Non-catholic About To Receive Communion—stop Him?

[Gabriela]

This is something I've been thinking about a lot recently, and croat's post convinced me to finally ask about it: What should I do if I see a non-Catholic (say, a friend I brought to church) about to receive Communion? If I have explained to the person that he shouldn't receive, and told him why, etc., and he yet stubbornly insists upon doing so?

[cappie]

To use your example, if he/she was your friend then they should listen to you taking what you have said into account otherwise they would not be your friend! If you see someone whom you know is not a Catholic receiving Holy Communion then you should contact the priest and have a quiet word.

 

You could try pointing out that the person is actually causing the priest or minister who gives the Eucharist to fall into violation of canon law: "Can. 844 §1 Catholic ministers may lawfully administer the sacraments only to catholic members of Christ's faithful". Therefore, your friend has an obligation to the priest, a duty of loving one's neighbour, to stop doing this until s/he has properly entered the Catholic Church.