Question
I am a member of a team that visits two local nursing homes each Sunday to pray with and give communion to the sick and elderly. At one time or another a member of the nursing staff would ask us to give them communion. At first we did, but upon checking with my pastor he said that we should not be giving communion to the members of the staff.The subject came up again this week with a nurse who said that she was Eucharistic Minister at her church and her pastor said that they were told never to refuse communion to anyone who asked for it. What should we do?
--Nixed in Nashville
Answer
The communion minister is correct: you cannot refuse communion to anyone. However there has to be pastoral reasons for the person to receive communion. One can not receive like they are at the local fast food, etc. "picking it up when they want to receive." The Code of Canon Law, 918 states:
It is highly recommended that the faithful receive Holy Communion during the celebration of the Eucharist itself, but it should be administered outside Mass to those who request it for a just cause, the liturgical rites being observed.
Additionally, canon law states in paragraph 843:
The sacred ministers can not refuse the sacrament to those who ask for them at appropriate times, are properly disposed and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.
A communion service at a nursing home is an appropriate time for one to receive communion, even if they are able to leave the nursing home and participate in the Mass/Eucharist some where else.