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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
about holy communion	Daniel	Thursday, March 26, 2009
Question: Hi, I hope you're doing fine. I have a question about holy communion and I thought you know canon law and might be able to answer it. Can a priest who know that a person is living in the state of mortal sin can refuse communion to that person even if the sin is not a public sin or scandal. Example, a priest has a sister whom he knows living an adulterous relationship with a certain man and refuse to change her life. The sin was only known to their family circle and relatives (meaning not a public one). When this woman attend his brother's (the priest) Mass, can he or should he refuse to give holy communion to her since he will be participating in a sin of sacrilege if he consented to give her communion? Hope you'll reply soon. Thanks and God bless, Daniel
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Daniel: A priest cannot refuse anyone who presents themselves for Communion unless that person is a notorious public sinner. Even though the priest "may know" his sister is not in a state of grace, he still cannot refuse her communion it she presents herself. He should privately tell her to not receive communion, but if she insists on presenting herself, he must give her the Eucharist. The priest does not have the right to reveal a sinful state of a person to the public, which is what would happen if he refused someone communion. This is why it is permitted to refuse a notorious public sinner because the priest is not revealing anything -- the sinner is a public sinner. God bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

about holy communion

Daniel

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Question:

Hi,

I hope you're doing fine. I have a question about holy communion and I thought you know canon law and might be able to answer it. Can a priest who know that a person is living in the state of mortal sin can refuse communion to that person even if the sin is not a public sin or scandal. Example, a priest has a sister whom he knows living an adulterous relationship with a certain man and refuse to change her life. The sin was only known to their family circle and relatives (meaning not a public one). When this woman attend his brother's (the priest) Mass, can he or should he refuse to give holy communion to her since he will be participating in a sin of sacrilege if he consented to give her communion? Hope you'll reply soon.

Thanks and God bless,
Daniel

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Daniel:

A priest cannot refuse anyone who presents themselves for Communion unless that person is a notorious public sinner. Even though the priest "may know" his sister is not in a state of grace, he still cannot refuse her communion it she presents herself. He should privately tell her to not receive communion, but if she insists on presenting herself, he must give her the Eucharist.

The priest does not have the right to reveal a sinful state of a person to the public, which is what would happen if he refused someone communion. This is why it is permitted to refuse a notorious public sinner because the priest is not revealing anything -- the sinner is a public sinner.

God bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum