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Cohabitees receiving Communion
Topic Started: Friday, 2. January 2009, 13:47 (866 Views)
Mairtin
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Rose of York
Friday, 9. January 2009, 23:50
Four times, posts have been split from this topic and transferred to new or more appropriate topics. It's hard work.
I know it's easy for me to speak, Rose, not having the hard work to do, but some of those diversions turned into useful topics on their own.

OK, maybe not the one about Laurel & Hardy and Morecombe & Wise .... :rofl:
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Mrs.Pogle
from the woods
Is it ever acceptable for a Priest to give Holy Communion to Catholic he knows is living with someone as man and wife, but not married?

Thanks,
Mrs.P xx
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Deleted User
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Mrs P, you have opened a real can of worms there :grin:
My answer would be
Objectively - No :butbutbut: is he certain they are in a sinful relationship?
In fact, the couple,knowing they are "living in sin" and not in a celibate relationship, should not present themselves for Communion

KatyA
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Mrs.Pogle
from the woods
KatyA
Saturday, 9. May 2009, 16:17
Objectively - No :butbutbut: is he certain they are in a sinful relationship?
In fact, the couple,knowing they are "living in sin" and not in a celibate relationship, should not present themselves for Communion
Yes, the person in question does not hide the fact they are living together as man and wife, and they have a child.

Edited by Mrs.Pogle, Saturday, 9. May 2009, 16:48.
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Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
Mrs.Pogle
Saturday, 9. May 2009, 16:00
Is it ever acceptable for a Priest to give Holy Communion to Catholic he knows is living with someone as man and wife, but not married?
Only if it's not public knowledge that they're living in sin, I reckon.
S.A.G.

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Mrs.Pogle
from the woods
So, just to clarify. If a person becomes a Catholic whilst in this situation, would that mean they would then have to either marry, or live celibately, in order not to be in a state of mortal sin? What should the Church advise in this situation? If the person's priest, knowing of the sexual relationship, still offers Holy Communion, is he then putting their soul in danger?
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Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
Mrs.Pogle
Saturday, 9. May 2009, 16:49
So, just to clarify. If a person becomes a Catholic whilst in this situation, would that mean they would then have to either marry, or live celibately, in order not to be in a state of mortal sin? What should the Church advise in this situation?
They would have to live as brother and sister until they marry.

Quote:
 
If the person's priest, knowing of the sexual relationship, still offers Holy Communion, is he then putting their soul in danger?


Not just that, he's causing scandal. He's giving everyone else, who's aware of the situation, the impression that it is not sinful.
S.A.G.

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Deleted User
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I think they would have to "regularise" their situation by marrying or living celibately. While they remain in an "irregular" non-celibate relationship, they should not receive Holy Communion.
It is not the priest's fault, Holy Communion is not offered, but received. All the priest can do is ensure that they are aware of Church teaching with regard to sexual relationships. If, in full knowledge of that, they continue to present themselves for Communion, the responsibility is theirs.
If the situation is generally known, the priest has to bear in mind the possibility of scandal and may feel justified in refusing Holy Communion for that reason.
He is unlikely to do so because in such cases there is only the assumption of a continuing sexual relationship ( OK so I know we're 99.9% sure but there's always the chance they've been celibate since their last confession).
KatyA

PS Just remembered 2 pieces from Fr Ray Blakes blog which may help
http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2009/02/no-you-will-not-be-excommunicated-but.html
http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2008/09/hero-of-eucharist.html
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Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
Fr Heribert Jone, Moral Theology (as ever!):

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457.
...
A public sinner must always be refused the Sacraments, whether he wishes to receive them publicly or secretly...

Exception is always made for the Sacrament of penance...

That one be no longer considered a public sinner, it is generally sufficient that he be known to have gone to confession. If he is living in a proximate, voluntary occasion of sin (e.g. in concubinage) he must, as a rule, first give it up. In the example given he must likewise, first repair the scandal (e.g. by disapproving of a wayward life).
S.A.G.

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Clare
Saturday, 9. May 2009, 16:56
Mrs.Pogle
Saturday, 9. May 2009, 16:49
So, just to clarify. If a person becomes a Catholic whilst in this situation, would that mean they would then have to either marry, or live celibately, in order not to be in a state of mortal sin? What should the Church advise in this situation?
They would have to live as brother and sister until they marry.

Quote:
 
If the person's priest, knowing of the sexual relationship, still offers Holy Communion, is he then putting their soul in danger?


Not just that, he's causing scandal. He's giving everyone else, who's aware of the situation, the impression that it is not sinful.
Clare .. wait for it and hold your breath but... I agree with all you have said on this subject and can see nothing further to contribute to this thread. You are spot on.
:bravo:
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Mrs.Pogle
from the woods
Thank you all for your helpful replies which will enable me to repond to someone now! I just wanted to make sure I was on the right track :wink:
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Derekap
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I would say the priest is in a difficult dilema. If he doesn't refuse he could be considered as "approving" if he refuses there could be a confrontation which could cause a disturbance.
Derekap
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Powerofone

"A public sinner must always be refused the Sacraments, whether he wishes to receive them publicly or secretly...

Exception is always made for the Sacrament of penance"


Would an exception not be made also for the Sacrament of the Sick? Or must the Sacrament of penance necessarily preceed it? Even at the point of death?
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JRJ

Derekap
Saturday, 9. May 2009, 22:16
I would say the priest is in a difficult dilema. If he doesn't refuse he could be considered as "approving" if he refuses there could be a confrontation which could cause a disturbance.
I have known a Priest who took care of this situation by sitting down in a private meeting with the folks in question. I knew the couple and they shared their experience with me. Father explained Church teaching, including the words of Jesus, the relevant sections of the Catechism and gave instructions on how to remedy the situation. Presto, no need for a public confrontation.
Jennifer
hubby's dinosaur blog
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Bob Crowley

I'd say it would be common around Easter and Christmas when a whole bunch of nominal Catholics turn up when they don't show the rest of the year, and the priest and servers wouldn't even know them. You could be pretty sure that there'd be some "partners" amongst them.

But then I wonder how many of us here have accepted communion at some time with more than a vague hint of some mortal unconfessed sin lying uneasily on our conscience?
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