Was my former priest right about this?

[RileyG]

I had one priest who was very conservative. Anyway, my aunt is a nonpracticing catholic and when she and her fiance (now ex, they never got married because of personal reasons (she obviously got her previous marriage annulled beforehand) were going to Mass (they planned on getting married in the church) he would receive communion. He was not Catholic yet as he was in RCIA and was a lutheran (more or less). This has been bugging me for a while, and the priest obviously knew he wasn’t Catholic and would give him communion anyway. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

Thanks
God Bless

 

[Julia_Mae]

It’s up to the priest.

 

[Wildkit]

I had one priest who was very conservative. Anyway, my aunt is a nonpracticing catholic and when she and her fiance (now ex, they never got married because of personal reasons (she obviously got her previous marriage annulled beforehand) were going to Mass (they planned on getting married in the church) he would receive communion. He was not Catholic yet as he was in RCIA and was a lutheran (more or less). This has been bugging me for a while, and the priest obviously knew he wasn’t Catholic and would give him communion anyway. :banghead::banghead::banghead:

Thanks
God Bless

There are several questions, why did you assume the priest “knew he wasn’t Catholic”? I hope your aunt assumed he was approaching the altar for a blessing as she knew he was in RCIA. Assumptions can be dangerous.

 

[Corki]

Assuming the priest actually knew this man was not Catholic, it is not his option to give a non-Catholic Communion. However, there are some instances where a Bishop may give permission for a non-Catholic to receive Communion. It’s possible that either this man himself received this permissio or that the priest obtained the permission from the Bishop. You may never know.

 

[TimothyH]

Assuming the priest actually knew this man was not Catholic, it is not his option to give a non-Catholic Communion. However, there are some instances where a Bishop may give permission for a non-Catholic to receive Communion. It’s possible that either this man himself received this permissio or that the priest obtained the permission from the Bishop. You may never know.

I thought only the Holy Father could give communion to a non-Catholic. Am I mistaken?

-Tim-

 

[1ke]

I thought only the Holy Father could give communion to a non-Catholic. Am I mistaken?

-Tim-

Yes, you are mistaken. The Ordinary (Bishop) or Conference of Bishops can make this determination. Regarding those members of Eastern Churches (those with valid sacraments) the permission of the bishop is not necessary:

Can 844 §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.

§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.

§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.