I know. I know. There are three things you shouldn’t discuss, or in my case blog about, if you don’t want to get into an argument.

Politics, sex and religion.

And believe me, I’m not looking for an argument, but I just couldn’t let this one go.

Please keep in mind this is nothing against the church so read the following with an open mind.

There is an 11 year-old girl in Ohio with celiac disease. Before she received communion for the first time, her mom talked to their priest about the girl’s celiac disease.

The priest ordered gluten-free hosts and held one on a separate plate on the day she attended Mass. Before Mass, her mom would let the priest know they were there. The girl also wore a beaded cross made by her grandmother as a reminder.

So far, this is a great story. A child has celiac disease and the church goes out of its way to help her. It’s a win for everybody.

This is where the story should end.

But of course, it doesn’t.

About four weeks ago, the word came down from the Catholic Diocese of Columbus that the hosts didn’t meet Vatican standards because they didn’t contain wheat and they could not offer her the gluten-free hosts anymore.

A low-gluten option was available, so she tried it. But, she said, “it tasted disgusting.” She has decided to receive just wine when she takes Communion, even though that makes her sad, she said.

(Dude note: Why did her mom allow her to eat a low-gluten option if she has celiac disease. Seriously, I just don’t understand some people.)

“She was pretty upset about it,” the mom said. “I think she was afraid people would think she wasn’t Catholic if she didn’t take the host.”

Church law “calls for the host to be wheat and wheat only” said the director of the Diocese.

In 1995, the Vatican said low-gluten hosts are valid if they hold enough gluten to make bread. Worshippers wanting the low-gluten option were required to present a medical certificate and obtain a bishop’s approval. The policy was loosened in 2003 to eliminate the medical-certificate requirement and to allow pastors to grant approval.

But, alas, the Diocese has made their own decision and now the girl cannot have the host.

So my question is this:

Where is the compassion? Where is the understanding? Where is the flexibility in the rules so that an 11 year-old girl can partake in a religious ceremony that is very important to her?

I know all people view religion in their own way and whether I agree or disagree, I’m very respectful of that.

But to me, at the end of the day, religion should always be about doing the right thing.

And the right thing here is clearly offering her the gluten-free host.

Who is getting harmed if she has the gluten-free host?

I would love to hear your opinions on this one.

Perhaps I am missing something. Perhaps I’m not. You tell me.

All I know is my god wouldn’t give a crap if I had a gluten-free host. He/she would just be thankful I actually went to Mass for a change.

Here is the link to the original article:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/faith_and_values/2012/06/01/church-bans-gluten-free-host.html

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