Can a Catholic priest deny the Communion to an Anglican person and why?
My husband is Anglican and I am Catholic, sometimes he goes with me to mass in the catholic church and the last time the priest did not give him the communion. Is that discrimination ?
I am sorry, but the Roman Catholic Church is not in communion with the Anglican Church although it reconizes that Church as apostolic and holy.
There are priests who would not recognize your husband as Anglican and give him communion, but that is a mistake. If you have become more outspoken in the parish and people know your husband is Anglican, someone should have taken you aside and asked you to have him not participate in the reception of the Eucharist.
All separation into boxes is discrimination, however, this is not illegal discrimination for the Catholic Church to include only members and select non-members in their Communion Service.
The Church believes that this is scandalous and brings ill repute to Christianity and we hope that it will some day be no longer necessary. Unfortunately, that day is not today.
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April 11 2010 02:53 pm | Catholic
Be Blessed on 11 Apr 2010 at 8:01 pm #
If they are judgmental, they will.
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frogma (tadpole due July 25th) on 11 Apr 2010 at 8:31 pm #
Until your husband joins the Catholic church, no, he cannot receive communion. You should know that, as a Catholic.
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James on 11 Apr 2010 at 9:08 pm #
what the priest did was his way of making sure he is ready for communion,he must go to confession before the pries gives the o.k.,do not break bread with me in a state of sin,this will make you sick
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jesus christ
Kevin S on 11 Apr 2010 at 9:18 pm #
Sure, that goes on all the time, and not just between denominations. Sometimes you can’t take communion if you don’t attend that church, and that’s all there is to it.
Each church will have its own rules about that.
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Misty on 11 Apr 2010 at 10:00 pm #
<<Can a Catholic priest deny the Communion to an Anglican person and why?>>
Because an Anglican is not a Catholic. In order to receive the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, a person must be a Catholic in a state of grace.
<<Is that discrimination ?>>
No. It is not discrimination. The priest knows your husband is not a Catholic. When you receive the Eucharist, and you say "Amen" you are saying that you are one with the Catholic Church, that you believe in and follow all of her teachings, that you believe the Catholic Church to be the one true Church, and that you submit to the authority of the Pope. Your husband, as an Anglican, cannot say this, so he should not receive. If he does believe these things and follow them, then he should become Catholic.
St. Paul says that we must be worthy to receive. This means in a state of grace. We can only be in such a state if we’ve been to reconciliation to confess any mortal sin. Your husband, as a non-Catholic, cannot receive the sacrament of reconciliation, and he cannot be in a state of grace. St. Paul says to receive unworthily is to call judgment down on yourself. It is to profane the Body and Blood of Christ. The priest has a responsibility to make sure that those people he knows should not receive…do not receive for their sake.
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Marysia on 11 Apr 2010 at 10:25 pm #
no they are not to receive communion. as a "Catholic" you should know that yourself. he’s not made his sacraments and is thus not in "communion" with the Catholic church. it’s NOT discrimination – it’s the rules. if i have a car and don’t have a license i am not supposed to drive the car.
if they didn’t let him into the church that would be discrimination.
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Reoriented on 11 Apr 2010 at 11:04 pm #
I am sorry, but the Roman Catholic Church is not in communion with the Anglican Church although it reconizes that Church as apostolic and holy.
There are priests who would not recognize your husband as Anglican and give him communion, but that is a mistake. If you have become more outspoken in the parish and people know your husband is Anglican, someone should have taken you aside and asked you to have him not participate in the reception of the Eucharist.
All separation into boxes is discrimination, however, this is not illegal discrimination for the Catholic Church to include only members and select non-members in their Communion Service.
The Church believes that this is scandalous and brings ill repute to Christianity and we hope that it will some day be no longer necessary. Unfortunately, that day is not today.
References :
http://www.catholic.com/library/Who_Can_Receive_Communion.asp
denise t on 11 Apr 2010 at 11:13 pm #
Yes the priest is right in doing so. If you are a Catholic you should know the reason behind it.
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Catholic Christian
answer4you on 11 Apr 2010 at 11:44 pm #
If he is not an Anglican Catholic… then yes, communion can be denied. No, this is not discrimination…
If he (your husband) is not in full communion with the Catholic Church, then he is not allowed to receive. If a Catholic is not in full communion with the Church, he too is not allowed to receive. Hence, there is not discrimination, as this occurs to Catholics as well…
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