Posted by JenStar on August 22, 2004, at 18:59:58
In reply to communion denied/ wafer contained no wheat, posted by Jai Narayan on August 22, 2004, at 9:55:44
I was really interested in that story.
On the one hand, I couldn't help but think that wheat allergies are seldom as life-threatening as this girl made out, and the girl (or perhaps more likely her mom) are trying to make trouble/get noticed/etc.
But on the other hand -- why shouldn't they make a fuss? Shouldn't the sacrament be more about the ideology than the physical piece of bread? What's a religious person to do if the church won't admit them b/c they can't eat the host?
I mean -- if it's supposed to be Christ's actual blood/flesh -- what does it matter what it started out as, whether wheat, rice, or French loaf? In Jesus' day, they didn't use specially formulated wheat wafers that were sanctified by a special authoritative council. They used whatever was handy and local and available.
I have read a lot about how the arbitrariness of religious rules is what makes them work -- once you realize that it isn't the rule itself that matters so much but rather adherence to the rule, you are freed up to appreciate the deeper truths. I suppose the church is loathe to change the policies for this girl -- they've decided that their rule is wheat-wafers. But such inflexibility seems ridiculous and really just at complete odds with the heart of what is SUPPOSED to be Catholic religion!
All it does (in my mind) is make the Catholic church into a bigger mockery and public fool that it already was. It saddens me, and as a sort-of Catholic, I feel the church is just going to die. Stupid church! Why can't you just fix yourself?
Sorry for the rant. I'm feeling bitter b/c I was raised Catholic and tried to really get into it...and now there is so much ugliness being exposed that I am almost embarrassed to say I am Catholic...
JenStar
poster:JenStar
thread:380784
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040820/msgs/380975.html