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“Amen, Amen, I say to you.”
Why does the Catholic Church not share Holy Communion with non-Catholics?

Many Protestant denominations allow Christians who are not members of their denomination to receive communion in their services, the Catholic Church does not. Because many do not understand the reasoning behind this prohibition, some people feel offended by the Church’s insistence that only Catholics in a state of grace (and, in some instances, Orthodox Christians) receive the Eucharist.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body” (CCC 1331). After all, the word communion itself means “union with.” The Catholic Church only allows those who are her members --those either baptized into the Catholic Church or those who have been received into her through the profession of faith—to receive the Eucharist. If the Church allowed those who are not united with her to receive the Eucharist, she would seem to be acknowledging something that is not true: that those not in communion with the Church may take part in that which definitively marks such communion.

As Catholics, we are taught (and hopefully believe) that the Eucharist is the very Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We know that the Real Presence of Christ in this Sacrament does not cease once the celebration of the Mass is finished. This is why we worship the Eucharist, “genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord” (CCC, 1378). When we say, “Amen” to “The Body of Christ” or “The Blood of Christ,” we acknowledge that the Eucharist is the very Body and Blood of Christ, and not a mere symbol. At the same time, our “Amen” acknowledges and accepts the teachings of the Church and maintains communion -- unity with the Church. This is something that a non-Catholic cannot honestly profess.

Most Protestants do not believe that Holy Communion is the very Body and Blood of our Savior, at least from a Catholic theological perspective. If they said, “Amen” to “The Body of Christ,” they would be speaking falsely. Even if a Protestant does believe that Holy Communion is the very Body and Blood of Christ, that individual could still not honestly say, “Amen,” to “The Body of Christ,” because he or she has no real intention of maintaining unity with the Catholic Church – proclaiming all that the Church teaches and professes to be true.

The Catholic Church respects the beliefs of our non-Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ; that is why we cannot share communion with them. We want them to remain men and women of integrity. However, if a non-Catholic believes all that the Church teaches, we should invite them to learn more about the Catholic Church and her beliefs through formal instruction, such as RCIA or other means of catechesis.

It is St. Paul, who said, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord…. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself” (I Cor 11:27-29). Because of this truth, and our love for non-Catholics, why would we risk bringing judgment upon them?






Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn