A Right To Receive Communion?

         Although we may think that our admittance to Holy Communion is a "right," a priest has the responsibility and authority to refuse Communion to a person who is "living a notoriously evil life" until that person has "given clear proof of repentance and amendment of life." A priest may also refuse Communion to persons who have "done wrong to their neighbors and are a scandal to other members of the congregation" or when there is "hatred between members of the congregation." Please read the Disciplinary Rubrics on page 409 of the current Prayer Book! The rationale for these rubrics can be traced to the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 5:21ff.) and the 1549 Prayer Book. Their equivalents appear on pages 84f. of the 1928 Prayer Book.