Eucharistic Sharing

The Eucharist both brings about ecclesial communion and visibly manifests it. Because reception professes communion in faith, sacraments, and ecclesiastical governance, the Catholic norm is that Catholic ministers administer the sacraments to Catholics and Catholics receive them from Catholic ministers. Eucharistic sharing is therefore not a general instrument for creating unity before the Church is united, nor may sacramental discipline be treated as a judgment on a person's sincerity or holiness.^[2]

Common prayer, Scripture, service, and theological dialogue admit broader forms of participation. Eucharistic concelebration is different: a Catholic priest may not concelebrate with ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church. Hospitality at a liturgy does not by itself imply permission to receive Communion.

A Catholic for whom access to a Catholic minister is physically or morally impossible may receive penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from a non-Catholic minister in whose Church those sacraments are valid when necessity requires or a true spiritual advantage suggests it, provided danger of error or indifferentism is avoided. This exception ordinarily concerns Churches with valid priesthood and Eucharist; convenience or a wish to make a symbolic gesture is not enough.

Catholic ministers may give penance, Eucharist, and anointing to members of Eastern Churches not in full communion, and to members of other Churches judged by the Apostolic See to be in the same sacramental condition, when they ask on their own and are properly disposed. The discipline of their own Church should also be respected.^[3]

For other baptized Christians, admission requires danger of death or another grave necessity judged by the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, inability to approach a minister of their own community, a voluntary request, proper disposition, and manifestation of Catholic faith in the sacrament. Local general norms require the consultation specified by canon 844 §5. These are pastoral exceptions within the Church's doctrine of communion, not open intercommunion.