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 ...
"If someone is incapable of receiving Communion doesn't mean they are not "saved"."
Where did I say that?
'If they are capable of receiving Communion they should but ny no means does this mean they are "saved"'
Where did I say that?
"Rituals do NOT save anyone whether they partake of them or not."
I agree. The body, blood, soul and divinity of christ Jesus is no ritual. It is salvation.
What is the issue? The child is not allowed to take the precious blood?
On the contrary, I know exactly what I'm talking about. In many parts of the world, they don't have wheat bread, and utilize the common grains or starches of their diets instead, like rice or sweet potatoes. Do you honestly believe that God is displeased by this? I don't. The point of the bread is not that it must be wheat (which is nowhere explicitly taught in Scripture), but that it must be one's staple and without leaven (symbolic of sin)--one's daily bread, to quote the Lord's Prayer.
This girl's staple, her daily bread, is not wheat, but rice. Therefore, it is entirely proper that she partake of her daily "bread" in the Communion.
To insist on wheat when the Bible does not is pure legalism, and I praise the Lord that her family found a priest that does not confuse the substance with the accidents.
O go away. We know you don't believe in the Real Presence.
Ah, the old variant on the old chicken and egg question ... very insightful!!
She does not have to take the host to receive the sacrament in full. The wine is equally the Body and Blood in OUR Faith. Except for the fact that she will receive the sacrament in a different form her reception of it will be tha same as her classmates who take the host. Where you got the idea that I believed she should take the wheat host and put her life at risk is a complete mystery to me. My post wasn't that complicated and I did write in simple declarative sentences. I suggest you reread it and tell me where I called for her to take the wheat host.
What you "believe" is not the issue. Truth is the issue. You either accept Him or reject Him. If you reject His will in matters like this, or any matter, then you reject Him.
"I believe they read the same Bible you do. Who, in your opinion, decides what makes a person a believer?"
You may want to double check what JW's rely on ... it's not the Bible ... . Again it is God Who has already determined for us who believers are - those that abide by what is written in the Bible. He sees into our hearts if we are sincere of not.
To insist that your private opinion overrides that of the church is anarchism. I mean, who are YOU?
He is someone who champions moral relativism.
The priest cannot do this. The Form and Matter are doctrinal, and are defined by the Church.
The simple solution to this conundrum, since momma insists on a host, is to get a non-gluten based, non-consecrated host, dip it in the wine and place it on her tongue.
Problem solved.
Why? The momma can't accept that the Precious Blood is the body of christ. She needs to be corrcted.
How do you know what is in the Bible. How do you know when to interpret it literally and when to interpret figuratively. You interpret a lot of the Gospel of John figuratively. Why? Who told you that was okay?
"Hummmmm all references, with any gender seem to be to "Father" not mother or "it". What Bible are you reading?"
God's abilities and characterizations aren't limited to a book written by man.
What I reject are two thousand years of the traditions of men piled on by a hierarchy in Rome which annul the Word of God. Christ came to save us from the yoke of the world and the pharisees, not to create a new legalistic religion that can't show the grace to allow a young girl who can't digest wheat to have another grain instead.
"because she doesnt want to risk any souls."
I understand, but for some reason, I don't think an 8 year old girl's soul is in jeopardy over wheat bread.
Problem solved? Only if the mother is rational. People get bees in theor bonnets and nothing short of death will get them out.
So you accept Christ, but only on your terms, not His?
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