Unwed Mother and Holy Communion (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

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	Unwed Mother and Holy Communion (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

Can an unwed mother (single, not divorced) receive Holy Communion? If not, how is her sin different from, say, an adulterer's?

ANSWER:

The matter about which you write is a delicate, pastoral matter, the answer to which would be dictated by a variety of considerations.

If the individual involved is truly repentant and has made a honest attempt to properly raise her child while recognizing that there is a need to prevent such things from happening again, then it is my opinion that she may receive Communion.

If, however, the individual involved sees nothing whatsoever wrong with her situation and, in fact, would go so far as to state that she would do it again, then it is my opinion that she should not receive Communion until she has had a change of heart and mind.

Please understand that, at best, I can only give a general answer based on the very broad question you have asked. It is only my opinion, but any definitive answer on behalf of a specific individual in this situation must be rendered by the individual's Father Confessor alone.

Published in January 2011.

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