canon Law provides for. The circumstances under which it can be done are VERY limited.
If you’re interested in understanding more fully:
canonlaw.info/canonlaw915.htm
If you’re interested in understanding more fully:
canonlaw.info/canonlaw915.htm
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englishredrose
Guest
At the beginning of Mass, in the opening prayers we all do say sorry to God for our sins. And almost time and time again - through out the service whats more. Whats the point of repeating our sorries if its not good enough never mind right before communion when we say Lord I am not worthy…
isn’t this good enough?
isn’t this good enough?
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twopekinguys
Guest
Not when the use of EMHC’s is follwed properly.Wouldn’t that be an argument against having so many EMHCs? o.0
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englishredrose
Guest
Before we go on, have you ever known a priest to refuse communion to someone?How can a priest ever be justified in refusing communion to someone? Even if someone is a known mortal sinner, who is to say that person didn’t repent and go to confession just before Mass?
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backprop
Guest
OK, I’m going to ask about this. This particular number is quoted all over this site but it sounds apocryphal. Any proof that satanists “frequent” churches for this purpose?Satanists have been known to frequent the Church and steal the Body of Christ. If the priest knows what this person is up to, it is his responsibility to refuse to give the Communion. I would like to think that Our Blessed Lord was being protected by our priests/shepherds in this way.
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adopted_heir
Guest
Youtube had to remove a whole slew of videos last year I think that were people stealing and desecrating the Host.
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backprop
Guest
I googled it and there seems to have been one French-Canadian teenager (who was baptized and confirmed Catholic) who supposedly put up videos of desecration. It was hard to find out if he used anything other than communion wafers that can be bought in boxes of 1000 on Amazon. Perhaps his videos showed more. But it certainly did not to appear to be bands of satanists breaking into churches.
My question still stands: are there real, reports of satanists “breaking in and stealing” hosts to use in various rituals? I’ve searched quite hard and most every reference is hearsay.
My question still stands: are there real, reports of satanists “breaking in and stealing” hosts to use in various rituals? I’ve searched quite hard and most every reference is hearsay.
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Tarpeian_Rock
Guest
Back in the '50’s, the good sisters used to tell us of Masons who would receive Communion only to take it back to their lodges and stick pins in the Host. Not sure of that one either.
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