"Austrian parish listens to priest, none receive the host"

[hedgehog]

VIENNA, Austria -- The parish church of Amras, Austria, near Innsbruck in Tyrol, was chock-a-block full for the first-Communion Mass on April 22. Shortly before Communion, the parish priest, Norbertine Fr. Patrick Busskamp, announced that only Catholics who were in a state of grace should come forward to Communion. Catholics who are divorced and remarried and Catholics who do not attend Mass every week were not worthy to receive the Eucharist, he said.
When Communion time came, not a single adult came forward. The entire congregation demonstratively remained seated. Only the children received Communion.

http://ncronline.org/news/global/austrian-parish-listens-priest-none-receive-host

[demosincebirth]

1. Great. I don't think many Catholics would fall into that category.

[rug]

5. Sadly, I do. No annulment.

[Matilda]

2. Mr Matilda was received into the Church on Passion Sunday, 2011.

Our daughter was in Europe, but our son came along to support his dad. He hasn't been to Mass for years, but the parish priest, who is well aware of his non-attendance, brought him up to the altar to receive Communion with us.

He would have been in the right if he'd declined to do so, but it would have looked petty, and I was so glad there was no fuss made. I think the priest's attitude is more likely to win people back than condemning them would.

[rug]

6. Congratulations to Mr Matilda!

[Gman]

3. That announcement is standard

When there are likely many others present for a special occassion. And the priest was correct on the conditions for receiving the Eucharist. Divorced and remarried is ok if done correctly.

[hedgehog]

4. The priest is correct is stating that that is what some people

think should be the conditions for receiving the Eucharist!