Priests Should Not Refuse Communion to Faithful Who are Tardy for Mass

Today, a ferial day, I was concelebrating (alas!) and the pastor (mens nostra) of the parish refused communion to a zealous parishioner who arrived after the liturgy of the word.

That surprised me and reminded me of another priest friend and classmate (who has since left the priesthood [Kyrie eleison!]) who, in his zeal for the sacrament, would systematically and notoriously, do the same thing.

Priests who do that are violating the right of the faithful to the sacraments. Here are the relevant canons on the matter. I do intend to advise the pastor of that parish regarding this, when opportune.

I. Canons 843.1, 918 (on the obligation to administer the sacraments).
II. Canons 915, 916 (on the only canonical conditions for refusing the sacraments).

I. Can. 843 §1. Sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.
   Can. 918 It is highly recommended that the faithful receive holy communion during the eucharistic celebration itself. It is to be administered outside the Mass, however, to those who request it for a just cause, with the liturgical rites being observed.

II. Can. 915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinatelypersevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.
    Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.