No, it is the Sunday school teacher who will decide when the children can be presented to the priests as prepared to take the sacrament. I support her. I believe any child can reach a state of grace through loving education and preparation. This teacher is good and has trained other handicapped, downs and autistic children.
And yes, the Catholic church denies communion to some people. Like me, a Protestant not converted.
The literature I received from the Parish indicates the church has the ability to use discretion in who partakes in the Catholic eucharist under some circumstances, which I am sure it would and does in the case of mentally disabled and ailing Catholics. As it did with Terri Schiavo.
"No, it is the Sunday school teacher who will decide when the children can be presented to the priests as prepared to take the sacrament."
My God, that's even worse! As for denying the Eucharist to persons who have not been received into the Church, that's the way it has always been in The Church, with reason. I am assuming, however, that the children with mental retardation who are denied communion simply because, I guess, some lay Sunday School teacher doesn't think they are "ready", are baptized members of The Church and far more likely to be in a "state of grace" than their non-retarded fellows.