Sadly, no.

Wheat-allergic girl denied communion

BRIELLE, New Jersey (AP) — An 8-year-old girl who suffers from a digestive disorder and cannot eat wheat has had her first Holy Communion declared invalid because the wafer contained no wheat, violating Roman Catholic doctrine.

Jen and I caught this article on Sunday (or maybe it was Saturday? not important) and I meant to make mention of it, but it slipped my mind until today.

I believe my exact words were “You have GOT to be kidding me.”

More quotes:

“This is not an issue to be determined at the diocesan or parish level, but has already been decided for the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world by Vatican authority,” Trenton Bishop John M. Smith said in a statement last week.

“This is a church rule, not God’s will, and it can easily be adjusted to meet the needs of the people, while staying true to the traditions of our faith,” Pelly-Waldman wrote in the letter.

This is exactly the sort of thing that is going to send people fleeing from the Catholic church. It’s ludicrous.