Such was the case at my mother's funeral last June. I cannot recall if they were mentioned from the pulpit but they were there in unmistakeable print in the funeral program. Did something happen in the eight months between then and now?
Yesterday and the week before, I attended the 11:00 am Mass at Blessed Sacrament that sits just south of the MD-DC line east of Chevy Chase Circle. Although I didn't know the deceased, I picked up the programs. Neither one had the Guidelines for Receiving Communion. Moreover, Father never mentioned them from the pulpit. He seemed cognizant of the presence of non-Catholics for he was careful to guide them in standinng, sitting, kneeling, and he briefly explained parts of the Mass.
Non-Catholics who didn't know better might well have received Holy Communion. I hardly think they can be faulted for such a gaffe. However, we know better. It could easily have been foreseen that non-Catholics might attempt to receive, yet nothing was done to prevent that.
Now I have a number of questions, and I invite responses from readers.
- Both my mother's funeral and these two memorial services occurred within the Archdiocese of Washington. Is anyone aware of any related policy that would have occurred within the past few months?
- If anyone else recently attended a funeral, memorial or wedding within the ADW recently, what did you notice in the program?
- If there was a policy change, what was the given reason for such change?
- Have similar things been observed in other areas of the country?
- Is anyone aware of any pertinent language on the USCCB site regarding this matter?
Thanks for any input. Frankly, I am smelling the stench of Amoralis Lamentia all over this.
