Q: I had a woman and she said she was a member of the Nazarene church. She asked me if I would give her communion. I was visiting was visiting a homebound parishioner and she was a caregiver. She said she believed in the,real presence. I declined. I said you had to be in full agreement with the Catholic church. I realize there are exceptions. Under what conditions can communion be given to a non-Catholic?
A: The rules are found in the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism #131: “The conditions under which a Catholic minister may administer the sacraments of the Eucharist, of penance and of the anointing of the sick to a baptized person who may be found in the circumstances given above (n. 130) are that the person be unable to have recourse for the sacrament desired to a minister of his or her own Church or ecclesial Community, ask for the sacrament of his or her own initiative, manifest Catholic faith in this sacrament and be properly disposed.”
In the case you cite, the person probably had access to communion in the Nazarene Church. If she were in danger of death or had permission from the local Catholic bishops (the circumstances in n. 130), you could give her communion.