Topic:  Are there any situations where a non-Catholic can take Communion?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: November 22, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Phillip

Question:   I read your answer regarding the Methodist friend not taking communion in the Catholic church. A similar situation was mentioned to me recently, and your answer satisfied much of my Protestant curioiusity and lack of understanding. I am curious however, if the Methodist did actually believe, even if contrary to his/her religious affiliation, that the Eucharist was indeed the body and blood of Christ, would it then be acceptable to receive communion? Just trying to understand a puzzling question. Thank you.

Answer: 

Thanks for your question, but even more, thanks for reading the FAQ response in our Virtual Library BEFORE asking another question; that's great and it means that the www.CatholicQandA.org format is kind of working!

According to the teaching of the Catholic Church, there are, actually, a few VERY RARE circumstances in which the question you pose might be answered: Yes. For example, if the Methodist were on his or her death bed. Or, if after going through the entire Marriage Preparation Process with both the Catholic and Methodist Churches, the couple were to petition, through the Catholic pastor, the Catholic Bishop to allow the Methodist to receive Holy Communion at a Nuptial Mass, the Bishop does have the right, within the law of the Catholic Church, to say that the Methodist could receive this one time.

But the general response to your question is, no, just believing in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist isn't quite enough for a Methodist to receive in ordinary circumstances.

The Catholic position on this vexing question runs something like this: Our belief in and experience of Jesus in the Eucharistic celebration is the "source and summit" of all that we are as Catholic Christians.

If a person believes fully in that Divine Presence in the Eucharist, then why would that person not want to unite her/himself fully, sacramentally with the community of faith in which she/he could receive that Blessed Presence every week?

Not wanting to be united fully and sacramentally to the community of faith which recognizes, celebrates, and receives the Eucharistic Jesus would suggest, to the mind of the Catholic Church, that while the person does have a good chance of coming to full and conscious belief in the Real Presence, some obstacle apparently exists which is preventing that person from responding completely to the Divine Call to receive Jesus. That potential or real obstacle would, therefore, be seen by the Church as needing to be ameliorated or removed before the person could licitly receive the Eucharist.

Does that make sense? Hope so...

Thanks again for your question!

Blessings,
Father Phillip