Thanks to Rorate Caeli for publishing this letter from the CDW written to a British Catholic explaining that no bishop can forbid people from receiving Holy Communion on the tongue. This letter does not mention the H1N1 virus bit apparently thhe sender of the letter did. To be fair the bishops issued recommendations that Communion on the tongue cease but people may have understood this to be a command rather than just a recommendation. When our bishop came here in October he gave Holy Communion on the tongue to those who wished to receive in that way.
3 comments:
A bishop can't forbid communion on the tongue, but he can recommend it. Then we, as faithful followers of our bishop should in charity consider following his recommendation (since communion in the hand is still licit).
c100bie I agree we should respond generously to a bishop`s recommendations but his power is not absolute. For many people this is an emotive issue and even a bishop is not beyond the law.
A further problem is that I have heard of situations where priests have refused to give Holy Communion on the tongue because of the recommendation and have caused great upset as a result.
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