There’s a big difference between the church not offering the cup as part of communion for centuries, in lack of obedience to Christ’s commands and example, and someone who is not able to partake of part of the element due to medical reasons.
And correct me if I’m wrong, but does the Church not have rice wafers for such a contingency?
Both elements should be offered and taken as possible because of the example and command of Christ Himself. The church not even offering the cup to parishioners is irresponsible and does a disservice to them in denying them the opportunity to fully participate in communion as Christ and His disciples did.
As far as people not drinking of the cup because of fear of illness, why doesn’t the Catholic church do as the Evangelical ones do and have small disposable cups to hold the wine/grape juice/ fruit of the vine?
That would address the hygiene concerns.
I THINK, but do not know, NO rice wafers, because it has to be wheaten bread.
But the question was what is the celiac person missing? Anything? That would help evaluate the gravity of withholding the chalice. I agree that there’s a difference.
(Incidentally your “big difference” is a fine example of the REALITY of what I’m calling “ideas”.)
“shot glasses” (as we disrespectfully called them at my Episcopal seminary), I don’t think there would be an objection in principle. I don’t know how “drop dead do not ever break this rule” this particular rule is, but I THINK there’s a rule that the inner surface of the bread container (paten or ciborium) or the wine vessel (chalice) should be gold, ceteris paribus.