Can NON catholics receive Holy Communion?

Question

at the catholic church? WIll the priest give them the wafer if they are in teh communion line?

Answer 1

Other than members of the Eastern Orthodox churches, no, non-Catholics should not receive Communion at a Catholic Mass.

This may seem exclusionary and harsh, but the fact is this: only Catholics and Eastern Orthodox believe that in receiving Communion they are receiving the actual Body and Blood of Christ.

If that belief is absent -- as it is with anyone who's not Catholic or Orthodox -- then Communion can't be received.

That's why we say "Amen" when the priest, deacon, or eucharist minister says "The Body of Christ" before we receive it. We are declaring our belief that it is indeed His Body.

Protestants, as well as members of other religions, would in fact be violating their own beliefs by receiving Communion. They would be declaring a belief that their own religion in fact does not hold. The Catholic Church, in its charity, doesn't want to put them in that position.
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Answer 2

Hi, Well.... a non-catholic would not know the answer anyway...haha... so you may have to actually give your 2 points to a catholic.... or is this segregation? haha... Okay, the reason is that the catholic communion is a sacrament ( a holly sign) out of the 7...sacraments... an, in order to receive the communion you must first have been "baptised" as a Catholic, baptisim being the first Catholic sacrament received as an infant (normally).... Baptisim is a sacrament that gives thye infant the "link" to God throught the "link" of his parents faith....Catholicisim... A Catholic child is "protected as such through "divine power" and is shown how to pray and thank Jesus, and Mary, and the Holy Spirit, and the Father, etc... for their loved ones and their safekeeping, etc.... Children learn very young the right and wrong in life, the mortal sins (7) and many prayers, etc.... Anyone can get the communion without any questions asked, but, the significance of the Catholic communion is that Catholics are in union with God under the "Catholic" guidance, thus, the Catholic Pope is the earth ultime representative of Jesus... Do non-Catholics agree to that? Possibly not... and so, the Catholic communion has no real significance when taken by a non-Catholic.... But no one is refused.... ever.... The only ones in knowledge that they should not participate are the ones that have been excommuniated by the pope, because of serious reasons like divorce (a long time ago), or if not done their Easter communion (which is the minimum one time a year required to stay in order with the Catholic church "normally")... Hope this clears your question....

Answer 3

Greetings,
Holy communion is only for who are Christians(Followers of Christ),Who are baptized in the Church of God.Non catholics cannot take the communion because they do not have any knowledge about the Church of God.

1 Corinthians 10.

Answer 4

I remember once when Bill Clinton was president. He was in a Catholic church and took communion, and there was a huge firestorm about it. One, because he was slimy Bill Clinton, and two, because he wasn't Catholic!

Catholics are pretty strict about this. The priest expects that if you're in line to receive the sacraments, you're a Catholic who has gone through cathechism classes and received your first communion in line with the church's teachings. So the priest just has to take it on good faith.

Of course, the priest in Clinton's situation had to have known. I suppose he followed through under pressure.

Answer 5

The priest does not check IDs or baptismal certificates on every individual who presents him/herself for Holy Communion, no. So it can occur, and has. If a person receives in all innocence -- that is, they are unaware that they're receiving the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ (and were possibly not paying attention at all during the Mass up to that point, also didn't happen to see the explanatory note printed in the missalette), and therefore don't know about the gravity of receiving unworthily -- that's one thing.

But since you are now aware of all of this, as several here have explained it well, you would not be receiving innocently ... therefore, for your own sake, please do not.

Answer 6

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Take this bread. It is my body.” The he said, “Take this and drink. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.”

Catholics believe this was the First Eucharist, that through some miracle the bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Catholics reenact the Last Supper during every Mass, where the priest, acting in place of Christ, changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

This is a great sacrament of thanksgiving and unity of Catholics.

Anyone who does not believe in the actual presence of Christ and is not united with the Catholic faith is asked, out of respect, not to receive the Eucharist.

Catholics, out of respect for other Christian faiths, do not receive Communion in non-Catholic churches.

We pray that one day Christian unity will succeed and we will all be called to the same table.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1322 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt1art3.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

er...NO!! A non catholic is NOT supposed to receive communion! And this water thing??...i dunno...DOUBT IT very seriously! Some non catholics go up for communion but this is an act of sacrilege and is absolutely WRONG! You are supposed to be IN communion with the Church and Christ/God-etc. The communion is considered the ACTUAL body and blood of Christ! TRULY! Would u want to recieve His Body and Blood if u were in Sin?? Also the priest can bless a non catholic person if they go up with their arms crossed over their chests. This is all I know and I dunno where u got this info. from but I would not attempt it if I were you. OK?
PS..in order for Catholics to receive communion we are SUPPOSED to go to confession and confess our sins the day before Mass or anytime confession is available before mass. You are not supposed to be in sin when receiving the Body of Christ.

Answer 8

Physically, yes, but you're not technically supposed to. If they know you are not catholic then they won't give you communion, but if they don't know, you can receive because they'll just think you're visiting from another town. If you want to be in line but not receive, it is acceptable to cross your arms over your chest and receive a blessing instead.

Answer 9

Okay first Holy Com in caths is just Idol worship it does not carry the spirit that God(Jesus) wanted it to be when they had the last supper , if you look closely the caths may love god dearly and whom am i to ? but many of their practices go against the 10 commandments esp the one about IDOLs

Now if you don't believe in the Son Of God it will awail you KNOT to take Communion

The HOLY COMMUNION is a symbol or diety to Christ a never changing bond and the understanding that in the action of the communion no effect lies but in the Heart is where the true change comes
God Looks at the heart the state of it and the desire to be holy and change the old ways .......................................


ITS IS NOT AN ACT(IE:ACTION) but at spiritual commitment to God

Answer 10

My church practices "open communion," which means, if Jesus is your savior, then you can partake in the communion. I believe that any church that requires you to take classes or be a member of that church misses the point entirely.