Dear Father Angelo,

I joined a parish workshop on catechesis, where a Baptist female pastor, Prof. Lidia Maggi, had been invited. At the end of the catechesis, the parish priest celebrated Mass. The pastor concelebrated and partook of communion in both species.

But is all of this allowed by the Catholic Church?

Thank you for your reply

Gianfranco

Answer from the priest

Dear Gianfranco,

1. Although it is said that there is no limit to the worst, I doubt that things went the way you described them.

It seems to me something completely unlikely and also especially serious.

2. In any case: about the concelebration, it must be said that the pastor did not consecrate anything.

And this is simply because she lacks the potestas ordinis, the power to consecrate.

3. To consecrate the body and blood of the Lord it is necessary to have received this supernatural power communicated by Christ to the Apostles and transmitted by them without interruption through a chain of persons that reaches our priests.

Now, the pastor did not receive from anyone this transmission of power which would make her capable of consecrating.

4. It must also be said that the Catholic Church has definitively declared that it has not received from Christ the authorization to transmit priestly consecration to women.

And therefore, even if the rite of priestly ordination is performed, this ordination is invalid.

So, it remains established that the pastor at the altar did nothing, she did not celebrate any sacrament.

5. It should also be remembered that those who attempt to celebrate a sacrament incur an excommunication reserved to the Holy See.

Canon 1378 § 2 specifies: “a person who attempts the liturgical action of the Eucharistic sacrifice though not promoted to the sacerdotal order”.

Certainly, the pastor does not belong to the Catholic Church and therefore she does not care about this excommunication.

However, the parish priest who did such a thing committed a sacrilege.

I am sure that the matter has been referred to the bishop, who – I hope – has acted in regard to it.

6. Regarding the Communion partaken by the pastor, it should be remembered what the Code of Canon Law says:

“Can. 844 §1. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments licitly to Catholic members of the Christian faithful alone, who likewise receive them licitly from Catholic ministers alone, without prejudice to the prescripts of §§2, 3, and 4 of this canon, and can. 861, §2.

§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.

§3. Catholic ministers administer the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick licitly to members of Eastern Churches which do not have full communion with the Catholic Church if they seek such on their own accord and are properly disposed. This is also valid for members of other Churches which in the judgment of the Apostolic See are in the same condition in regard to the sacraments as these Eastern Churches.

§4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed”.

7. Now, the least that can be said of the communion partaken by the pastor is that there is a real danger of indifferentism, because Protestants do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, nor do they seek the state of grace through sacramental Confession.

8. Ecumenism is a duty and the division of scandals is scandalous especially for non-Christians who approach the Gospel.

But the path traveled in your community is not the right one.

I remember you in prayer and I bless you.

Father Angelo

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