An eight-year-old theologian

[Omnia]

There is a child in my summer catechetical program/Catholic-style Vacation Bible School who is not Catholic.  During this camp we have daily Mass, and offer Confession each day.  This eight-year-old boy came up to me and asked if he could go to Confession.  I explained he wouldn't be able to, and he looked sad; I asked him why he wanted to go to Confession.  He looked at me and softly said "because I have a dirty soul."  I like that explaination for why a person should want to go to Confession... of course, if this kid has a dirty soul, I imagine mine must be black as night.

[LightHammer]

There is a child in my summer catechetical program/Catholic-style Vacation Bible School who is not Catholic.  During this camp we have daily Mass, and offer Confession each day.  This eight-year-old boy came up to me and asked if he could go to Confession.  I explained he wouldn't be able to, and he looked sad; I asked him why he wanted to go to Confession.  He looked at me and softly said "because I have a dirty soul."  I like that explaination for why a person should want to go to Confession... of course, if this kid has a dirty soul, I imagine mine must be black as night.

A friend of mine is going to Mass with me this Sunday and its going to pain me to tell him that he can not receive the Eucharist when its administered. Such a crucial source of noursihment in a Christians' life and I have to tell him he can't have it. It kind of hurts. I know he particularly does not accept the Truth of the literal presence of Christ in the Eucharist but still it makes me feel bad.

I don't have any helpful words for the way you feel only empathy. Perhaps you can tell him that whenever he wants to seek confession you would happily pray with him. Apart from that you could perhaps attempt to seek his parents' approval for bringing the child into a full communion with the Church.

[pointmade]

Amazing!
What formal teaching would relate to a eight-year-old boy that he has a "dirty soul"?

This was the teachings of the Docetics in the first century.
Beyond my imagination that an 8 year old would come up with this.
But, in some Protestant churches....he could get that idea!