Non-Catholics Receiving Communion ¨C Possible Exceptions

There are circumstances when non-Catholics may receive Communion from a Catholic priest, More About Non-Catholics Receiving Communion. This is especially the case for Eastern Orthodox Christians, who share the same faith concerning the nature of the sacraments. Christians in these churches should, of course, respect their own church¡¯s guidelines regarding when it would be permissible for them to receive Communion in a Catholic church. The circumstances in which Protestants are permitted to receive Communion are more limited, though it is still possible for them to do so under certain specifically defined circumstances.

Canon law explains the parameters if the danger of death is present or other grave necessity, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or the conference of bishops, Catholic ministers may licitly administer these sacraments to other Christians who do not have full Communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and on their own ask for it, provided they manifest Catholic faith in these sacraments and are properly disposed. It is important to remember that, under the rubrics specified above, even in those rare circumstances when non-Catholics are able to receive Communion, the same requirements apply to them as to Catholics.

Because non-Christians have not received baptism, the gateway to the other sacraments, they cannot receive Communion. However, in emergency situations, they can be received into the Church via
baptism, even if no priest is present, and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may bring them Communion.

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