No Holy Communion for Child Down Syndrome

[jilly4ski]

I can understand the Western approach based on what Western theology is. But there is something severely wrong when people are denied communion just because of the current practice.

I have a niece who just turned 7, she has some disabilities, one if which gives her difficulties eating solid food. (Anything beyond puree). She is being worked up to more and more texture, but still will not eat crackers (She will lick them and put them back).

Should she be allowed to receive her first Holy Communion just because she has reached the “magical age” of 7? She can actually sit through Mass, and asks to “go visit Jesus” which is more than the article claimed the boy could do.

I understand and admire the practice in the East of giving babies and infants the Holy Eucharist. But I still assert, that with the west’s tradition of waiting until the age of reason for first Holy communion, and that it wait until the person can confess their sins and fulfill their other obligations, that the priest was in the right to delay this boy’s sacrament.

 

[Fay_Roberts]

to any person who objects, may I suggest you read Morris West’s book Clowns Of God, you will find this well worth your time it will make you THINK

 

[lndknwls]

If you read the entire thing, it seems to me based on the comments of the Priest that the parents may not be working with the child, nor doing all the things that are required of them as parents of a First Communicant. I simply cannot believe any Church would refuse a child because of Down Syndrome. We had a Down Syndrome child receive First Holy Communion right along with his entire class. His parents always had him in class and they never missed Mass. If they had not been doing their part, perhaps we would not have allowed him to make First Communion at that time.

 

[triumphguy]

black child, catholic child, smart child, etc. its just for brevity. no ill will.

Yes - all labels are easy and quick to use.

But the labels smart child and downs child are not equal.

Saying Child with Down Syndrome isn’t that hard really.

 

[CDB1718]

I have a niece who just turned 7, she has some disabilities, one if which gives her difficulties eating solid food. (Anything beyond puree). She is being worked up to more and more texture, but still will not eat crackers (She will lick them and put them back).

Should she be allowed to receive her first Holy Communion just because she has reached the “magical age” of 7? She can actually sit through Mass, and asks to “go visit Jesus” which is more than the article claimed the boy could do.

I understand and admire the practice in the East of giving babies and infants the Holy Eucharist. But I still assert, that with the west’s tradition of waiting until the age of reason for first Holy communion, and that it wait until the person can confess their sins and fulfill their other obligations, that the priest was in the right to delay this boy’s sacrament.

I agree that the parents appear to be non-practicing and that the priest is in the right to ask for some signs that the family understands and respects the faith such as obedience in following the priest’s instruction to attend classes.

In the west, the age of 7 is generally regarded as the age of reason, which means the child becomes morally culpable for wrongdoing. At this point, the child needs access to the sacrament of Confession and needs the Eucharist to strengthen her in her faith. In the east, we believe this is affecting a child from day 1, but I get the west’s thought process.

According to the western thought, if a person has reached an age of reason, which might or might not be age 7, then that person is in need of the Eucharist. Your niece can receive through many ways. One would be to receive only from the chalice, another with a small host being intincted so that she gets a mushy consistency, and another is to allow communion outside of Mass where she can take a little water with only a small piece of the host, and another is to allow her to use a small piece of unleavened bread instead of the dried wafer. These are all acceptable in a Roman Catholic church. Not going through this trouble for her if she is otherwise ready to receive, and then saying she doesn’t need it because she’s “only” 7 makes me sad. Receiving the Eucharist isn’t an annual obligation, it is the “source and summit” of our faith. I can’t comprehend someone being denied because of disability.

I again state that I do not believe the child being discussed in the article was denied or delayed on those grounds.

 

[jilly4ski]

I agree that the parents appear to be non-practicing and that the priest is in the right to ask for some signs that the family understands and respects the faith such as obedience in following the priest’s instruction to attend classes.

In the west, the age of 7 is generally regarded as the age of reason, which means the child becomes morally culpable for wrongdoing. At this point, the child needs access to the sacrament of Confession and needs the Eucharist to strengthen her in her faith. In the east, we believe this is affecting a child from day 1, but I get the west’s thought process.

According to the western thought, if a person has reached an age of reason, which might or might not be age 7, then that person is in need of the Eucharist. Your niece can receive through many ways. One would be to receive only from the chalice, another with a small host being intincted so that she gets a mushy consistency, and another is to allow communion outside of Mass where she can take a little water with only a small piece of the host, and another is to allow her to use a small piece of unleavened bread instead of the dried wafer. These are all acceptable in a Roman Catholic church. Not going through this trouble for her if she is otherwise ready to receive, and then saying she doesn’t need it because she’s “only” 7 makes me sad. Receiving the Eucharist isn’t an annual obligation, it is the “source and summit” of our faith. I can’t comprehend someone being denied because of disability.

I again state that I do not believe the child being discussed in the article was denied or delayed on those grounds.

I did not state ‘only 7’. I said the “magical age” of 7, at which a child may or may not have reached the age of reason. These parents want the child to receive FHC with his class, without any discussion (on their part) about whether the child has actually reached the ‘age of reason.’ (it doesn’t even have to be very complete either, they just have to know that the Eucharist is not ordinary bread and be able to fulfill their other obligations, like weekly Mass and confession.

I don’t know if my niece will receive this year, or if they will make special considerations for he when she is ready, that is for a priest and her parents to determine.

Receiving the Eucharist indeed isn’t an obligation, but with the privilege of receiving the Eucharist come responsibilities, like confessing sin, and attending Mass weekly.

 

[CDB1718]

Yes - all labels are easy and quick to use.

But the labels smart child and downs child are not equal.

Saying Child with Down Syndrome isn’t that hard really.

Incidentally, smart child can be equally harmful. Swapping the order helps everyone.

This is my gifted artist, Jane.
This is my allergic daughter, Jane.
This is my autistic daughter, Jane.
This is my adopted daughter, Jane.

This wording subtly links her to one identity, and it is an identity the adult has chosen. Children identified in that way on a regular basis can come to regard the quality as an essential identification locking them into one set norm. Not only does that carry stereotypes which the child might not want to conform to, but if the child feels like he isn’t living up to the label then she might despair of her own identity or worth.

This is Jane. She is a gifted artist.
This is Jane. She has allergies to wheat and milk.
This is Jane. She has autism.
This is my daughter, Jane.

This wording doesn’t preclude other things Jane is. She is Jane. And she happens to be good at art. She also is great at washing dishes, climbing trees and goal-tending in soccer, and she has autism and allergies, and she is part of this family. This wording respects that she is, in and of itself, and that she is worthy for no other reason than that she is. And it allows the many dimensions to her and her life to be discussed.

A lot of children won’t have a problem with one way or another, but sensitive children will especially feel the internal conflict. Gender identity problems can start with this kind of labeling, self-esteem issues, anxiety, all sorts of stuff. Not knowing how the person will take it, and considering the potential for harm, the extra half second is worth taking to flip the order for every person. Pretty soon, it becomes second nature and you don’t even have to think about it or go out of your way to do it.

 

[CDB1718]

I did not state ‘only 7’. I said the “magical age” of 7, at which a child may or may not have reached the age of reason. These parents want the child to receive FHC with his class, without any discussion (on their part) about whether the child has actually reached the ‘age of reason.’ (it doesn’t even have to be very complete either, they just have to know that the Eucharist is not ordinary bread and be able to fulfill their other obligations, like weekly Mass and confession.

I don’t know if my niece will receive this year, or if they will make special considerations for he when she is ready, that is for a priest and her parents to determine.

Receiving the Eucharist indeed isn’t an obligation, but with the privilege of receiving the Eucharist come responsibilities, like confessing sin, and attending Mass weekly.

I agree 100%.

 

[incense]

Incidentally, smart child can be equally harmful. Swapping the order helps everyone.

This is my gifted artist, Jane.
This is my allergic daughter, Jane.
This is my autistic daughter, Jane.
This is my adopted daughter, Jane.

This wording subtly links her to one identity, and it is an identity the adult has chosen. Children identified in that way on a regular basis can come to regard the quality as an essential identification locking them into one set norm. Not only does that carry stereotypes which the child might not want to conform to, but if the child feels like he isn’t living up to the label then she might despair of her own identity or worth.

This is Jane. She is a gifted artist.
This is Jane. She has allergies to wheat and milk.
This is Jane. She has autism.
This is my daughter, Jane.
t.

I hadn’t thought about it before. I will now. Thanks.

 

[jmcrae]

Anyways, I’d love to meet a 7-year-old who understands the Eucharist.

I’ve met more seven year olds who understand it than adults.

Something happens between the ages of 10 and 14, that we lose all of our spiritual understanding, and we have to relearn it all over again. Most people seem not to bother.

 

[Elizium23]

I have a niece who just turned 7, she has some disabilities, one if which gives her difficulties eating solid food. (Anything beyond puree). She is being worked up to more and more texture, but still will not eat crackers (She will lick them and put them back).

Should she be allowed to receive her first Holy Communion just because she has reached the “magical age” of 7? She can actually sit through Mass, and asks to “go visit Jesus” which is more than the article claimed the boy could do.

I understand and admire the practice in the East of giving babies and infants the Holy Eucharist. But I still assert, that with the west’s tradition of waiting until the age of reason for first Holy communion, and that it wait until the person can confess their sins and fulfill their other obligations, that the priest was in the right to delay this boy’s sacrament.

If the texture of the food is the only thing coming between her and reception of the Eucharist, it is entirely possible to offer her Holy Communion under the species of wine only, if not a sip from the chalice, then a few drops administered by pipette.

 

[jilly4ski]

If the texture of the food is the only thing coming between her and reception of the Eucharist, it is entirely possible to offer her Holy Communion under the species of wine only, if not a sip from the chalice, then a few drops administered by pipette.

It is not the only thing, though it is one of the main concerns. (There are many issues this child and her parents are dealing with).

 

[coco2]

At my old parish we had a religious ed class for first communion preparation for kids with disabilities. One had downs syndrome and I don’t know the actual label on the other child, but probably fell under the umbrella of Autism. They were both so excited to receive Jesus in the Eurcharist. I know this for certain, because I was their teacher!

 

[Jupiter_Victor]

I’m an Ex-Eastern Catholic. and after hearing this story I am
A. proud I come from an Eastern Christian background where nonsense like this isn’t acceptable
B. more convinced than ever that The Eastern Catholic Churches need to separate themselves from the papal Church. despite the Vatican’s insistence that we share the same faith; we really do not! even when I was a Eastern Catholic I never heard anything nice about the latin Church, just horror stories from my father, my aunt and other family members that were subjected abuse at Roman Catholic Schools for not knowing the Hail Mary etc

frankly an Eastern ‘Catholic/Christian’ who supports being under rome isn’t really an Eastern Catholic…but a Roman Catholic who like an exotic liturgy.

back to the story at hand. this story is appalling from beginning to end! the Catholic church should be ashamed!

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

I’m an Ex-Eastern Catholic. and after hearing this story I am
A. proud I come from an Eastern Christian background where nonsense like this isn’t acceptable
B. more convinced than ever that The Eastern Catholic Churches need to separate themselves from the papal Church. despite the Vatican’s insistence that we share the same faith; we really do not! even when I was a Eastern Catholic I never heard anything nice about the latin Church, just horror stories from my father, my aunt and other family members that were subjected abuse at Roman Catholic Schools for not knowing the Hail Mary etc

frankly an Eastern ‘Catholic/Christian’ who supports being under rome isn’t really an Eastern Catholic…but a Roman Catholic who like an exotic liturgy.

back to the story at hand. this story is appalling from beginning to end! the Catholic church should be ashamed!

Eastern Catholic means that your patriarch submits to papal authority. Without this, you are Eastern Orthodox.

 

[jmcrae]

back to the story at hand. this story is appalling from beginning to end! the Catholic church should be ashamed!

Right, because it should be perfectly okay for a child to make a wheel out of the Eucharist, drive it down the pew, stick it up his nose, or anything, merely because he has reached the magic age of seven - understanding and reverence are purely optional, and the big meanies who require children to know what it is they are receiving, and to receive it with reverence (regardless of whether or not they suffer from any kind of disability), are just doing that because they hate kids.

 

[NYCATHOLICGIRL]

Last year I was blessed by being asked to be the sponser of a little boy with Muscular Dystrophy. He was confirmed at a special Mass for children with disabilites at St.Patricks Cathedral in NYC, ArchBishop Dolan was the Celebrant. There were all types of children with dia’sblites there and even adults with developmental delays. It was such a beautiful experience. At that time I was going through a difficult time in my personal life and God gave me this refeshing water to drink.

One thing to keep in mind, God is not bound by the sacraments,so I am sure that he blesses these little children in a way that we will never know here on this earth.

 

[anon1234567]

here we are

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-18127448

 

[tarboy]

Even regular children must wait till they’ve reached the ‘age of reason’ and are properly prepared for the sacrament.

If a disabled child cannot retain the expected knowledge of the sacrament, and lack clarity of reason, I can understand why they are refused the sacrament, sad as it may be.

Exactly! My heart has a soft spot for those with special needs, so I think there should be much more clear guidelines set forth for this. As mentioned, most people with Downs function around the level of a seven-year-old so that shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Giving Communion to seven year olds is not a dogma or doctrine of the Church. It is discipline, which can be dispensed or abrogated all together. Eastern Churches still give communion to infants upon baptism and chrismation. My son who is now 26 months old, has been receiving Communion since he was 13 months old. My daughter will be received into the Church in 2 weeks and she will also be given Communion then.