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Denominational teachings |
Holy Communion, also known as theEucharist and theLord's Supper, is aChristianrite that is considered asacrament in most churches. The accessibility of the Eucharist (receivingsacramental bread andwine) tointellectually disabledChristians varies depending on theChristian denomination or community.
SomeChristian 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.
TheCode of Canon Law of theRoman 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.[2][3]
Additionally, theUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated in itsGuidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities (approved 1995):
In an effort to better reach marginalized populations, such as those living withautism and otherdevelopmental 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.[5]
Similar to the Roman Catholic view,Eastern Catholic Churches, which practiceinfant communion, favor intellectually disabled Christians being allowed to receive the Eucharist.
Orthodox Christianity makes communion available to allbaptized andchrismated church members who wish to receive it, regardless of developmental or other disabilities. The theory is that the soul of the recipient understands what is being received even if the conscious mind is incapable of doing so, and that the grace imparted by Communion "for the healing of soul and body" is a benefit that most especially should not be denied in such cases. This is consistent with the practice ofInfant Communion in Eastern Orthodoxy.
Orthodox Christians typically receive the Sacrament ofConfession before receiving the Eucharist. However, for those who are either mentally incapable of recognizing or recalling theirsins, or who are mentally or physically incapable of communicating their sins to apriest, this requirement is dispensed with, just as it is for very young children.
There are thousands of denominations within theProtestant structure, and each will have their own policy of working with people who have an intellectual impairment.
While theAnglican Church (also known as theEpiscopalian Church) welcomes all people, it does not have a firm policy for giving communion to people with learning difficulties.[6][7] However, most Anglican churches hold an "open table", meaning that all baptised Christians are welcome to receive communion.[8][9]
TheChurch of Scotland[10] says in regard to those with learning difficulties:
In theLutheran Churches, the sacrament of Holy Communion is administered to people with intellectual disability, as with people withdementia.[12]
In most evangelical Christian churches, the only requirement for any individual to participate in Communion is that the person professes to have a personal relationship with God and to have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Before Communion in these churches, the policy is usually verbally outlined and the decision is left up to the individual.