What to do when non-Catholic family member takes Communion

[thistle]

Hi All,

I was wondering am I obligated to say something? A couple of years ago my sister married a Methodist who now says he is interested in converting to the Orthodox Church. Recently they came to visit for Christmas and I noticed him take communion while at Mass.

My father said not to say anything and that maybe he converted. I highly doubt this because when my niece was eating he said here take your “communion wafer”…and it seemed like he was mocking the Eucharist. Although I could be reading too much into it.

I feel a little uneasy about telling him he can’t take communion because I am not sure if it will push him away from the Catholic Church.

Thanks for any advice on how I am to handle this situation.

Its very simple. You tell him he may not receive Communion and explain why.

 

[Cricket2]

Yes, but to what lengths is it reasonable to go? How would you take it back if the offender refused to return it? Physically assaulting someone in church could end badly for everyone involved.

Well no one is talking about physically assaulting anyone in the first place. I have followed individuals directly to the farthest pews to retrieve the Host, and this is considered appropriate. It can be done without any expression of aggression. I usually would explain that I noticed they did not consume the Host and that they need to do so. I also ask if they intended the Host for someone that is ill at home and if they indicate this I advise them of the proper way to have that taken care of via having Father pay a visit or a Pastoral Minister.

I have never had anyone refuse to comply to this request, and with the exception of a couple of times, I discovered that the person really didn’t understand that they could not take the Host out on their own, or allow a non-Catholic to consume the Host. The other two times were more complicated and intentional on the part of the individual(s) involved, but still there was not “a scene” created by my request to have the Host back.

Other Eucharistic Ministers in our Parish have had to do the same thing, and for the most part this does happen at Ash Wednesday, Easter and Christmas.