Catholic Church - Childs health vs. Tradition...

[SidDithers]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--communioncontrove0812aug12,0,6656242.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

My daughter has celiac disease, so I know what this parent goes through. Trying to get kids to eat is difficult at the best of times, without having to cut wheat, barley, rye and oats completely out of a diet. I'm interested to hear what others think of this. I think the Church should allow a gluten free host.

I'm out for the day, so won't be able to reply, but I'm curious about your opinions. Thanks.

Sid

[nemo137]

1. As far as I know, there's no theological reason that you couldn't

but then, I'm a Protestant, so I couldn't tell you about transsubstantiation. Still, it seems to me that an almighty God could transform a rice or lentil host into the blood and body of Christ out of love for one of his Children.

[October]

2. Disgraceful

Sid: This is beyond ridiculous. The church should definitely allow a gluten-free wafer. That we even have to discuss this is outrageous.

My 2 children and husband have CD. (Along with many members of my husband's family -- English/Scottish decent.) The article is wrong though, it's not a rare disease, just rarely diagnosed in this country. It is estimated that 1 in 150 people have CD. My husband was 38 when he discovered he had it. His aunt and an uncle were diagnosed in their 60s.

http://www.celiaccenter.org/

In Italy, they test every child for CD before age 7.

In Europe, groceries are more clearly labeled "gluten-free."

In the U.S., dining out is a challenge. Eating at friends' homes is a bit awkward sometimes, but manageable. Wafers at the Catholic Church are impossible. (I left the church a while back, though.)

University of MD, Baltimore is doing great research, and they hosted an International Symposium on CD a few years ago for the first time on U.S. soil -- hoping to get other U.S. research universities attention.

My children eat well. I make our bread, daily. There are scads of gluten-free resources on the Internet. I even splurge for bagels from a company in Canada (Kinnikinnick.com). And MissRoben.com sells baking ingredients and just about everything else.

We eat healthy -- meats, cheeses, veggies, fruits, salads... Everything else is homemade. I don't even keep wheat flour in the house. I serve a gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner for everyone (with stuffing and gravy), and bake holiday pies and a fabulous lasagna. Anyone who eats at my house eats gluten-free and never notices the difference. It takes time to reach this level of comfort/familiarity, however, and food labeling in this country is problematic at times.

[Nobody]

3. Aince a large number of cardinals are Italian...

And in Italy they test for CD, would that disqualify you for the preisthood if you had it?

Can a test at age seven find anything if you're one of the people who develop CD late in life?

What would happen if the answer to the second question is yes, and a cardinal developed CD?

I bet they'd allow gluten-free wafers.

[October]

4. Brilliant question!

Unfortunately, you can have a negative test -- or just have such subtle (or no) symptoms in your youth. My husband found out he had CD at 38 -- though can now look back and realize when it started.

Researchers are not yet sure what "triggers" CD -- virus, vaccines, trauma, etc. Many older folks are tested for CD as a "last resort," when they develop anemia or osteoporosis and nothing else works. There's an average of I think 7-10 doctor's visits before they'll even look for CD in this country. They still think it's rare.

In order to test positive, you have to have digested gluten.

And I agree -- there'd certainly be "rice" wafers if priests/cardinals/pope (men in general?) required it! Too true.