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U p F r o n t
A FINE POINT
By Tim Ryland
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This Rock
Volume 10, Number 3
 March 1999 
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In revisiting Karl Keating's "World's Toughest Catholic Quiz" (see page 18) I sprang it on a men's Bible study group at my parish. This bunch of guys is much more knowledgeable about their faith than is your average pewsitter, and they had a tough time of it. Lively discussions ensued on some of the finer points of doctrine.
In particular, question five-which concerns receiving Communion-was a flashpoint. The deacon moderating our group, who spends many hours ministering to prisoners, argued that it is permissible for someone to receive Communion with an unconfessed mortal sin on his soul, so long as he makes an act of perfect contrition and resolves to go to confession as soon as possible.
A friend who's a smarter guy than me took issue: "It is never permissible to receive Communion in a state of mortal sin."
As the discussion continued I sided with my friend. The deacon held his ground. "You see some of these guys in jail who are Catholic," he said, "and who sometimes have to go six months in between confessions. Say they've committed a mortal sin and are truly repentant-is it right to deprive them of the Blessed Sacrament?"
After a few more exchanges, when it was clear no one's mind was going to be changed, my friend shook his head. "You call the local diocesan canon lawyer. He'll tell you it's not allowed."
The deacon in fact did so and called me at work the next day. "Our canonist agrees with me," he said. "I just thought you should know." The canon lawyer confirmed this. The governing canon is 916: "A person who is conscious of grave [i.e., mortal] sin is not to celebrate Mass or to receive the Body of the Lord without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible."
The phrases "grave reason" and "no opportunity of confessing" are obviously subject to interpretation. Catholic Answers staff apologist James Akin referred me to a rule of thumb used by some when interpreting the canon: If there will be "no opportunity of confessing" within thirty days, then the person in mortal sin may perform an act of perfect contrition and receive Communion.
My friend was still unhappy. "I thought 'grave reason' has always been understood as danger of death, as in war time. Why not do things right and get confession before Communion? We're always obliged to receive absolution through confession for mortal sins committed, but we're not obliged to receive Communion, other than our 'Easter duty.' As for 'perfect' contrition-how do you know? Is it a feeling? An inner voice? I cannot say whether or not I have committed an act of perfect contrition. Can you?"
I can't. In fact, even after proper sacramental confession and penance I tend to worry that my contrition stems more from the threat of hell than from the promise of heaven. At any rate, I thank God that I'm not in a situation that keeps me from confession. Let us keep in our prayers those who are.
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