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Communion and the developmentally disabled
Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches. The accessibility of the Eucharist (receiving sacramental bread and wine) to intellectually disabled Christians varies depending on the Christian denomination or community.
Some Christian traditions maintain that a theological understanding of the sacrament is necessary to receive Eucharist and, therefore, do not administer the sacrament to intellectually disabled persons. Other Christian traditions maintain that spiritual devotion to the real presence of Jesus Christ is necessary to receive the Eucharist and, therefore, administer the sacrament to intellectually disabled persons under particular conditions - presuming the benefit of the sacrament can be received even if the Eucharist is not consumed. Still other Christian traditions understand the practice of Eucharist principally as a communal expression of community solidarity or unity and, therefore, administer the sacrament indiscriminately during the liturgy.
Thomas Aquinas maintained that all cognitively impaired Christians have a right to the Eucharist and that the sacrament should not be withheld from such persons, except in the most extreme of circumstances (STh III.80.9). According to Aquinas, the only extreme circumstance that warrants withholding the Eucharist from a cognitively impaired Christian is if the Christian is entirely incapable of expressing their desire to receive the Eucharist.
The Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church has official policy about how the sacraments should be administered in the case of adult Christians who lack the use of reason. The rationale was developed on the understanding that persons who lack the use of reason, like infants, need the assistance of others to participate in the sacraments of the Church. Thus, ecclesial care for infants provides the principles for the ecclesial care of intellectually disabled persons.
Regarding the administration of Eucharist to children and other persons who lack the use of reason, Canon 913 states
This policy is reflected in the positions published by many Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States and Australia.
Additionally, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated in its Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities (approved 1995):
In an effort to better reach marginalized populations, such as those living with autism and other developmental disabilities, while at the same time providing for their religious education, organizations have emerged offering online alternatives to traditional Faith Formation in keeping with the USCCB's Guidelines.
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Communion and the developmentally disabled
Holy Communion, also known as the Eucharist and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches. The accessibility of the Eucharist (receiving sacramental bread and wine) to intellectually disabled Christians varies depending on the Christian denomination or community.
Some Christian traditions maintain that a theological understanding of the sacrament is necessary to receive Eucharist and, therefore, do not administer the sacrament to intellectually disabled persons. Other Christian traditions maintain that spiritual devotion to the real presence of Jesus Christ is necessary to receive the Eucharist and, therefore, administer the sacrament to intellectually disabled persons under particular conditions - presuming the benefit of the sacrament can be received even if the Eucharist is not consumed. Still other Christian traditions understand the practice of Eucharist principally as a communal expression of community solidarity or unity and, therefore, administer the sacrament indiscriminately during the liturgy.
Thomas Aquinas maintained that all cognitively impaired Christians have a right to the Eucharist and that the sacrament should not be withheld from such persons, except in the most extreme of circumstances (STh III.80.9). According to Aquinas, the only extreme circumstance that warrants withholding the Eucharist from a cognitively impaired Christian is if the Christian is entirely incapable of expressing their desire to receive the Eucharist.
The Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church has official policy about how the sacraments should be administered in the case of adult Christians who lack the use of reason. The rationale was developed on the understanding that persons who lack the use of reason, like infants, need the assistance of others to participate in the sacraments of the Church. Thus, ecclesial care for infants provides the principles for the ecclesial care of intellectually disabled persons.
Regarding the administration of Eucharist to children and other persons who lack the use of reason, Canon 913 states
This policy is reflected in the positions published by many Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States and Australia.
Additionally, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated in its Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities (approved 1995):
In an effort to better reach marginalized populations, such as those living with autism and other developmental disabilities, while at the same time providing for their religious education, organizations have emerged offering online alternatives to traditional Faith Formation in keeping with the USCCB's Guidelines.