The Bishop of Gozo has insisted that all those commiting mortal sin - and not just cohabitation - may not receive Holy Communion. In a homily yesterday to mark the feast of Corpus Domini, Mgr Mario Grech referred to the current controversy on Holy Communion.
"We are living at a time where we give the appearance of being religious, but we are losing the sense of what is sacred and this is leading to abuse of the Eucharist," Mgr Grech said.
He pointed out that St Paul had warned (in Corinthians 11, 27-29) that anyone receiving the Eucharist without deserving to, would be condemning himself.
Mgr Grech said that the Church had always said those receiving Holy Communion must not have committed mortal sin.
People would be committing mortal sin not only when they engaged in sexual activity outside marriage , but also though other choices in life.
Those who committed mortal sin needed to go to confession before receiving Communion.
Mgr Grech said that anyone who committed an act which caused moral disorder could not receive Communion - even if subjectively this person had reasons which excused him/her or reduced the blame, since receiving Communion would cause a scandal to others.
The faithful, he said, should examine whether they had lost their sense of what constituted a sin. If everything was allowed, one could see how abuses were made with regard to the Eucharist.
SIC: TomCom