It seems kind of weird that a dyinig person who professes belief in the Catholic understanding of the Eucharist can receive Communion without having to embrace all the teachings of the Catholic Church but a healthy one with the same mindset cannot receive.
Or do I just not understand this?
I have run into this situation with my mother in law. She tells me that I am the only person who ever explained to her that non-Catholics may not receive Communion - she says her own Lutheran minister and other Catholic priests have told her tht inter-communion is now permitted. I also have a friend who regularly takes her Lutheran sister in law to Communion because 'she is a good person and goes to Lutheran services every week'. Their cousin is a monsignor here in Boston and he administers Communion to this woman as well (his cousin is this woman's husband), knowing full well she is a practicing Lutheran.
It's a jungle out there.
I have seen a Catholic priest at a funeral Mass give Communion to an Episcopalian minister (former Jesuit) in his minister uniform.
The rules are made for traditionalists and conservatives to follow. Others may do as they please with the liturgy and the sacraments.
I will keep my answer short and preface it with advising everyone I am just as confused on some of the minutiae of our rules. But, if I had to say why it's different for a dying person vs. a regular person, even with all else being equal, is that a dying person will not get another chance to receive the Eucharist.