Who is not allowed to receive the Eucharist?

[sonasi]

I have seen many people who wants to receive the Eucharist but the priest refuse. And I feel sorry for these people. Recently I saw an former President of the Methodist Church in Tonga came forward to receive the Eucharist during a Mass he was in before going to Rome with our New Cardinal for his installation. Our Priest refused. The poor old Prsesident beg him tthree tomes but the priest just didnt give it him. We all felt sorry for the poor old man. I felt ashamed myself because I thought sure Jesus will not refuse himself from this humble man.
Where does the catholic church stand in its ministering of the Sacrament of the Eucharists. Some priests are really tough and conservative. They would not give the host to any non –catholic (whoever it maybe). Their reasoning is that it is prohibited by the church and so if they really want to receive the Eucharist, they must go through the proper preparation procedures etc. Yet i know very well of some priests just give it to anyone who wants especially to sick people in hospital n prisoners in prisons. Their reasons is different. “ Who am to refuse giving the Lord to anyone who needs it especially these outcasts and the sick. Jesus himself they said, would not refuse to heal these people as he did with the leper in today’s gospel !

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

USCCB’s Guidelines for the Reception of Holy Communion:

For Catholics

As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.

For our fellow Christians

We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21).
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 §4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of Communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 §3).

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy:

22.3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.

The very name of the sacrament (“Communion”) implies that everyone receiving it is indeed “one” with each other. Non-Catholic Christians cannot be considered truly one with the Church thus to receive communion would be, in a sense, a lie. Obviously no one should be purposely embarrassed or made a spectacle of but the essentials of the sacrament do require certain things for reception.

As to the matter of priests who purposely disregard the teachings of the Church on communion, that is always disappointing. As in this case such disregard for teachings sows confusion about the sacraments. At the end of the day its all about what Church we are promoting: the Catholic Church or the Church of my own ideas. Sometimes when people aren’t happy because of a particular Church rule or teaching that I’m following I try to explain to them that I am not a source of grace or salvation but rather Jesus Christ and His Church are. Therefore if the action becomes mine rather than the Church’s then the action ultimately is meaningless.