# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juli 1855_S221
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Excerpts as Contributions to Pastoral Casuistry. 221

Concerning Admission to Holy Communion.

a. When two persons seeking Communion testify against each other and the true facts cannot be ascertained. *

Thus the theological faculty at Wittenberg writes:

“From your letter to us, we learn what an intricate case has arisen among you: a man in your midst is accused of having committed fornication outside marriage with a certain person. This person not only charges him with it before the civil authorities and the ministry, but also declares herself to be a sorrowing sinner, asks forgiveness with a repentant heart, desires Holy Communion, and obediently submits to church discipline; but if refused, she appeals to Christ, the supreme Bishop. The accused man, however, continues steadfastly to deny the charge despite repeated admonition, even before the civil authorities; and because, for lack of witnesses, he cannot lawfully be convicted, he likewise asks to be regarded as a Christian and admitted to the sacred rites. Concerning this, the gentlemen request our opinion as to how they should conduct themselves toward both parties.”

“Although it cannot be clearly gathered from the gentlemen’s report whether this matter has proceeded to a formal trial before the lawful judge—in which case the gentlemen are well aware that, while the case is pending, the requested confession and absolution are not to be denied to such persons—we nevertheless hold that, even apart from this, both persons may indeed be admitted to the sacred rites after sufficient prior warning and upon their earnest insistence, provided there are no strong grounds for believing that the accused man is being wronged. Where no such grounds exist, the woman is to be regarded as a poor, repentant sinner, to whom absolution and Holy Communion cannot be denied, especially since, if refused, she appeals to Christ, and since she also obediently submits to church penance. The man, however, could be admonished all the more sternly in the presence of the civil authorities not to use Holy Communion as a cloak for appearances, as some are accustomed to do, but to know that, although it is to be administered to him, he will have to answer gravely for it on that Day if he knows himself to be guilty in his heart. Otherwise, since nothing at all has yet been proved against him, the mere accusation and the bad reputation arising from it cannot exclude him from the sacred rites. If he receives the Lord’s Supper unworthily, the preacher, who has sufficiently warned him and cannot see into his heart, bears no guilt for it. The ministry cannot judge hidden sins, nor can mere suspicion bar anyone from the Sacrament. God knows the hypocrites best and will know how to find them in His own time. Given at Wittenberg, April 21, 1624.”

(At the place cited, fol. 125.)