I don’t think a priest can even give communion to a protestant, even if the protestant’s religion has it’s own form of communion. Something about the priest’s soul itself being in danger should he do so. As a Christian, I can respect that belief, and so wouldn’t dream of asking a priest for communion. Yet a heretic feels it’s an appropriate request and feins insult when denied? It’s not the heretic being persecuted in this story - it’s heterosexual family values and Christianity that’s being attacked.
To expand on the special circumstances - a military chaplain can and frequently does give communion to non-catholics (or catholics for that matter - two of the chaplains I served with were not catholic, yet had no difficulty with giving communion to me). On base it is easy enough to find a chaplain of your own faith, or close enough. In the field it is frequently impossible!
Hospital and (I believe) airport and shipboard chaplains also have the authority to do so.
I do not know if the good and worthy men in those positions have to be granted dispensation to do so or not, there is a retired Army chaplain here on the boards who may be able to shed more light on that side of things (I will try ping him once I remember who he is!)
I did ask, years ago, as I thought the same as you. The good Father who welcomed me into the Church just smiled and said “Which is more important? Your soul or mine?”
FRerards!
Were they Orthodox?