Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
GLUTEN-FREE COMMUNION host is available in Ireland – despite some confusion over the issue of late.
In June, Radio Vatican reported that at the request of Pope Francis, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is writing to Diocesan Bishops to remind them “that it falls to them above all to duly provide for all that is required for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper”.
It set out the fact that a communion host should be only made of wheat, which appeared to indicate that it could not be gluten-free.
This was then picked up by international media in the last few days.
Coeliac Society
However, the Coeliac Society of Ireland said that the letter appears to be just a clarification of the church’s view on the use of gluten-free hosts for celebrating the Eucharist “and, in effect, nothing has changed from the existing direction”.
“There has been concern about it from a number of our members,” said Fergal O’Sullivan, CEO of the society.
“It was mainly in reaction to what was happening – some countries, not Ireland, were starting to use hosts not made of wheat. The Vatican ruling is that wheat is the only substance authorised to make communion hosts.”
“We have had a number of queries from our members, obviously we responded to it straight away by posting stuff to social media,” he said. “We have a permanent page on our website offering guidance.”
The society pointed out that wheat, a cereal that contains gluten, is the only substance authorised by the Catholic Church to make an acceptable host.
“According to the Vatican, to be a valid host, sufficient gluten must be present to bring about confection of the bread,” said its statement.
However, hosts with this sufficient level of gluten can be deemed gluten-free by the agreed international standard (codex) when they contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm). This is the highest level of gluten tolerable to people with the disease.
The Catholic Church refers to these hosts as “low gluten” which has a different meaning for those who need to follow a gluten-free diet for medical reasons. But the society said that there are three companies supplying ‘low gluten hosts’ in Ireland which are still under 20 ppm, suitable for coeliacs.
The Coeliac Society has a listing on its website for three different suppliers of “low gluten hosts” that are acceptable to both the codex standard of gluten free and the Catholic Church description of “low gluten”.
“It’s an ongoing query and it would be particularly around April, May time, around First Communion time,” said O’Sullivan of gluten-free hosts. “A large number of our members would be parents of kids with coeliac disease.”
“It’s not something that we would track in any granular level, we know there’s been cases where [there has been] misunderstanding and confusion about it heard anecdotally.”
O’Sullivan advised people to speak to their parish priest about the issue, if they are concerned.
“There are proactive parish priests who would do it without being asked but if in doubt or new to the parish the important thing is to make your parish priest aware of it and know the option exists,” he said.
He said the society is there if people have queries.
Are there other religions that might have such issues with religious food-based items? “This is the only one I am personally aware of that there is an issue with it,” said O’Sullivan.
Another option is for people to take communion wine rather than the host, if the church is amenable to this, said O’Sullivan.
Circular
Radio Vatican said that the circular on the bread and wine was for the Bishop “to watch over the quality of the bread and wine to be used at the Eucharist and also those who prepare these materials.
“In order to be of assistance we recall the existing regulations and offer some practical suggestions.”
It noted that at one point, certain religious communities took care of the baking of bread, but “today, however, these materials are also sold in supermarkets and other stores and even over the internet”.
In order to remove any doubt about the validity of the matter for the Eucharist, this Dicastery suggests that Ordinaries should give guidance in this regard by, for example, guaranteeing the Eucharistic matter through special certification.
It also said that the Ordinary “is bound to remind priests, especially parish priests and rectors of churches, of their responsibility to verify those who provide the bread and wine for the celebration and the worthiness of the material”.
“It is also for the Ordinary to provide information to the producers of the bread and wine for the Eucharist and to remind them of the absolute respect that is due to the norms.”
The norms say that: “The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition”.
It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament.
It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools.
In a 2003 circular to the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences regarding legitimate variations in the use of bread with a small quantity of gluten, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published the norms for the celebration of the Eucharist by people who “cannot consume bread made in the usual manner nor wine fermented in the normal manner”:
Hosts that are completely gluten-free are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist. Low-gluten hosts (partially gluten-free) are valid matter, provided they contain a sufficient amount of gluten to obtain the confection of bread without the addition of foreign materials and without the use of procedures that would alter the nature of bread.
It also said: “The Ordinary is competent to give permission for an individual priest or layperson to use low-gluten hosts or mustum for the celebration of the Eucharist. Permission can be granted habitually, for as long as the situation continues which occasioned the granting of permission”.
Choice
The number of gluten-free items available in Ireland has increased in recent years, and the society’s latest list has 6,400 products on it.
“It’s fabulous for people with coeliac disease that there is such a huge range of products available,” said O’Sullivan, who added that there is no denying that this demand has been driven in part by people who don’t follow the diet for medical reasons.
Therefore, he warned:
“The danger is you run the risk for people with coeliac disease being taken less seriously.”
The society is working with the catering food services on reducing cross-contamination.
“For someone with coeliac disease, all it takes is a crumb. The smallest amount of food can make them feel unwell,” said O’Sullivan.
“Don’t forget this is a serious disease and there is no cure for it.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Surely it should easy enough to tweak the magic bit where the bread turns into the flesh of a dead person to remove the gluten as well? Water into wine was doable apparently, so why not this?
Just goes to show how full of s**t the average Catholic is. It’s actually hilarious. How much faith do they actually have. Surely you could make them out of cyanide and the faithful would be unphased.
@Awkward Seal: your comment is hilarious. You’ve no right to judge anyone or their faith. Best to keep your prejudices to yourself.
@Sean @114: he’s not judging anyone’s faith, purely pointing out that as the bread is magically turned into human flesh immediately after being blessed, their should be no concerns about what content. Actually, any genuine person with wheat intolerance should have zero effects if they have faith, so you should welcome this non ridiculous intervention by the church.
@Sean @114: I don’t live in Saudi Arabia so I have every right. I don’t stand outside mass calling them all a bunch of morons. This is a pubic comment section on a story about the Catholic church. Transubstantiation is one of the more ridiculous beliefs in the world today. People rightly poke fun at people who deny climate change or believe the world is flat. This is no different. Although I’d point out that I reckon most Irish Catholics don’t actually belief it, which is insane considering it’s a huge part of the Catholic doctrine.
@Gulliver Foyle: – how full of sh&t the average Catholic is -is not judging anyone? Seriously?
@Awkward Seal: no you don’t stand outside a church calling them a bunch of morons. You post it on a public forum instead hidden behind a keyboard. How brave of you. Religion is a personal thing and people should be allowed to practice and believe in what they want without being labelled as morons by inconsiderate neanderthals who think it’s hip and so out there atheist to smear them. It’s the kind of prejudice and amoeba level thinking that starts conflict.
@Sean @114: well yeah, if it’s transformed to the body of christ how does it maintain its wheatiness?
@Sean @114: Religion is a personal thing and that’s fine. But I occasionally make fun of it because it’s clearly ridiculous and it’s hard not to. Instead of getting upset the religious can defend their beliefs. Do you think we shouldn’t criticise bad ideas because people might get offended or is that card only reserved for the religious? Besides, it rarely remains personal. Ignoring lobbying attempts by religious institutions, just the census alone informs public policy. If we have a bunch of pretend Catholics propping up that disgusting institution that’s a problem. So yeah, those people are full of s**t and it’s fair game to call them out on it. I’ll tell anyone to their face I think their religion is a joke. I’m more polite than that though. And I disliked religion before it was cool.
@Dave O Keeffe: think you missed the point of my post there Dave. It doesn’t matter if the subject is the belief that the earth is flat, it’s about respect for others. The stuff your parents teach you when you are 4.
@Awkward Seal: yeah I suppose the problem is that you didn’t attack religion or the idea you just labeled Catholics (average ones in fairness to you) as being full of sh&t then morons etc. It’s the type of ignorance, disrespect and sweeping generalisation that gives aggressive atheists a bad name but look it’s your opinion. Like you say, you’re entitled to say what you want. Years ago the ma used to tell me that name calling turns to fighting. She was right.
@Sean @114: I’m sorry that you lack a basic grasp of the English language. What I said was I don’t call them morons. And I called people who identify as Catholic but don’t believe in transubstantiation “full of s**t” because they are. I don’t respect stupid ideas but I respect the rights of people to hold them. If a person chooses to hold a ridiculous belief they can expect to be mocked for it. Instead of whinging why not actually counter the ridicule? Maybe it’s because you’re defending grown adults believing in magic?
@Sean @114: Ahhh Sean – the story is about the catholic church, and this is the comment section for that story, so there is nothing wrong with commenting on that story.
@Awkward Seal: keep digging. You called the ‘average Catholic’ full of sh&t. That would be a large proportion of the population. That would be my parents and a lot of other people’s parents. If you don’t see a problem with that kind of disrespect, smearing and generalisation then that’s cool. Nothing more to be said on it.
@Dave Harris: I try to draw the line when it comes to prejudice against people because of their religion, sexual orientation or skin colour. But then again it seems to be hip to mock people because of their religious beliefs, excepts Muslins of course because the keyboard warriors are afraid of them, so maybe I’m growing old.
@Sean @114: but Seán, most Irish catholics *are* full of shit…they say they’re catholic, but don’t go to mass. They say they’re catholic, but don’t believe in transubstantiation. They say they’re catholic, but enjoy an oul ride before marriage. How are they not full of it?
@Pseud O’Nym: ah I see you’ve done lots of analysis and proof of this of course. Oh, wait! Someone’s full of sh&t alright.
@Sean @114: last census 78% said they were catholic. Even the most ardent supporter of the RCC couldn’t say that attendance at mass is anywhere near this figure. Do I need to spell out the conclusion?
@Sean @114: you’re hilarious. Did I make you angry by questioning your delusion? If the average Catholic in Ireland believes in transubstantiation but wouldn’t eat one made of cyanide they’re full of s**t in that regard. I mean it’s just a basic logical statement. QED.
@Awkward Seal: ha. Do you even think the average Catholic knows what transubstantiation is? I’d say that the term would stump most of them and I doubt that most, any, of them believe that the host is the risen Christ. Does that make them ‘full of dh&t’? No. But again you seem to have missed the point about your comment.
@Pseud O’Nym: so you have a list of 1,000 checkboxes now that must be ticked before you can declare yourself a Catholic? Wow! Bishop Eamon Casey was a Catholic. My mother doesn’t attend mass through ill health but is a Catholic. To be baptised, to believe in RC doctrine, to receive the sacraments… I presume that many can tick these boxes, probably 78% of the population can, and declare themselves Catholics. No?
Gluten free body of Christ…..amen!
@Adrian: The bread used at ‘The last supper’ would have been without ‘Yeast’ a flat waver like bread, indicative of the Exit ( Exodus ) in a hurry out of Egypt. Which is still celebrated by millions of Jews worldwide in memory of that event, using the same bread like substance to this day. ‘ Yeast’ at times in bible referred to sin, therefore when bread used at last supper without ‘Yeast’, represented Jesus without sin. The ‘Bread’, was never Jesus himself as Roman church professes, just bread representing jesus’ sinless body.
@Mairtín: so they culturally appropriated it?
@Mairtín: it’s not yeast that’s the issue it’s gluten. Yeast used in bread is normally gluten free
It’s funny how the Catholic Church are so hung up on this, as the ‘celebration’ of
‘Do this in memory of me’ includes the eating of the bread and drinking of the wine, yet due to the expense of giving everyone in the church a sip of wine, they choose not to!!
All hail the sky fairy.
Red meat is already gluten free!
I’m on Atkins and off sugar too.
Hope they have a low carb, sugar free option
@Tweety McTweeter: if you go the 5:2 plan you can eat as much gluten free Eucharist as you like…although, I hear they are loaded with aspartame. Empty calories.
@Tweety McTweeter: what the Catholic Church does is no business of mine as I’m not catholic and I know you were just trying to be funny with your comment. However, comparing a diet choice (Atkins) with a forced diet (coeliac) isn’t all that funny. My 4 year old is incredibly ill with just a morsel of gluten. I know some people choose gluten free as a health choice, but coeliac disease is a serious condition. Sorry if I’m being over sensitive but it wrecks my head when people belittle it.
@Matt F: your only allowed one a day
Sweet Jesus, are there not more pressing matters for the Church to be dealing with.
@Cindy Crawford: More than one issue can be dealt with at a time you know.
@Fozz: I agree. They are never short of a few carpets to sweep under at any one time…
This is pure Monty Python territory lolz
And yes actually just to upset the raving priesty laity a bit, the RCC did drop the doctrine of transubstanciation years ago and now holds that trans-signification occurs at the consecration. In other words, what the bread signifies is more important than what it is made of. The bread is not therefore considered the body of Christ but it signifies the body of Christ. much more palatable and totally Protestant. Now pick the bones outta that
Homelessness, high suicide rates, poverty, failed health service and they worry about gluten free?
The RCC has never cared about real social issues. Too busy keeping the coffers and pews filled to care about the poor.
@DaisyChainsaw: All you have to do is visit any parish and you learn that collections and doctrines and ceremonies take prime place and there is little done for others. Whatever is done is paraded as if it were something out of the ordinary.
An hilarious attempt at being progressive by an organisation so backwards
The Catholic Church seems intent on dying out along with its congregation and I say that as one who appreciates mass and the community tradition which was once part of growing up in Ireland. Instead of revisiting its responsibility in relation to its astronomical heritage it has thrown its lot in with the voodoo merchants of empiricism in supporting ‘big bang’ and being a cheerleader for the climate change bandwagon.
@Gerald Kelleher: My sweet jebus you are some sausage.
@Gerald Kelleher: You may as well be talking Latin. Keep it real for the kids.
@Gerald Kelleher: I wouldn’t really say they jumped on the Big Bang bandwagon, considering a Catholic priest at a Catholic university is credited with putting the theory forward. It’s kinda their bandwagon.
@Gerald Kelleher: I’ll let you into a huge secret, communities were around long before and will be around long after the catholic church. It’s actually better to be part of a community where everyone is welcome, regardless of personal belief. So keep up the community work, but if you want discussion about big bangs and dietary content of bread, best to keep away from churches.
It’s like I clicked on The Journal and got The Onion instead.
What part does gluten play in the transubstantiation from ice cream wafer to human flesh?
How is there gluten in Christ’s body or is no longer the body of Christ and just a symbol now?
Is transubstantiation not a fundamental belief in catholicism? The belief that the bread is transformed into the actual body of christ during the mass. It therefore shouldn’t matter whether or not the bread has gluten in it, because if you are a true catholic, you are not consuming bread, you are consuming 2000 year old human flesh.
Just drink the wine, sure He’ll understand and you’ll be fine.
Is this what they are worried about? FFS!
At the height of the abuse scandals, what did the RCC do? Changed the words of the mass! That helped immeasurably!
Are the Catholic Church now admitting that transubstantiation is a loads of rubbish and doesn’t happen, sounds a bit Protestant to me.
@Eoghan Stynes: financially yes
Gluten free..back in the day people had an upset stomach and soldiered on…Gluten intolerent pfft. Haha
I can’t believe it’s not Jesus.
I am lost for words !!!!!!!
Hipster catholics!
Queue a barrage of bad atheist jokes.
@Mark DeFriest: Oh this whole situation is a better joke than anyone else is going to come up with.
@Rob Cahill:
Symbolism Rob.
I love poetry but the general level of response here leaves me wondering ‘how did these people cope with the Romantic poets in school?’
Must have been hell for the teachers.
@Conor Byrne: Are they doing any harm to you?
The host is tiny , are these concerned people going to mass ten times a day or something?.
have your say