Theologian and Fr. Patrick Keyes provided answers to a question concerning discrimination against other Christians when excluding them from celebrating Eucharist.

The question and Keyes’ answer appeared in the bulletin of Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church in Columbia, South Carolina. A member of the Redemptorists Evangelization Team, Keyes told Catholics to keep the church’s intentions in mind. The church is not excluding people from taking part because they wish them to feel left out, Keyes said.

“Everyone is welcome to celebrate the Eucharist— there’s only one part they can’t participate in,” Keyes said in his answer. “That might sound like a copout, but Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the actual Body and Blood of Christ. For it to be true communion, everyone who receives it must believe the same thing about it.”

Citing the Guidelines for the Reception of Communion by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Keyes encouraged those who are not receiving Holy Communion to participate in the unity with Christ in their hearts through prayer.