Vatican outlaws gluten-free bread for Holy Communion

[_Abyssinia]

Bread used to celebrate the Eucharist during Roman Catholic Mass must not be gluten-free - although it may be made from genetically modified organisms, the Vatican has ruled.
In a letter to bishops, Cardinal Robert Sarah said the bread can be low-gluten.
But he said there must be enough protein in the wheat to make it without additives.

bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40545023

 

[PJH_74]

I don’t get this. Gluten free items are usually made with wheat alternative such as rice or almond flour. How is wheat vs other ground seeds so magical?

 

[_Abyssinia]

Besides…didn’t use a variety of grains to make their breads back then, too?

Does the Christian canon say for a fact that it was wheat bread or bread with gluten that they ate at the passover meal, that Jesus broke and passed around?

There are ways to make the bread “gluten free” without additives.

What are they worried about?
If Jesus was going to “transubstantiate” into the communion wafer, would he…refuse to do so…just because there was no gluten in it? Or because another ingredient was added? Would Jesus/God be so petty that the absence of gluten is enough for him to say* fuhgettaboutit*–I 'aint showing up!
I don’t think so.
Does everyone else?

Some people are very serious about their communion and they are seriously allergic to gluten. It’s too bad they have to make this rule because, as per some of the posts I’ve read here over the years, it is heartbreaking for many if they cannot partake.

.

100% gluten free Hosts where not allowed prior to the recent Vatican announcement.

This is from 2003 from the Congregation For The Doctrine of The Faith:

A. The use of gluten-free hosts and mustum

1. Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist.

1. Low-gluten hosts (partially gluten-free) are valid matter, provided they contain a sufficient amount of gluten to obtain the confection of bread without the addition of foreign materials and without the use of procedures that would alter the nature of bread.

1. Mustum, which is grape juice that is either fresh or preserved by methods that suspend its fermentation without altering its nature (for example, freezing), is valid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030724_pane-senza-glutine_en.html

 

[Tim_D]

Besides…didn’t use a variety of grains to make their breads back then, too?

Does the Christian canon say for a fact that it was wheat bread or bread with gluten that they ate at the passover meal, that Jesus broke and passed around?

There are ways to make the bread “gluten free” without additives.

What are they worried about?
If Jesus was going to “transubstantiate” into the communion wafer, would he…refuse to do so…just because there was no gluten in it? Or because another ingredient was added? Would Jesus/God be so petty that the absence of gluten is enough for him to say* fuhgettaboutit*–I 'aint showing up!
I don’t think so.
Does everyone else?

Some people are very serious about their communion and they are seriously allergic to gluten. It’s too bad they have to make this rule because, as per some of the posts I’ve read here over the years, it is heartbreaking for many if they cannot partake.

.

It is a worthless endeavor to hear one who is either hostile to the Church or to religion itself offer commentary on a subject that they are either wholly ignorant of or fail to uphold the standard of respect on which a view is based. Perhaps you should simply leave things to those in authority than offer a personal opinion that is wholly irrelevant to the discussion.

 

[Tim_D]

I don’t get this. Gluten free items are usually made with wheat alternative such as rice or almond flour. How is wheat vs other ground seeds so magical?

It has nothing to do with being “magical.” It is the discipline of the Church that the host be made of pure, unbleached wheat.

 

[Phemie]

100% gluten free Hosts where not allowed prior to the recent Vatican announcement.

This is from 2003 from the Congregation For The Doctrine of The Faith:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030724_pane-senza-glutine_en.html

I was going to ask, “Why is this news?”

It was probably that someone not familiar with the 2003 announcement asked the CDF a question about GMOs and gluten again. Really, it’s quite possible to have people who’ve never had to deal with this before not know that “gluten-free” is not valid for Consecration.

The other day we had a funeral and for the first time in memory someone came to me and said they had celiac disease and asked if we had low-gluten hosts. We don’t but I went to talk to the priest and arranged for a small amount of wine in a separate chalice. But I wasn’t clear in my request and saw him drop in a particle of the host into the Precious Blood. She couldn’t receive and Fr. was very confused when the Precious Blood hadn’t been consumed.

 

[Casilda]

I don’t get this. Gluten free items are usually made with wheat alternative such as rice or almond flour. ** How is wheat vs other ground seeds so magical?**

Lots of reasons, mostly Biblical, and traditional.

catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/why-wheat-bread

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I was going to ask, “Why is this news?”

It was probably that someone not familiar with the 2003 announcement asked the CDF a question about GMOs and gluten again. Really, it’s quite possible to have people who’ve never had to deal with this before not know that “gluten-free” is not valid for Consecration.

I’m also wondering if the low-gluten hosts are actually a problem for anyone. I’ve known at least one person with celiac who consumes the low-gluten host with no issues.

 

[jeannetherese]

Some people are very serious about their communion and they are seriously allergic to gluten. It’s too bad they have to make this rule because, as per some of the posts I’ve read here over the years, it is heartbreaking for many if they cannot partake.

Catholics know that each species contains the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Those with gluten sensitivities may partake from the chalice and receive full Communion.
The article linked in the O.P. contains a link to the full letter which further addresses these matters.

May God bless you and all who visit our thread.
Amen.

 

[exnihilo]

I don’t get this. Gluten free items are usually made with wheat alternative such as rice or almond flour. How is wheat vs other ground seeds so magical?

It’s not that it is magical but it is a question of what is proper mater. Not all mater is proper. As an extreme, why can’t a rock be used as the species? There has to be a line somewhere.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Honestly, what a misleading headline.

Makes it sound as though "the Vatican’ is making a change from allowing something and then ‘not allowing it’.

Gluten-free bread was never permitted in the first place.

What next, “Vatican outlaws woman priests”?
"Vatican outlaws same sex marriage?
“Vatican outlaws abortion/contraception?”

Oh gee wait, those have pretty much been standard ‘MSN headlines’, haven’t they?
What a neat way for them to imply that the Vatican can or does change doctrine/dogma from something ‘good’ to taking that ‘good away’. . .

 

[Avila123]

I would just add that the original source is very anti-Catholic state run agency. They use a number of programs to sneak in their anti-Catholic (and anti-Christian) messages as demonstrated by a couple of the more recent Doctor Who’s.

Here is a more reliable source catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-calls-on-bishops-to-prevent-eucharistic-abuse-in-their-dioceses-28313/.

 

[FrDavid96]

I don’t get this. Gluten free items are usually made with wheat alternative such as rice or almond flour. How is wheat vs other ground seeds so magical?

Because if it isn’t wheat bread, it cannot be used for the Eucharist. Plain and simple.

Wheat bread has a specific significance. No substitute is acceptable.

 

[FrDavid96]

Besides…didn’t use a variety of grains to make their breads back then, too?

No. They did not.

“Bread” in the biblical context means wheat bread. Nothing else was used in the same way, nor had the same significance, as wheat bread.

Does the Christian canon say for a fact that it was wheat bread or bread with gluten that they ate at the passover meal, that Jesus broke and passed around?

Yes. It does!

There are ways to make the bread “gluten free” without additives.

Those are 2 different issues.

What are they worried about?

We are worried about the difference between a valid Eucharistic Sacrament and something else. Yes, it does matter.

If Jesus was going to “transubstantiate” into the communion wafer, would he…refuse to do so…just because there was no gluten in it? Or because another ingredient was added? Would Jesus/God be so petty that the absence of gluten is enough for him to say* fuhgettaboutit*–I 'aint showing up!
I don’t think so.
Does everyone else?

Ridiculous comments that, quite frankly, don’t deserve a response.

Some people are very serious about their communion and they are seriously allergic to gluten. It’s too bad they have to make this rule because, as per some of the posts I’ve read here over the years, it is heartbreaking for many if they cannot partake.

.

Most are perfectly able to receive Communion. And that’s what they want to receive “Holy Communion” not just something made of rice or corn or potato that pretends to be Communion.

 

[FrDavid96]

100% gluten free Hosts where not allowed prior to the recent Vatican announcement.

This is from 2003 from the Congregation For The Doctrine of The Faith:

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030724_pane-senza-glutine_en.html

Exactly.

There’s nothing new here.

The Vatican is simply issuing a reminder to follow what has always been the practice of the Church.

While low-gluten hosts are a relatively recent invention, there’s nothing new about this information as it’s been around for several decades already.

 

[FrDavid96]

I’m also wondering if the low-gluten hosts are actually a problem for anyone. I’ve known at least one person with celiac who consumes the low-gluten host with no issues.

Generally, no; most people who must avoid gluten have no problems with the low-gluten hosts. However, for an extremely small number of people, even the low-gluten hosts are a problem.

 

[thephilosopher6]

Besides…didn’t use a variety of grains to make their breads back then, too?

Does the Christian canon say for a fact that it was wheat bread or bread with gluten that they ate at the passover meal, that Jesus broke and passed around?

There are ways to make the bread “gluten free” without additives.

What are they worried about?
If Jesus was going to “transubstantiate” into the communion wafer, would he…refuse to do so…just because there was no gluten in it? Or because another ingredient was added? Would Jesus/God be so petty that the absence of gluten is enough for him to say* fuhgettaboutit*–I 'aint showing up!
I don’t think so.
Does everyone else?

Some people are very serious about their communion and they are seriously allergic to gluten. It’s too bad they have to make this rule because, as per some of the posts I’ve read here over the years, it is heartbreaking for many if they cannot partake.

.

What is your purpose of being on this forum if all you do is insult our faith? All of the posts I’ve ever seen you give are almost always so rude in nature and hostile to the Church. If you don’t have anything nice to say… don’t say it! And you wonder why people generally don’t like internet atheist and/or agnostics…

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Besides…didn’t use a variety of grains to make their breads back then, too?

Does the Christian canon say for a fact that it was wheat bread or bread with gluten that they ate at the passover meal, that Jesus broke and passed around?

There are ways to make the bread “gluten free” without additives.

What are they worried about?
If Jesus was going to “transubstantiate” into the communion wafer, would he…refuse to do so…just because there was no gluten in it? Or because another ingredient was added? Would Jesus/God be so petty that the absence of gluten is enough for him to say* fuhgettaboutit*–I 'aint showing up!
I don’t think so.
Does everyone else?

Some people are very serious about their communion and they are seriously allergic to gluten. It’s too bad they have to make this rule because, as per some of the posts I’ve read here over the years, it is heartbreaking for many if they cannot partake.

.

Yes, it has to be wheat. There are low gluten hosts used in my parish, so they are made of a lower gluten wheat flour. Rice or other flours are invalid matter for the consecration. My sister has Celiac. She actually takes from the Cup when she receives. She hasn’t received the low gluten host yet. But hopefully her levels will be low enough soon, that she’ll tolerate it.

It isn’t a new rule. It’s enforcement of the rule that’s been abused in certain areas.

 

[Dorothy]

It’s all about obedience, which is the opposite of rebellion.

 

[pianistclare]

Generally, no; most people who must avoid gluten have no problems with the low-gluten hosts. However, for an extremely small number of people, even the low-gluten hosts are a problem.

Precisely. We have exactly 2 parishioners who need the very low gluten hosts. the parish up the road has at least a hundred of these people. The other buys them in the large quantities for their parish and then sells us a small amount of them every two months.
It’s never been a problem.

This article attempts to create controversy where there is none.