Question
I heard recently that the Vatican allowed special circumstance under which a non-Catholic could be able to receive communion. How is this?
--Concerned in Katy
Answer
In 1993 the Vatican developed a Directory for the Application of the Principles and Norms of Ecumenism which contains certain circumstances.. It was a follow up to the Code of Canon Law of 1983 which gave some laws.
The directory permits non-Catholics to receive the Eucharist in danger of death (130). Also in paragraph 131 there are four conditions for non-Catholics:
1. unable to have recourse to a minister of his or her own Church or ecclesial communion for the sacrament desired;
2. ask for the sacrament of his/her own initiative;
3. manifest Catholic faith in the sacrament;
4. be properly disposed.