Non-Catholics attending Mass are welcome, but only Catholics can take Communion. Catholics believe the wafer is the body of Christ and taking it without belief is sacrilegious. Non-Catholics should not take Communion, even if considering joining the church. Other Christian churches may have similar rules. It’s best to ask a Christian friend or pastor for advice on how Communion is viewed in a specific church.
Some people may enjoy attending Mass but do not practice the Catholic faith. The Catholic Church is happy to see people of different faiths attending, but they require, most often in the service, that only Catholics attend the Communion portion of the service. Taking Communion when you are not a Catholic seems like a violation of the sacred nature of the sacrament for most practicing Catholics.
This may seem a little strange to non-Catholics, who wonder why it matters. A practicing Catholic would answer that it is important for the spirit in which Communion is received. Catholics believe that the wafer is literally the body of Christ, transformed from bread by the priest who presides over the service. For Catholics, accepting the body of Christ when not believing it so is sacrilegious and heretical.
If non-Catholics are considering becoming Catholics, accepting the Communion wafer is still not appropriate. Receiving the wafer for First Communion, whether as a child or as an adult, requires thoughtful participation and education. The sacrament of the Eucharist takes place after baptism. Someone who is not yet a member of the Catholic Church is welcome to attend Masses, investigate and take special courses if he or she wishes to join the church at some point in the future.
Many other Christian churches also have a communion ceremony and may also ask people not to attend unless they are members of the church. Some churches may not care what denomination a Christian practices. They can encourage all who are Christians to take part in the service section if they truly believe in Christ and believe that Communion is symbolic of the body of Christ.
This is especially true for churches that are quite similar. For example, an Anglican Christian might take communion in a Presbyterian or Episcopal church. Churches that are non-denominational and have a Communion service can encourage all of those with Christian beliefs to attend.
In most cases, if one is not a Christian, one should refrain from taking Communion in any church where it is offered. Although in some cases, a church may believe that such an exclusion is unnecessary. A church may conclude that the person who takes part shares in the body of Christ whether he believes or not.
If you enjoy attending church services but aren’t a Christian, it’s a good idea to ask a Christian friend who belongs to the church, or pastor, what you should do about the Communion portion of the celebration. These people can help advise you on how the sacrament is viewed in a specific church.
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