Politicians and communion.

With regard to the letter in your December 2005 issue pertaining to non-Catholics receiving Holy Communion, I find it puzzling that this can be done at all. I find it especially puzzling that none of the conditions supposedly allowing this indicate that the recipient must be in a state of grace. Since time immemorial Catholics have been told it is a sacrilege to receive the Eucharist without first confessing any serious (mortal) sin they may have committed. Since non-Catholics do not attend our sacrament of Reconciliation, how then can they be considered to be in a state of grace? They could well be living in an adulterous, common-law relationship, as well as having committed many other serious sins without confessing them to a priest. Would their reception of Communion in such a case not be considered a sacrilegious act? Of lesser importance perhaps, but still a matter of obedience for Catholics, is that no mention is made in the conditions of the need to fast before receiving Communion. This means no food for an hour before receiving. Catholics have to abide by this rule, why not non-Catholics? Please comment.

Ajax, ON

Fr. Leonard Kennedy responds: The Church is very strict on refusing Holy Communion to non-Catholics, and allows such a departure from the usual only on very special occasions (Canon Law #844). Some exceptions are (1) members of non-Catholic Eastern Rite churches who ask for it spontaneously and are rightly disposed; (2) other non-Catholic Christians who are in danger of death or other episcopally-sanctioned grave and pressing need who spontaneously ask for it, believe as Catholics do in the Real Presence, and are rightly disposed (Canon Law #844).

Catholics have to observe the one-hour law of fasting, be in the state of grace, and have gone to Confession if they have committed a mortal sin since their last confession.

It would seem to be possible in the case of the others to observe the law of fasting and to determine the questions of faith in the Real Presence. But I do not know how a priest can determine sufficiently well the disposition of the communicant unless the communicant belongs to a church which has the sacrament of Penance and the communicant has gone to Confession if a mortal sin has been committed since his previous Confession.

What does one do if the communicant belongs to a church which doesn't have the sacrament of Penance? I doubt whether a priest would require the confession of a lifetime of serious sins, though he might ask whether the communicant lives in a sinful state, such as living in an adulterous or common-law relationship, or practising contraception, etc. Will he be satisfied with an act of perfect contrition? In the case of immediate danger of death he could dispense from the one-hour fast and perhaps with all but an act of perfect contrition, but I cannot answer these questions and have yet to find someone who can.