Editorial
The Catholic Sun, March 16, 2006 edition
Church seeks boy’s full return to Communion
In response to the recent Arizona Republic article, “Church denies communion to autistic boy,” The Catholic Sun presents the following guest editorial from Rosalind Gutierrez, director of the Office of Worship, and Isabella Rice, director of the Office of Disabilities and Pastoral Care Ministries:
Recently the media has brought forth an issue about whether or not a boy is receiving Communion. At the center of this dispute is a young man named Matthew who has autism. At risk is the possibility of losing Matthew at the table of the eucharistic banquet.
There are those who insist that Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted is wrong to ask that all be done to help this young man celebrate the reception of the Holy Eucharist in its fullness. Is it possible that the young man in question is incapable of receiving the Holy Eucharist in the manner prescribed by the Church? Not according to the Diocese of Pittsburgh, which recently provided a statement from Matty’s catechist: “After many practices in the classroom, (Matthew) was able to consume some unconsecrated hosts.”
According to Pittsburgh officials, “Matty did sip the unconsecrated wine.” Fr. David Driesch, pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Pittsburgh, also sent documentation stating, “On the day of his First Holy Communion, I gave Matthew the consecrated host, he received it and consumed it in my presence.”
The question now becomes, what happened? The documents from the Diocese of Pittsburgh clearly prove that Matthew is able to receive the Eucharist in the manner prescribed by the Church and in the manner in which he received at his First Holy Communion. The reception of his First Communion was recorded in the register at St. Bernard Parish.
Accordingly, the Diocese of Pittsburgh never endorsed the present practice of just touching the consecrated host to Matthew’s mouth or tongue. Therefore, Bishop Olmsted has never denied the Eucharist to Matthew.
In fact, Bishop Olmsted is seeking to return Matthew to the fullness of reception that he previously experienced. Bishop Olmsted is asking that Matthew again receive the Eucharist in ways that are consistent with Church teachings and the documents. The reception of the Eucharist is not “in the eye of the beholder,” as some apparently would like us to believe. The reception of the Eucharist is an objective, grace-filled reality at which the consumption of the consecrated host brings the communicant into a oneness with Jesus Christ and His Church. Continuing to deny Matthew the fullness of the grace of the Eucharist would be unconscionable.
The decision to receive the Eucharist is our own. No one can receive on our behalf — it is an act of our free will to approach the Blessed Sacrament.
For this reason, Bishop Olmsted continues to commit the resources of the Phoenix Diocese to assist the Moran family. The Office of Disabilities and Pastoral Care Ministries exists to assist pastors and parish staff to develop and implement ministries that seek to integrate persons with disabilities and or illnesses into the everyday faith life of the Catholic community. The Office of Worship exists to assist pastors, parish staff and communities of faith in the Diocese of Phoenix bring about the living out of the Gospel message through implementation of liturgical renewal and celebrating life-giving worship that “builds up the body of Christ.”
Both offices have made several visits to Lake Havasu City to work with the family, the pastor and the parish staff. Personal visits, hours of prayer, phone conversations and e-mail have been logged between the two offices, the family and the parish. Resources were given to the family, such as unconsecrated hosts of various thicknesses, unconsecrated wine, a pictorial bible and catechetical training materials designed for students with special needs.
We know there can be no substitute for the Eucharist. However, the present practice of just touching the consecrated host to Matthew’s mouth or tongue does not amount to his receiving Holy Communion; it is, in fact, only simulation.
Allowing this practice to continue may be an impediment to working with Matthew to consume Holy Communion. The manner prescribed by the Church is addressed in many documents, most especially in “Redemptionis Sacramentum” (“Instruction on the Eucharist”), published by the U.S. bishops in May 2004 and approved by the Congregation on Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments: “Special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand” (#92).
We wish to act in ways consistent with the Church’s documents, most especially, “Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities” and “Redemptionis Sacramentum.”
We also trust that God is not restrictive in how He blesses people. If Matthew never receives Eucharist in the manner prescribed by the Church, we trust that God will continue to bless Matthew in ways known to Matthew and God alone.
We applaud Nicholas and Jean Moran for their desire to see their son receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. They have shown they are parents who desire the best for their child. As a Church, we are deeply committed to the goal of providing Matthew with the full reception of the Eucharist.
