U.S. Bishops to Discuss Celiac Disease at November Assembly

When the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops convenes November 10-13 in Baltimore, one of the items on their agenda will be a discussion of communion for Catholics who are suffering from Celiac Disease.

According to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center, one in 133 adults in the U.S. (about 1% of the population) suffers from Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food.  Persons with Celiac Disease are unable to ingest wheat, which makes reception of the Eucharist problematic.

At present, one option is for a person who is seriously gluten intolerant to receive communion only under the species of wine.  At a parish I visited recently, that was the practice:  I saw one woman hold back while her family and others processed forward for communion; then she walked up at the end of the line, and the deacon brought the chalice down from the altar for her to receive the Precious Blood.

Another option which is probably more common is for gluten-intolerant persons to receive low-gluten hosts.  Typically, a “gluten-free” host contains only 20 parts per million of wheat, which complies with Vatican guidelines for use in the Roman Catholic Church.  However, for someone who is seriously gluten intolerant, even this small amount of gluten might be problematic.  There are “zero-gluten” hosts made of 100% potato starch, but these do not comply with Vatican guidelines which require at least some wheat content.

At the USCCB Fall General Assembly in Baltimore this week, the bishops will discuss a possible revision to the Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities.  The Committee is seeking permission to revise these Guidelines in light of medical developments and increased awareness of some of the challenges faced by Catholics today.  One example of such a challenge is the greater awareness today of those with gluten intolerance (Celiac disease) and the need to continue to provide for their sacramental and spiritual needs.  If the bishops approve proceeding with revisions, then the Committee on Divine Worship, working closely with the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance as well as the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, will begin the work of revision immediately for future approval by the bishops at a general meeting.

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Other liturgical items on the agenda this week include:

• a first-ever English translation for the ritual book “Exorcisms and Related Supplications,” originally promulgated in Latin.
• a supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours, including prayers for the feast days of new saints who have been added to the General Calendar since 1984.
• a revised translation to the ritual book used for dedicating a new church or altar.
• modifications to the Revised Grail Psalms, originally approved by Rome in 2010.

I’ll be reporting through the week regarding the bishops’ discussions and votes.  Keep watching this space.