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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The suggestion that the Roman Church or any parish thereof has a binding "policy" mandating that non-Catholics traipse about at communion and ask for a "kiddie-blessing" for no reason other than to have people uniformly traipsing about is just silly. There is not any such official policy. And if some misguided cleric nonetheless should insist?  What are they going to do?  Send goons with shock-sticks to encourage the recalcitrant?

The Roman Eucharist is (with specific exemptions not relevant here) not open to non-Catholics. The Protestant "Lord's Table" may be open to all; that is up to the Protestants.  Catholics are not permitted communion in Protestant churches, according to Catholic practice.

Moreover, Catholics do not "take" communion. They "receive" it. It is a gift, but only for members of the Roman Church.  The inability of some clerics to communicate this is appalling. The whole "row by row, everybody go" communion "procession" is not required; it arose after Vatican II and causes well-meaning non-Catholics to feel pressured. That is an abuse. Just as we make non-family members feel welcome in our homes, Catholics can and do make non-Catholics feel welcome in church. But feeling welcome and being a family member are two different things.

A non-Catholic at a Catholic Mass should remain seated at Communion. There is no obligation to get up and wander about to "fit in."  And, honestly, [b]nobody will notice or care[/b].  [/quote]

It's hard not to notice when most everyone is doing something and a few people aren't. [b] You wonder, for instance, are they Catholic?  If so, are they rebelling against the church or their family? have they sinned?  Not been to confession lately and not been forgiven of their sins?[/b]

I wouldn't be at all surprised that some Catholics who were not in a state of grace have gone to communion just to keep people from wondering about them.  That, of course is a sin in itself -- taking communion when not in a state of grace, i.e., not having confessed and been forgiven of one's sins[/quote]

Op here.  Being nosy is your problem.  This particular mass is part of a high school graduation.   Not all of the guests will be Catholic.[/quote]

RIght, so people will wonder, is that person a catholic who is not in a state of grace or is it a non-catholic.  It's not being "nosy" it's being observant -- when there's not much else to do except watch people.[/quote]

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