Should Everyone Receive the Eucharist?

While the Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion each time they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist, she also sets forth various requisites for its reception.

It is not that the Church is "unwelcoming" to non-Catholics. Rather, these norms are based on our belief that reception of the Eucharist is a sign of our unity in faith. It is a unity that does not yet exist with non-Catholics and for which we must pray always. Reception of the Eucharist is a sign of unity, and not the way to unity. If a person is not ready to profess all that the Church holds to be true, then that person is unable to receive the sign of that unity. If a person is ready to profess the faith, but is not a member of the Church, he or she is warmly welcomed to join the Church through the RCIA.