February 23, 2012 – Catechism 1348-1355

I have heard it said a lot that Catholics should just allow everyone to come to receive the Eucharist. Many do not see why people are restricted from it. If it is God and God wants everyone, Catholics shouldn’t keep it from people. If you think this, do you understand what the meaning of communion is. To partake of the Eucharist is to say, not only that you believe it is Christ (body, blood, soul, and divinity), but also that you are in full communion with the Catholic Church and everything that she believes and teaches. If you cannot say those things, you should not go up and take part in Communion, because it is a lie. The reason I think that the argument gains so much traction is because there are so many Catholics in name only that receive the Eucharist and do not believe it is Christ or do not follow Catholic teaching. This is a grave sin and should not happen. But he priest does not know the mind of the person coming forward and only in extreme cases have people been denied Eucharist when coming forward. I personally think it should happen more because scandal is such a damaging thing and there are many public people that openly defy the Catholic Church and yet claim to be good practicing Catholics. Not allowing non-Catholics to come forward is to protect them from committing grave sin because “for anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” 1 Corinthians 11:29