This month, June 2020, marked the reopening of most Catholic parishes across Canada to public worship. This reopening was accompanied by several restrictions, including, for many dioceses, the prohibition of the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue (for example, the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Archdiocese of Edmonton).

This is a problem for two main reasons: 1) because reception on the tongue is a universal right in the Catholic Church, and 2) because reception on the hand is a more dangerous practice.

Reception on the tongue is not only a right, it is a universal norm, the expected manner of reception for the whole of the universal Church. Reception on the hand, however, is only granted by indult (which Canada received on February 12, 1970). So, although one has the option to receive in the hand, the universal Church both prefers and expects reception on the tongue.

Pope Paul VI, in his document Memoriale Domini (1969), explained that “Communion [on the tongue] must be retained ... not merely because it has many centuries of tradition behind it, but especially because it expresses the faithful’s reverence for the Eucharist ... This reverence shows that it is not a sharing in ‘ordinary bread and wine’ that is involved, but in the Body and Blood of the Lord.”

Since then, the Church has affirmed this right of the Laity on at least two occasions. On March 25, 2004, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued an Instruction called Redemptionis Sacramentum (n. 92), which dealt with certain abuses that had arisen in prior decades. Regarding reception on the tongue, it states, “…each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue…”

Later, in 2009, during the Swine Flu epidemic, Fr. Anthony Ward, S.M., under-secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments responded to a letter from an inquirer, saying, “This Congregation … wishes to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 22 June 2009 regarding the right of the faithful to receive Holy Communion on the tongue. This Dicastery observes that the Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum (25 March 2004) clearly stipulates that ‘each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue’ (n. 92), nor is it licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful who are not impeded by law from receiving the Holy Eucharist (cf. n. 91)”

There should be no doubt that the faithful cannot be prohibited from receiving communion on the tongue at this time. However, the prevailing argument made by bishops is that, per Canon 223 §2, the bishop has the authority to regulate the exercise of rights in view of the common good. In this sense, then, in order to protect the health of members of the faithful, the bishops have prohibited reception of communion on the tongue.

In light of this, the bishops should be made aware that the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue is as safe as reception on the hand (according to the Catholic Medical Association: “either method should be safe from transmitting the virus”), or safer (according to the F.I.A.M.C, or the World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations: “the FIAMC perfectly agrees [that Communion on the tongue is safer than hand Communion.]”). So, if the bishops are indeed concerned about the common good, the medical evidence does not justify prohibition of reception on the tongue.

Finally, it should be stressed that reception on the hand is also dangerous to the soul of the one receiving if he does not take sufficient care to reverently consume all particles of the Host from his hand. Again, Pope Paul VI, in Memoriale Domini, asserts that “No matter which method is adopted, one will be careful not to allow any fragment of the host to fall…” Indeed, Redemptionis Sacramentum (n. 92) also says that “If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.”

For all of these reasons, we are calling on the bishops of Canada to lift their prohibitions on reception of Holy Communion on the tongue. It is our right to receive this way, it is the universal norm of the Church, it is not more likely to transmit viruses than receiving in the hand, and is potentially safer in that respect, and finally it is safer to the soul who receives in this manner because there is less risk of profanation of Our Lord.

Please consider signing this petition asking the Canadian Catholic hierarchy to repeal their orders forbidding the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue and to make a clear statement to all priests not to refuse the faithful this fundamental right. Our neighbours to the South, the USCCB has already defended the faithful's inalienable right: page 9 bullet point nine USCCB Guidelines for Mass 4.28.2020 "Communion on the tongue vs. in the hand: We have carefully considered the question of Communion on the tongue vs. Communion in the hand. Given the Church’s existing guidance on this point (see Redemptionis Sacramentum , no. 92), and recognizing the differing judgments and sensibilities that are involved, we believe that, with the precautions listed here, it is possible to distribute on the tongue without unreasonable risk."