As churches begin to open across our country once again for the celebration of public Masses, various Catholic news media and other sources are reporting that some dioceses are forbidding the people to receive Holy Communion on the tongue which, according to Church Liturgical Law is an option and right of the individual. No Bishop or priest has the authority to change universal Church Law and forbid the ordinary way to receive Holy Communion. Communion in the hand is an extraordinary way of receiving and is permitted by way of an indult. Only the Pope has the authority to change universal Church Law. Browsing through a number of diocesan websites I have read in their directives everything from strongly recommending people to receive Communion in the hand to outright forbidding reception on the tongue. This is not a sanction that can be imposed.
The instruction from the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments titled Redemptionis sacramentum and dated March 25, 2004 clearly states that each of the faithful "always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue" (n. 92), nor is it licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ's faithful who are not impeded by law from receiving the Holy Eucharist (cf. n. 91).
Why are some dioceses upholding the rights of the faithful to receive Holy Communion on the tongue and others are not? Why are some dioceses ignoring the fact that there are Catholics who wish to receive in the traditional way and others which are giving clear guidelines on how to receive on the tongue during this time of pandemic? Neighboring dioceses are at odds with each other on this. The COVID-19 Coronavirus is the same whether in New York or Alaska, whether in Florida or Michigan. It does not change from diocese to diocese or state to state. Neither should the interpretation of Church Law be changed from diocese to diocese or state to state.
When the pandemic broke out two months ago, a doctor and an immunologist from the State of Oregon were consulted on the spread of the Coronavirus and both agreed that when done properly the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue or in the hand pose a more or less equal risk. The risk of touching the tongue and passing saliva on to others is obviously a danger, however the chance of touching someone's hand is equally and possibly more probable and it is known that there are more germs on hands than in the mouth. In my 19 years as a priest and the thousands of Holy Communions which I distributed, I can attest that very few times have my fingers come in contact with the tongue or saliva of the communicant as I am extremely careful. The fingers of the priest are purified in the chalice after the distribution of Holy Communion and I do not find it a pleasant thought to drink water where there are traces of another's saliva.
Below is a link to an excellent study recently completed by the Thomistic Institute at the request of bishops. A working group of infectious disease experts, medical professionals, scientists, and Catholic theologians have developed detailed guidance for how Catholic sacraments could be provided in the midst of the current pandemic, in accord with the current standards issued by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It insures that the Blessed Sacrament will be respected, which should be the first and foremost concern of a priest as we are dealing with God, and the faithful be kept safe. For example, the study does not recommend the use of gloves for the distribution of Holy Communion but hand sanitizer and that it is possible to distribute on the tongue without unreasonable risk when certain precautions are followed. These guidelines have been approved by the Committee for Divine Worship of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and thus should be followed. This is a fair, well researched and professional document and not the work of a group of individuals who are making decisions on how things should or should not develop based on their opinion or likes.
When we eventually resume public Masses here at our parish we shall be following the detailed guidelines found herein. You will not be refused Holy Communion on the tongue here by any priest as according to Church Liturgical Law it is your right to receive that way! I include a link so that you may read the document for yourselves and be well informed of what is permissible and safe based on the findings of these experts:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/580e5b23579fb3fdc10ab03c/t/5ebb085a563107184e616409/1589315675057/Guidelines+for+Mass+%285.7.2020%29.pdf
In Jesus and Mary,
Fr. X.
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