Communion

[Guest IheartJesus!]

If a Catholic attends a different church, say Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, or Episcopalean, etc., for whatever reason, should he or she take Communion during that service? I don't know where the church stands on this topic, so I just want to know what I should do if I go to church with a friend who isn't Catholic. I'll be staying with his family, so I will be going to church with them, and I want to know what I should do. Is it a sin if I can't attend Mass that weekend since I won't really have a way to get to a Catholic church? I think it is, but I just want to be sure.

Also, somewhat related but not really: Can people who believe that the Eucharist is truly Jesus but aren't Catholic (maybe they are in the process of converting or they don't agree with some of the doctrine) take Communion in a Catholic Church? From what I understand, they aren't supposed to, but I'm just curious about the reasoning behind that.

Thank you for any help! I especially appreciate any responses to the first part!! Thank you! God bless! :

[cappie]

Sharing Holy Communion is a sign that we are in communion or have a common-union with those we shar the Eucharist with. Unfortunately we are not in communion with the churches you mentioned so we cannot share this sacrament of unity.
You are correct it is a sin to miss Mass however if it is impossible to get to Mass then it would be OK

There are several conditions attached to the reception by non-Catholics of the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. The person must believe in the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist, there must be a moral impossibility of attending their own church and they must spontaneously ask for the Eucharist.

From the Catechism:

1400 Ecclesial communities derived from the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church, "have not preserved the proper reality of the Eucharistic mystery in its fullness, especially because of the absence of the sacrament of Holy Orders."236 It is for this reason that Eucharistic intercommunion with these communities is not possible for the Catholic Church. However these ecclesial communities, "when they commemorate the Lord's death and resurrection in the Holy Supper . . . profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ and await his coming in glory."237

1401 When, in the Ordinary's judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions.

Canon 844: §4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.