Question
If an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion knows that a person is not Catholic, and yet comes up to communion or is in a hospital and wants communion, can the communion minister refuse to give?
--Rough in Rochester
Answer
John Huels, a noted canonist, has commented on the situation in this way:
If a minister of communion knows for certain that a person is not baptized, he or she should not give the person communion but politely say, "You must be baptized to receive communion." Only the baptized can validly receive holy communion.
In the case of a baptized person who may be ineligible for some reason, I think it is better to give them communion, since they might actually be eligible on that occasion (e.g., c. 844 on non-Catholics receiving). Then, the pastor should be notified, and he can explain to the person, if this is likely to occur again, the reason for the ineligibility (cc. 912-917 and 844) and what may be done, if anything, to become eligible.