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Duty to the Church, Duty to people; The responsibilities of a priest
Topic Started: Friday, 29. October 2010, 08:31 (563 Views)
Mairtin
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I know a couple who have been very happily married for over 20 years. It is a mixed marriage, originally entered into in total compliance with Church regulations and the children have been brought up as Catholics. Although the mother has continued to practice her Anglican (Church of Ireland) religion, she has been fully supportive of the children’s Catholic upbringing, attending their First Holy Communion and Confirmations as well as unhesitatingly taking part in other religious ceremonies connected with her husband’s extended family.

A little while back, this couple’s lives were turned upside down when their 19 year old son – a very good son - was killed in a road accident and since that they have both been going through an absolute hell of grief and despair.

They have had tremendous support from both of their religious communities and their belief seems to have helped them through this desperate period. As part of that, I have noticed the wife recently attending Sunday Mass with her husband on a regular basis and she receives Holy Communion.

I know that the wife has not formally converted to Catholicism although she may well be moving in that direction. That means that under Church law, she should not be receiving Holy Communion, the priest should make that clear to her and he should refuse her Holy Communion. The priest in this case seems to simply turn a blind eye.

So which should be more important to the priest here, his priestly duty to the Church and the upholding of her rules or his Christian duty to help and support a suffering person at a time of such tremendous need when she is clearly reaching out to Christ and His Church for that support?
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Gerard

WWJD
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Anne-Marie

Gerard
Friday, 29. October 2010, 10:08
WWJD
Quite, Gerard - suffer her to come unto Him... without let or hindrance.
I'm surprised to see the question asked, with so obvious an answer.

We're meant to serve God... not t'other way round!
Anne-Marie
FIAT VOLUNTAS DEI
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Mairtin
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Anne-Marie
Friday, 29. October 2010, 10:14
I'm surprised to see the question asked, with so obvious an answer.
There are a number of people on this forum whom I am guessing would be totally opposed to a priest knowingly giving Holy Communion to a non-Catholic and their "obvious answer" may well be be totally different to yours. I would be interested in hearing comments from such people about this particular instance.

That is why I asked the question.
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Rose of York
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Gerard
Friday, 29. October 2010, 10:08
WWJD


What would Jesus Do?

Jesus could have steered clear of the Samaritan woman. Jesus could have said to the thief who admitted, on the cross, that he had brought his execution upon himself "You confessed but you have not said you are sorry you offended God, so don't you expect to be with me in Paradise. I have rules."

It is hard to describe the shock of being told a young family member has been killed. The priest is being flexible, finding a balance between regulations and compassion. I would imagine that whether or not the lady believes in transubstantiation, as a member of the Church of Ireland she regards reception of Holy Communion a close encounter with Jesus, doing this in commemoration of Him.

I am pretty sure a Catholic priest can give Holy Communion to a non Catholic Christian in emergency. This is an ongoing emergency, a couple who have recently lost their young son, with no time for preparation, might well be in danger of mental, spiritual and emotional breakdown. Their faith will help them through it, sensitivity is called for.

:tc:
Keep the Faith!

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PJD

"I am pretty sure a Catholic priest can give Holy Communion to a non Catholic Christian in emergency. This is an ongoing emergency, a couple who have recently lost their young son, with no time for preparation, might well be in danger of mental, spiritual and emotional breakdown. Their faith will help them through it, sensitivity is called for."

I think you are right Rose. Similarly for Baptism. Each must obey his/her conscience; and conscience can instruct - equally - if yes it must be obeyed, again if it says no it must be obeyed.

PJD
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tomais

Who are we tp pass comment or to judge;
EG Jesus would have------
that and like utterances are an individuals comments and are- left to that persons innrer thinking.
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Eileenanne

The priest's responsibility is to do what is right, and in this instance I hope he will not allow this irregular situation to continue for much longer before inviting the woman to become a Catholic. It will require great sensitivity on his part - I pray he is up to the task. It may be just the right time for her to convert to the true church. Surely neither the priest nor the husband can be content to leave her in error indefinitely. The pastoral need is for the woman to be led - at the right pace and in the right way for her - to understand why she should convert.

I often think that non-Catholics receiving the Eucharist before converting, as, for example, we are told Tony Blair did, are in a similar position to those who have sex before marriage. I am told people sometimes wish on their wedding night that they had waited. Maybe people would prefer to be receiving the FIRST Communion on the occasion of their reception into the Church.

I sometimes wonder why people ask questions like this, where the loving response SEEMS to go against Church teaching. The discussion often seems to produce more drops of false compassion, which wear away the idea that the truth matters, that believing the truth matters, and that generally the right thing to do is the right thing to do.

Eileenanne
Edited by Eileenanne, Friday, 29. October 2010, 20:12.
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Anne-Marie

Eileenanne
Friday, 29. October 2010, 20:09
The priest's responsibility is to do what is right, and in this instance I hope he will not allow this irregular situation to continue for much longer before inviting the woman to become a Catholic.

I sometimes wonder why people ask questions like this, where the loving response SEEMS to go against Church teaching. The discussion often seems to produce more drops of false compassion, which wear away the idea that the truth matters, that believing the truth matters, and that generally the right thing to do is the right thing to do.
I suppose we could always tell God He has no business calling people to Him - He really does need to know that He has to stick to the rulebook....

Sorry, but if God is calling someone to Him, then we have no business getting in the way with a rulebook - just my view, of course.
As I recall, Jesus had some stern instructions for those who thought their ideas were more important than His will to receive folks.
Anne-Marie
FIAT VOLUNTAS DEI
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KatyA

Mairtin
Friday, 29. October 2010, 08:31

So which should be more important to the priest here, his priestly duty to the Church and the upholding of her rules or his Christian duty to help and support a suffering person at a time of such tremendous need when she is clearly reaching out to Christ and His Church for that support?
It really isn't possible to answer that question without knowing if the lady in question believes in the Real Presence. Is it not possible to give the couple the love and support they need without including the possibly sacrilegious reception of the Eucharist.

An overview of the occasions when non Catholics may receive Communion is given by the USCCB
USCCB
 
When other Christians who believe what the Catholic church teaches concerning the Holy Eucharist are deprived of access to a church of their own denomination for a significant period of time, they too may be admitted to Communion in the Catholic Church in exceptional circumstances (cf. Canon 844 §4). These exceptional circumstances are also described by the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
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. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 1401)

The reason for denying the Eucharist to non- Catholics is apparently based on
1 Cor 11:27-29
 
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1 Cor 11:27-29)
so it is quite a serious matter, however sympathetic one may feel towards the lady.

http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/q&a/mass/communion.shtml
http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/why_can%27t_non_catholics_take_communion.htm

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/intercommunion.htm

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Rose of York
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Eileenanne
Friday, 29. October 2010, 20:09
I sometimes wonder why people ask questions like this, where the loving response SEEMS to go against Church teaching.
We ask the questions because we are:

curious
imaginative
gregarious
ill versed in Catholic teaching
rule-bound, wanting to know the rules
rebellious
loyal and seeking advice
well meaning
weak willed
very intelligent

Perm any four from ten.
seeking the truth


We could ask two priests the question and get two answers. We would then have to ask ourselves which priest is right.
Keep the Faith!

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Rose of York
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KatyA
Friday, 29. October 2010, 21:11
An overview of the occasions when non Catholics may receive Communion is given by the USCCB
USCCB
 
When other Christians who believe what the Catholic church teaches concerning the Holy Eucharist are deprived of access to a church of their own denomination for a significant period of time, they too may be admitted to Communion in the Catholic Church in exceptional circumstances (cf. Canon 844 §4).
If the woman is in the Anglo Catholic wing of the Church of England, the chances are she does believe what the Catholic church teaches concerning the Holy Eucharist. She is Anglo Catholic.

The parish priest, whilst offering support to this couple who have lost their son unexpectedly in tragic circumstances, might have assessed they need each others' support while they are worshiping in Church and praying for their son and any siblings. If the woman cannot bear to go to church alone during this traumatic period, could that be assessed as deprivation of access to a church of her own denomination for a significant period of time?

KatyA
Friday, 29. October 2010, 21:11
These exceptional circumstances are also described by the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
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. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 1401)

The circumstances are exceptional. It his possible the lady is Anglo-Catholic, and has given evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possesses the required dispositions. We do not know if the parish priest submitted this matter to the Ordinary's judgment.

KatyA
Friday, 29. October 2010, 21:11
The reason for denying the Eucharist to non- Catholics is apparently based on
1 Cor 11:27-29
 
"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1 Cor 11:27-29)
so it is quite a serious matter, however sympathetic one may feel towards the lady.


It is indeed a serious matter, the parish priest will be better versed on these matters than I or most forum members. My personal opinion is, the priest might have discussed this in depth with the couple and with the bishop, who might have given his approval. I dunno! The parish priest knows!
Keep the Faith!

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Eileenanne

Rose said:

Quote:
 
We could ask two priests the question and get two answers. We would then have to ask ourselves which priest is right.


That would be the one who genuinely had the woman's best interests at heart and attempted - sensitively - to lead her into authentic Communion with the Church.

Anne Marie said:

Quote:
 
I suppose we could always tell God He has no business calling people to Him - He really does need to know that He has to stick to the rulebook....


If God is calling this woman into the Church it is important the priest does his part or the opportunity could be lost.

God can of course over rule any instruction, even His own, but it would be presumptious in the extreme to think we can decide when he should do so. As I said, it is false compassion and a lack of charity to leave someone in error, especially when, as in this case, there are strong indications that the lady may be receptive to the truth.

Eileenanne
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Derekap
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"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself." (1 Cor 11:27-29)

The lady we are talking about may be more worthy to receive Holy Communion than many Catholics! The Rule Books cannot cover every possibility without being very uncharitable! Sometimes we have to leave a situation to God's Love and Mercy and it behoves us to tolerate it and not come to a hasty judgement based on the letter of the law.
Derekap
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KatyA

Derek, you are more than probably right in saying that this lady may be more worthy to receive Holy Communion than many Catholics. We don't know, any more than we can know if she believes she is actually receiving Jesus, or if the priest has fully discussed the implications with her (or his bishop for that matter)
I would like to reply more fully, but I'm preparing for a visit to my sister and haven't got a lot of time what with packing, organising my lads and worrying about security alerts at airports, so my response may seem flippant but isn't intended to be. Basically, Mairtin seems to have posed the question "Is it acceptable to use the Holy Eucharist like a comfort blanket" and my answer is definitely not.
Gerard asked "WWJD" I can't answer that,(nor can anyone else) but I do know what He did do, and that was to leave us His Church as our guide.
KatyA
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