Q: I went to evening Mass for the first time in years, and I was feeling nervous as I didn’t know the church or the people, since I recently moved from Ireland to England with my husband. As we were receiving the sacrament the priest took the wafer back and asked me in front of everyone, “Are you Catholic?” I was shocked as no one asked me about my religion before. I said yes but felt very uncomfortable throughout the rest of the Mass. Was that an OK question to ask someone? – P.A.
Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC
A: I’m sorry to hear about the incident. It’s possible that the parish priest has had the experience of many non-Catholics mistakenly coming up for Communion.
Perhaps it’s an area with a lot of non-Catholic tourists or residents who don’t understand the Church’s rules on Communion.
The priest, not recognizing you, might have thought it prudent to ask you about your faith.
Not many priests would ask such a question in the middle of Mass. People who come to receive Communion are usually presumed to be doing so in good faith.
I can only guess that this priest, because of bad experiences in the past, was simply trying to protect the Eucharist. Don’t let the incident get you discouraged.
