No Holy Communion for Child Down Syndrome

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adrift said:
I would like to see this too.

Catholic Church lift ban and allow child with Down Syndrome to receive First Communion
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I believe that the current Catholic Church practice is very lenient and sensible; I would like to see it maintained.

In my experience, children from all learning backgrounds are given the instruction needed to appreciate at some level how special it is to receive the Eucharist. I realize that some religious traditions will distribute the Eucharist to those who have no idea that something special has been given to them. While that is their tradition and I respect it, I am glad that the Catholic Church does have some catechism instruction surrounding receipt of Communion.
 
AnotherVoice said:
I believe that the current Catholic Church practice is very lenient and sensible; I would like to see it maintained.

In my experience, children from all learning backgrounds are given the instruction needed to appreciate at some level how special it is to receive the Eucharist. I realize that some religious traditions will distribute the Eucharist to those who have no idea that something special has been given to them. While that is their tradition and I respect it, I am glad that the Catholic Church does have some catechism instruction surrounding receipt of Communion.
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Same with myself. From what I’ve heard the Eastern churches they tend to have a much higher understanding and respect for the Eucharist than is common for the average person in the west, at least speaking from here. They can maybe get away with it. I can’t see how it could possibly work for us here if it was changed today, given that a large amount of people who have been given instruction at the age of reason lack in understanding as it is.

Going to go with JPII on this and say that ancient practices aren’t necessarily wise to go back to in modern circumstances just because they are ancient.
 
Here was my opinion without parsing:

“In my experience, children from all learning backgrounds are given the instruction needed to appreciate at some level how special it is to receive the Eucharist. I realize that some religious traditions will distribute the Eucharist to those who have no idea that something special has been given to them. While that is their tradition and I respect it, I am glad that the Catholic Church does have some catechism instruction surrounding receipt of Communion.”

While I will respect the Eastern tradition, I do not favor it and support the current teachings of the Catholic Church.
 
The guideline applying to the reception of the Eucharist is a difference between the Eastern and Western church traditions. I don’t feel that recognizing a difference is necessarily a bad thing.

You advocated that the Catholic Church adopt the Eastern norm of infant communion in your post # 61 above, I responded that I support the current teaching of the Catholic Church. I believe that all recipients should, even if at the most basic level, have an appreciation that receiving communion is special.

I certainly don’t see the difference as a false dilemma but something that is different.
 
Seira said:
No there’s still accepted prejudice against Mormons, Amish, (in Europe) Gypsies, etc…
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Not so much in the media. Anti-Catholicism on the other hand is a hot potato any week that goes by.
 
I don’t think it’s bad to have the child wait until he can better understand the sacrement.

Just because age 7 is the typical first communion age doesn’t mean that it has to be the age that one recieves. A child should be able to understand before he recieves. All he needs is more time and he will be able to.

This is a case of a parent not getting the answer he or she wanted to hear and going to the media to force others to do what they want. It’s kind of sad that this person who has been in that Catholic church all [her] life" would be unable to have a reasonable conversation with a priest.
 
AnotherVoice said:
You advocated that the Catholic Church adopt the Eastern norm of infant communion .

I am glad that the Catholic Church does have some catechism instruction surrounding receipt of Communion."

While I will respect the Eastern tradition, I do not favor it and support the current teachings of the Catholic Church.
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I think the point is that you keep referring to “the Catholic Church” as if the Eastern Catholics are not part of it.

They are.

Their practices are just as much a part of “the Catholic Church” as ours are.

If you mean the Roman Church, say so. But don’t make any claims that we are “the Catholic Church” and they are not.

It’s rude and you sound silly.
 
ConstantineTG said:
This is the problem with Western theology stating that “one must recognize the Eucharist as something more than just food” for one to qualify to receive Communion. Look it up, its in Canon Law.

In the East we have no such qualms. We give Communion even to a day old infant, provided of course that day old infant has been baptized and chrismated.
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AnotherVoice said:
I believe that the current Catholic Church practice is very lenient and sensible; I would like to see it maintained.

In my experience, children from all learning backgrounds are given the instruction needed to appreciate at some level how special it is to receive the Eucharist. I realize that some religious traditions will distribute the Eucharist to those who have no idea that something special has been given to them. While that is their tradition and I respect it, I am glad that the Catholic Church does have some catechism instruction surrounding receipt of Communion.
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Sorry to be jumping in here so late,
but as a lifelong Catholic I’ve always
understood that permission to receive
one’s first Holy Communion is granted
on an individual basis. In other words,
there is no “BAN” in place that bars one
of any particular IQ or disability.

Rather it is the pastor’s duty to say
Yes or No to the request of any potential
communicant and that includes adult converts.

If I am in error on this, then please show me
the relevant Canon Law. Thank you.

(I’ve known of children with intellectual or mental
disabilities who have been allowed to receive and
of others who have not been allowed. The decisions
were based on the individual’s capacity for understanding.)
 
In an effort to avoid stirring people up and yet focus the conversation on your post # 61, which states:

“And there are Latin Catholics such as myself who respect the current discipline but would be very happy if over time (and with careful preparation) infant reception of the Eucharist was restored as the norm throughout the Church.”

Simply put I don’t share your hope. I believe that all recipients should, even if at the most basic level, have an appreciation that receiving communion is special. I support the current practice of the Roman Catholic Church that does have some catechism instruction surrounding receipt of Communion.
 
catharina said:
Sorry to be jumping in here so late,
but as a lifelong Catholic I’ve always
understood that permission to receive
one’s first Holy Communion is granted
on an individual basis. In other words,
there is no “BAN” in place that bars one
of any particular IQ or disability.

Rather it is the pastor’s duty to say
Yes or No to the request of any potential
communicant and that includes adult converts.

If I am in error on this, then please show me
the relevant Canon Law. Thank you.

(I’ve known of children with intellectual or mental
disabilities who have been allowed to receive and
of others who have not been allowed. The decisions
were based on the individual’s capacity for understanding.)
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I don’t believe there is any such ban; I have instructed children with learning delays and they were interviewed by the pastor along with the rest of the children making their First Communion.

According to the 1983 code; Can. 913, states that “the administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion.”

While I did not find a quote as to who makes the determination of sufficiency in relation to capacity, in my experience that has always been up to the pastor.
 
AnotherVoice said:
I don’t believe there is any such ban; I have instructed children with learning delays and they were interviewed by the pastor along with the rest of the children making their First Communion.

According to the 1983 code; Can. 913, states that “the administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have sufficient knowledge and careful preparation so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion.”

While I did not find a quote as to who makes the determination of sufficiency in relation to capacity, in my experience that has always been up to the pastor.
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Nor do I believe there is any such ban. That is my point.

In my experience too, the responsibility for giving any
approval rests with the pastor - since his parish will record
the fact as an event.
 
Elizium23 said:
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-16626123

If you get all the facts before believing sensationalistic news stories, you will see that the pastor has not denied him Holy Communion forever, but he hopes that the child will be able to participate in the future. The diocesan authorities have backed the pastor in his decision. It is not unusual for a child of seven years of age to have a developmental delay that prevents them from understanding the meaning of the Eucharist.
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Agree.
 
kmuestwin said:
I don’t think it’s bad to have the child wait until he can better understand the sacrement.

Just because age 7 is the typical first communion age doesn’t mean that it has to be the age that one recieves. A child should be able to understand before he recieves. All he needs is more time and he will be able to.

This is a case of a parent not getting the answer he or she wanted to hear and going to the media to force others to do what they want. It’s kind of sad that this person who has been in that Catholic church all [her] life" would be unable to have a reasonable conversation with a priest.
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That appears to be what is going on here.
 
The child, now eight, has now received Holy Communion, according to ‘The Tablet’.
 
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