# Can a non-believer take communion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520 "2006-10-15T13:54:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/1 "2006-10-15T13:54:30Z")
I tried hijacking a different thread for this question, but no dice. I’ve always wondered about this. What would a priest say or do in the event that a known non-believer came up to the front of the church (is that the altar? sorry) and kneeled with the rest of the folks at communion? What if a little (apparently) Jewish man came up to the altar, yarmulke on his head, looking for a bit of wine and wafer? Is there a stock phrase or behavior that he is supposed to follow? I’ve learned from that other thread that there is a pretty clear set of rules and regs for Catholics - lay as well as priests. Or is it up to him to be mannerly and just tell the guy to get up and go back to his seat? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/2 "2006-10-15T14:01:03Z")
I don’t know about stock phrases, but I asked a question similar to this a while back in the middle of another thread which said that transubstantiation will work for unbelievers just as it does for believers, so you would be eating the body of Christ/blood of Christ. As you can imagine, that’d be pretty rude. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/3 "2006-10-15T14:10:09Z")
I assume you’re asking about the Roman Catholic church, right? If so, the priest may offer a blessing to any non-Catholic who comes up during Communion, but he may not knowingly offer Communion itself. So I think what you (and know I) are looking for is the words to the priests Communion Alternative blessing. However, it appears as if there isn’t one. That is, there isn’t a single set of words, and the practice itself is rather…questionable, liturgically speaking. Lots of churches do it, and the Pope himself has been known to do it (which Pope, I’m not sure), but they are investigating where it started, if it’s acceptable and should be continued and/or if it should be incorporated into the liturgy. As it stands now, most priests will accept it if you go forward for Communion and cross your arms over your chest, instead of reaching or opening your mouth for the host. Sometimes (in my experience) they smile and nod and indicate you should keep walking, but most times they’ll murmur a “May the Lord bless you and keep you in health” or something similar. This can and should be done if you are not Catholic, if you are Catholic but haven’t made your first Communion, or if you are Catholic but unconfessed. Of course, you can simply remain in your seat, as well. I have also seen Priests simply skip over those who present themselves to the Host but the Priest knows are not prepared for Communion. In the examples I’ve witnessed, there was a moment of hesitation on the congregant’s part, and then they moved on without a fuss. I’m not sure what would happen if they insisted, but it probably depends on the Priest and the church. [Citey McCitersons](http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Mar1998/Wiseman.asp) (about halfway down the page) ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/4 "2006-10-15T14:19:19Z")
Well, your not supposed to take it if your a non-believer, but the priest isn’t exactly checking i.d.s at the altar either. So if a non-believer went in and took communion during the ceremony and then jumped up and excliamed “ha, you’ve been punked! I’m not even Catholic!” the reaction of the priest would probably more “…whatever” roll his eyes and go about his business. Now if an obviously Jewish man went up for communion the priest would probably take note, be polite and ask the man “Do you wish to take communion?” If the man replied yes he’d probably ask “Do you accept the lord J.C. as your christ and savior?” If the guy still said yes the priest would probably give it to him even if he had his doubts. Kind of like going to get soup from a soup kitchen if your not poor. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/5 "2006-10-15T14:28:22Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Sometimes (in my experience) they smile and nod and indicate you should keep walking, but most times they’ll murmur a “May the Lord bless you and keep you in health” or something similar. This can and should be done if you are not Catholic, if you are Catholic but haven’t made your first Communion, or if you are Catholic but unconfessed. Of course, you can simply remain in your seat, as well. [/QUOTE] Your cite didn’t address it, but I believe being in a state of Grace (i.e., with no unconfessed sins ) is no longer required to receive Communion. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/6 "2006-10-15T14:34:18Z")
First, many Christian churches offer what’s called “open Communion” – anyone who presents himself to receive may do so; the obligation to be in the right state of mind and grace to receive falls on the recipient, not the clergyman. The prescribed rule for Anglicans is that one must be baptized and wishing to receive.) Second, Catholic rules are moderately strict, but not quite as strict as may be implied here. First, **any** Eastern Orthodox person may present himself at Catholic Mass for communion and be entitled to receive; no questions asked. (The fact that it’s contrary to EO tradition to receive communion in a Catholic Church will mean that they generally will never do this, but _from the perspective of the Catholic Church_ they’re fully entitled to.) Any “separated brethren” (Anglicans, Old Catholics, Protestants of all ilks, Nestorians, Oriental Orthodox, etc.) who present themselves _and whom the diocesan bishop has approved be communicated_ are likewise entitled. As an Anglican, I’ve received Catholic communion twice under this provision, at services specifically intended to include others – one was an ecumenical service, the other a Franciscan reception of vows to which Barb and I had been invited. The criteria are that one’s belief about the Eucharist and Catholic faith be “in congruity” with Catholic doctrine-- how strictly or freely “in congruity” is interpreted being left up to the “ordinary” (the diocesan bishop). By the way, normally the denial of communion is regarded as pastoral, not as exclusionary. There’s a bit in I Corinthians about taking the body of the Lord unworthily constituting taking condemnation unto oneself; the idea is to protect the naive and unwary from doing that, not to suggest that communion is a reward for toeing the line as a good Catholic, Methodist, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/7 "2006-10-15T17:12:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Your cite didn’t address it, but I believe being in a state of Grace (i.e., with no unconfessed sins ) is no longer required to receive Communion. Untrue. If one is conscious of having committed an unconfessed and unabsolved mortal sin, one cannot take communion until that is rectified. One can take communion with unconfessed venal sins, though. This requirement is largely ignored in the US, though, as can easily be seen by the very large number of people who take communion every week, and the very small number of people who ever go to confession. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/8 "2006-10-15T17:50:52Z")
I was at a Catholic wedding once, in the wedding party. At some point in the ceremony, the priest came around to each of us with communion, and offered it to each of us, including me. This priest had been told (conspiratorially, by the groom’s mother) I was an atheist, although I don’t know whether he remembered at the time. I shook my head slightly and he just went on, but he at least made the offer. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/9 "2006-10-15T17:55:54Z")
A few weeks back I was at a Catholic funeral and baskets of communion wafers were passed around. I was curious so I, a lapsed Jew (i.e. an atheist) took one. Ritz ain’t losin’ any sleep, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/10 "2006-10-15T18:31:45Z")
“Baskets of communion wafers were passed around?” Could you clarify that, please? ---
**Author:** ![tashabot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tashabot/32/6250_2.png) [@tashabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tashabot)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/11 "2006-10-15T19:54:10Z")
I dunno about the Catholic church, but I know that at the Lutheran church my best friend attends, I don’t get to participate in Communion because I’m a nonbeliever - instead, the pastor blesses me by putting his hand on his head (although he’s really cool and he usually gives you a piece of bread anyway). I know that that same friend’s mom has had communion refused her before because she was wearing a pentagram (something I don’t agree with wearing, anyway) under her clothing. She’s not Wiccan or anything, she just thinks they’re pretty. So I suppose it depends on the individual priest/pastor. ~Tasha ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/12 "2006-10-15T21:22:09Z")
It depends on the church. For instance, at my church, you’re welcome to take communion. We print in the bulletin that you don’t have to be a member of this church or any church to take communion. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/13 "2006-10-15T22:15:31Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > A few weeks back I was at a Catholic funeral and baskets of communion wafers were passed around. [QUOTE=dahfisheroo] “Baskets of communion wafers were passed around?” Could you clarify that, please? [/QUOTE] I, too, would like a clarification of this. I’ve never seen, or heard of, such a practice at a Catholic Mass. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/14 "2006-10-15T22:45:52Z")
Well, as I said, it was a funeral, not a mass. The hall was fairly densely seated and if lines had been formed for people to go up the altar and take the wafers directly from the priest, it would have taken a looooong time. Another first for me - putting money in a collection plate, which was also passed around. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/15 "2006-10-16T01:26:47Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Well, as I said, it was a funeral, not a mass. The hall was fairly densely seated and if lines had been formed for people to go up the altar and take the wafers directly from the priest, it would have taken a looooong time. Another first for me - putting money in a collection plate, which was also passed around. [/QUOTE] Wow, that’s so wrong on so many levels. A funeral is still a Mass. Even if it was just a communion service, (unlikely, but hey, with this priest, who knows?) there would have been Eucharistic Ministers. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/16 "2006-10-16T01:35:19Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Well, as I said, it was a funeral, not a mass. [/quote] A Catholic funeral is a Mass. > [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > The hall was fairly densely seated and if lines had been formed for people to go up the altar and take the wafers directly from the priest, it would have taken a looooong time. In such a situation the rubrics would generally suggest that: - communicants either queue for a long time to receive the host from the priest(s); or - lay Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, appointed for precisely such situations as this, assist with the distribution of communion. I’ve never heard of a basket being passed around so that everyone can just grab a host. It’s not an hors d’oeuvre. If this practice is common I can understand the comments I’ve heard from Canadian friends about the increasing liturgical laxness there. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/17 "2006-10-16T13:26:08Z")
I wonder- the Eastern Orthodox AFAIK has a tradition of offering blessed, but not consecrated, bread. Could the communion wafers at the Funeral Mass have been blessed but not consecrated & thus available to all? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/18 "2006-10-16T13:53:48Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Well, as I said, it was a funeral, not a mass. The hall was fairly densely seated and if lines had been formed for people to go up the altar and take the wafers directly from the priest, it would have taken a looooong time. Another first for me - putting money in a collection plate, which was also passed around. [/QUOTE] The collection plate is normal. The practice you describe of passing a basket of communion wafers around is not permitted by Canon Law. Can. 910, ß1, provices that ordinarily, the minister of holy communion – that is, the person to hand the host to the faithful – is a Bishop, a priest or a deacon. A lay person may be an “extraordinary minister” of holy communion if he is deputed in accordance with the requirements outlined by the cognizant Episcopal Conference. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/19 "2006-10-16T14:46:00Z")
Hey, I was just going with the flow on this one. It seemed odd to me since my only experience was communion is watching it in movies and on TV, but no-one around me was objecting. Of course there was that time about 25 years ago when we were wandering through a historic church and I experimentally lit a few candles. Mom was pretty annoyed by that, though the significance didn’t become clear to me until some time later. It’s much like the _Seinfeld_ episode when he sits in a confession box for the first time and, seeing the small bench, sits down on it. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520/20 "2006-10-16T15:11:09Z")
Ah, so I think my question has been answered. Except this point - when one goes to the altar for communion, if you intend to take communion, do you have to kneel with your arms crossed? Is the crossed arms the signal that you are prepared to take it? I’ve been in Catholic and related churches in the pews, and actually sang in an Episcopal church choir when I was just a broth of a boy - but I never could see what the people were actually doing when they took communion, even when I was sitting in the choir. Is that the cue you’re ready? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-non-believer-take-communion/376520.md?page=2)