Closed Communion

Does the Catholic Church practice closed communion?

Yes, the Catholic Church practices closed communion, which means that in general, one must be a member of the Catholic Church to receive Holy Communion.

For related reasons, Catholics are generally prohibited from receiving communion in other churches.

The Church's practice of closed communion is based on its belief that the Eucharist "not only manifests our personal communion with Jesus Christ, but also implies full communion with the Church" (Sacramentum Caritatis, 2007). Thus, non-Catholics and Catholics who are conscious of grave sin but have not received the sacrament of Reconciliation may not receive the Eucharist.