Canada's Evangelical Prime Minister Receives Catholic Communion? Notes on Open Communion

Canadian prime minister criticised for taking communion
By Leanne Larmondin
Toronto, 10 July (ENI)--Just days before a scheduled audience with Pope Benedict XVI, the Canadian prime minister, an evangelical Protestant, was in hot water after taking communion at a Roman Catholic funeral, contrary to church protocol.

When the incident was initially reported, it was suggested that Prime Minister Stephen Harper slipped the consecrated host into his pocket or service leaflet, but his spokesperson and another attendee said he did consume it.

Others who witnessed the ceremony, though, point to a clip posted online at the video sharing Web site YouTube that shows the Canadian leader accepting the host, a thin wafer, from a priest, but he is not seen raising it to his mouth. The incident took place at the State funeral in Memramcook, New Brunswick, of Roméo LeBlanc, Canada's former governor general.

Monsignor Brian Henneberry, vicar general and chancellor in the diocese of Saint John, told the Telegraph Journal newspaper in Saint John that he received a complaint from a Catholic. He called for an explanation from the prime minister's office about what happened to the wafer. The issue of whether the prime minister consumed the host aside, the matter was simple, say church leaders and spokespersons: as a non-Catholic, Harper should not have accepted communion.

"In terms of the celebration of the Mass, coming up for communion is reserved for Catholics," said Neil MacCarthy, communications director for the Archdiocese of Toronto. "That is not meant to be exclusive but, rather, inclusive of those who believe [that the host is the body of Christ]."

At funerals and other events that might gather members of other religious traditions, priests often state prior to celebrating the Eucharist that only Catholics may receive communion, although that apparently did not happen at the New Brunswick service.

Non-Catholics are often invited to receive a blessing, by approaching with their arms crossed over their chests.

Harper was scheduled to meet the Pope on 11 July after the meeting of leaders of the Group of Eight industrial nations in L'Aquila, Italy.  [Reprinted by permission]

In our Orthodox parish, if you come forward with your arms crossed over your chest, that means you intend to partake of Communion; non-Orthodox may come forward to receive a blessing, but if you cross your arms over your chest, you would be sending the wrong signal. (And don't come forward with your hands in your pockets or chewing gum! I've seen this).

I did attend a Catholic funeral Mass in which all were invited to participate in Communion, in such as way that I felt awkward staying in my pew (but I remained.) About 20 years ago, a Jewish man told me he had been in an Orthodox parish and he took Communion. He thought it was rather hospitable of them.

What I tell people when they complain about the lack of "open communion" is that I view my partaking on any given day as tied to pastoral oversight and the sacrament of confession. If you are not "under the discipline" of this particular church (not just the local parish), the pastor is unable to bridge our sad divisions by offering Communion.

I do not believe that open Communion has created the Christian unity it was supposed to. Some commentators have used the analogy of having premarital sex for sharing Communion before we are united in one church. I've altered that idea to suggest that it's more like a couple who have become estranged, separated, and divorced, some years later now reconciled and desiring to become married to each other again. Should they have relations before they are officially remarried?

Perhaps the Pope will settle the matter with the Prime Minister, in Christian charity.