Why can only Catholics go to Confession and Communion?

[Eli4n4]

My husband wants to be Catholics and is beginning RCIA, but he struggles with why he can’t go to communion or confession (especially confession) without being Catholic. He asks why they think he is unworthy even though he seems to be a better practicing Catholic than a lot of the ones he sees go to communion and confession every day. I’ve tried to answer him by telling him that they don’t think he is unworthy, but as humans who can’t read each others minds we have the RCIA program set up to safeguard the Eucharist and the faith from people that might not be as ready as he feels. Can you give me a better answer to give him so he can stop being so frustrated?

 

[Leonie_Ambrose]

Eli4n4,

The following links should assist you in better understanding the Catholic Church’s teaching on whether non-Catholics are able to partake of the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.

Recommended Reading:

• [Can a non-Catholic go to Confession? (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2414)
• [How far do Protestants get by with invincible ignorance? (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=257355&highlight=mortal+protestants)
• [How are Protestants’ sins forgiven without going to confession? (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=64676)
• [**How can a Protestant go to heaven without the sacrament of reconciliaton? ** (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=3143)
• [Is Mortal Sin subjective? (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=4264&highlight=mortal+sin+grave+matter)
• Who Can Receive Communion? from the Catholic Answers Library
• Where can I find documentation that a non-Catholic should not receive Communion?