Autism and the Eucharist (Canon lawyer weighs in on the Phoenix case)

In the Light of the Law ^ | March 8, 2006 | Edward N. Peters, JD, JCD

[NYer]

According to published reports, Bp. Olmstead of the Diocese of Phoenix has stated a 10-year-old, moderately-to-severely autistic boy should not be given Communion until it is demonstrated that the boy can receive the Host (which he apparently does reverently for some seconds) without then spitting it out (due to its texture which the boy's condition makes intolerable for him). Other shapes and sizes of Hosts have been tried without success, as has offering him the Eucharist under the appearance of Wine. Till now, the boy's father has been taking his son's Host and consuming it himself, an obviously loving act intended to facilitate his son's desire to receive Communion and preventing an immediate (objective) sacrilege to the Eucharist.

A complex of canons builds a strong case in favor of reception of the Sacraments (1983 CIC 213, 843, and 912, to name some), and persons with special needs deserve extra efforts at accommodation (See, most recently in a considerable literature in this area, P. Vere, "Calling God's special children to holiness: sacramental access for the mentally and cognitively challenged", Canon Law Society of America Proceedings 66 [2004] 195-206).

But a clear canonical preference for sacramental access, augmented by the accommodations that special needs persons deserve, does not amount to a "reception under any circumstances" rule. There are other important values that need to be considered here, and some of these necessarily guard against the profanation (intended or not) of the Eucharist. Both the parents and pastoral ministers in this case have, it seems, sincerely tried to find a way to let this boy receive the Eucharist and avoid profaning the Host. Still, the bishop, among whose duties is to monitor the celebration of the Eucharist in his territory (See, e.g., 1983 CIC 389, 392, and 838), has determined that those efforts were not successful. That is a reasonable conclusion within the scope of the bishop's authority. The situation is no one's fault, but it does mean that parents and parochial ministers will have to think of something else.

In the meantime, no one should doubt the good will of anyone involved in this difficult case; and there is certainly no question but that Christ will help all find the right answer in time.

Update, March 08: 1. Jimmy Akin, proffering no final answer here, has some theologically sound observations on the notion of "reception" of the Eucharist on his blog; 2) The Vere article cited above is similar to another available on-line, I. Burgess & P. Vere, "The canonical rights of God's special children", Homiletic and Pastoral Review (April 2003) 61-67; 3) a few people have opined that I obviously haven't the faintest idea of what it's like to raise a special needs child. To that may I say, my experience (if any) of raising special needs children is not relevant to my ability to explain the canonical issues raised in this case, but anyone with rudimentary research skills can easily detemine whether such a characterization of me is accurate in the first place.

[Coleus]

Take and Eat.... Or Not (Bishop Olmstead reins in communion for an autistic boy)

[silverleaf]

Unless this child has been traumatized (perhaps gagging on the host) there has got to be a way to offer a small portion that he could swallow. Presumably he can swallow. Presumably he wants to swallow (and this is not a willful refusal to do so)

If Terri Schindler (Schiavo) could take communion, then they should be able to find a way for this child to do so. If he is willing.

[trisham]

In the meantime, no one should doubt the good will of anyone involved in this difficult case; and there is certainly no question but that Christ will help all find the right answer in time.

*************

Amen.

[right-wingin_It]

Am I missing something? This kid could handle liquid foods, right? All they gotta do is dissolve it in water (or wine), like they do for people at the Sacrament of the Sick.

[PalestrinaGal0317]

Certain autistic children have huge sensory issues. For example, one autistic child I know will eat pnly five foods. Five. Among them are a particular brand of oatmeal bars; he will not eat a substitute brand. Red Delicious apples are also okay, but any other kind isn't. This is not a spoiled rotten kid; he is truly very sweet. He simply cannot handle the smell, taste and texture of any but these foods; he'll gag on them if they are placed in his mouth.
I don't know what the solution is here. Perhaps the parents can slowly introduce either a tiny amount of wine (goal of a miniscule sip a day) or an unconsecrated host (or particle thereof) into his daily routine. Such sensory conditioning is often the only way to broaden the range of tolerable sensations for these kids.

[CJ Wolf]

My wife is like that but with banana. Maybe she is austistic. hmmm, that might explain some other things too.