Posted on 08/12/2004 10:41:10 AM PDT by sidewalk
BRIELLE, N.J. -- An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot consume wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained none, violating Catholic doctrine. Now, Haley Waldman's mother is pushing the Diocese of Trenton and the Vatican to make an exception, saying the girl's condition _ celiac sprue disease _ should not exclude her from participating in the sacrament, in which Roman Catholics eat consecrated wheat-based wafers to commemorate the last supper of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
~Slaps knee~
Good one.
Because bishops cannot openly campaign against a particular candidate, and that's what they would be doing.
It would also blow up in the bishops' faces, as there would be a significant backlash.
Kerry knows where the bishops stand, and he knows what Church teaching is.
"I hope this aides your understanding of what we believe."
I do appreciate your intelligent response, but unfortunately it raises more questions for me than it answers.
Background: MY first 18 years were spent as a Catholic, so I'm very familiar with the dogma.
"The presence of Christ is the spiritual reality. The appearance of bread is the physical reality. "
Exactly. It's the spiritual part that's important, so why the fuss over wheat?
"Do you think God would mind celebrating Holy Communion with doritos tortilla chips, chocolate chip cookies, pizza, crabcakes, deep fried chicken, or a pastrami on rye?"
Honestly, no - I do not, as long as it's consecrated.
I think small-minded thinking like this is limited to human beings and isn't part of God. God isn't an impetulant child, but rather an omnipotent deity. As such, I don't think It concerns itself with such trivialities.
"You're right--you don't get it."
No, I get it perfectly. Some human being thinks he knows that God gives a damn about wheat or not. As an omnipotent deity, I think it's sacrilege to assume God is concerned with such trivial matters, as long as its consecrated and the heart of the receiver is genuine.
"Wheatness" per se no longer exists after the Consecration."
Right - making 'wheatness' or lack thereof a non-factor. Thanks for agreeing.
LOL
"Rituals do NOT save anyone. It is you HEART that He evaluates. Rituals are nice but they do NOT save anyone. This thread is an example of a ritual, communion, taken to an extreme and is not the teachings of Christ of the Bible. "
Yes, yes - a 1000 times YES. Great example about the thief on the cross, btw.
LOL!
That would be a Son roof.
That's very good :-D
You say this because your faith is founded on sentimentalism: an identity of what’s true with what’s emotionally congenial. To suggest that “good intentions” are enough to validate communion is an invitation to an endless voyage of self-deception and eventually self-worship. Fundamental to the idea of communion is that we’re all doing the same thing – not our own thing. The sentimentality of private good intentions isn’t much of an answer to Christ who founded a Church and endowed her with authority. It’s an act of radical individualism, a declaration that there’s no truth mysteriously hidden but unfolding in the sacraments.
Not to get personal, but if you’re really a repairman, you probably have little or no serious training in theology. I don’t know what it is you repair for a living, but would you trust an untrained priest’s advice on how to do your job?
"Leaving Saddam in power is OK, but creating a special wafer so a young girl doesn't get sick from her Communion isn't?"
Dragging their feet on the whole priestly pedophilia issue is OK too, as long as 8 year old girls who are allergic to wheat aren't allowed to receive a rice-wafered Communion.
What's amazing is that people in this thread think that God actually CARES about such trivial minutae.
I don't wonder at all. It's pride and anger.
Since you're a mind reader, guess what I'm thinking right now. Don't blush.
It’s an act of radical individualism
All good things are.
Not to get personal, but if you’re really a repairman, you probably have little or no serious training in theology.
Not to get personal, but I bet you're not really one of two twins suckling at a wolf's teats.
It's a screen name. Don't read too much into it.
LOL
Good luck being your own god.
"Is there a reason you're referring to God with "it" instead of "He"? Just wondering."
I haven't met God personally and am thus unaware of 'his' sexual orientation. In short, I have no proof that God has a penis. Do you? Just wondering...
"We don't KNOW so."
Exactly. I jsut find it hard to believe that God is so small-minded as to care about the symbolism of wheat vs. the intent of an 8 year old girl who's unable to consume wheat. VERY hard to believe that God would be such an impetulant child over such matters, esp. in light of the other myriad problems people are facing and dealing with.
"then why the insistence of many Protestants on baptism by immersion for adults only?"
I don't know - I was raised Catholic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.