Vatican Won’t Succumb To Gluten Nazis, Communion Wafer Will Remain As Is

[240B]

Constitution
By Andrew West
Jul 11, 2017


As a human being living on earth in 2017, there is no escaping the newest dietary hysteria of going gluten-free.


The sudden onset of ailments linked to this nearly omnipresent ingredient has created quite a stir in recent years, spawning a boom of niche dietary entities hoping to cash in on the craze.  While there are certainly people out there who legitimately cannot process the protein which is found in grass-based grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.  Those suffering from Celiac Disease are the most adversely affected, possessing a legitimate allergy to the ever-present protein.  Celiac Disease, however, is extremely rare, affecting only 1% of the U.S. population, leading to the creation of a wider spectrum of potential customers, the gluten intolerant, who these pop-up corporations can prey upon.


The symptoms of gluten intolerance are purposefully vague in order to corral more customers to the movement, with several behaviors and effects of the condition being common, everyday occurrences for many.  Nevertheless, the world has fallen for the ruse, hook, line, and sinker, and many Americans feel as though they need to take medicine just to tolerate the gluten intolerant.


Now, this bread-based hysteria has reached all the way to The Vatican, where the Pope himself had to lay down the papal law on gluten.


(more)
http://constitution.com/vatican-wont-succumb-to-gluten-nazis-communion-wafer-will-remain-as-is/

[rodamala]

Sorry, no kale/quinoa chips for communion.

[Joe Wooten]

Our church does have a no gluten wafer for the one little girl who truly is gluten intolerant.

That being said, I am amused by all the stuff that advertises it is gluten free, like soda pop, high sugar candy, jerky, , etc....

[driftdiver]

The only people who make fun of those who say they are gluten intolerant are those who have never had a serious GI issue.

In most cases medical science doesn't have the answer.   The treatments they offer are frequently nothing more than band aids to hide the symptoms.

[240B]

The only people who make fun of those who say they are gluten intolerant are those who have never had a serious GI issue.

@driftdiver
@Joe Wooten
Yeah but, is a little wafer that maybe has a few milligrams of gluten in it really going to affect anybody?

[goodwithagun]

@driftdiver
@Joe Wooten
Yeah but, is a little wafer that maybe has a few milligrams of gluten in it really going to affect anybody?

Yes. My little cousin will go into anaphylactic shock from just a few milligrams. Then there's my son who's autistic and gluten free even though "experts" claim there's no gluten issues with autism yet refuse to listen to parents and caregivers that experience the difference first hand.

[driftdiver]

@driftdiver
@Joe Wooten
Yeah but, is a little wafer that maybe has a few milligrams of gluten in it really going to affect anybody?

@240B @goodwithagun

Depends on the person, on the day and on the source of gluten.    Doctors don't understand it or the various factors that influence it.  So people are left trying to figure it out for themselves.

I've spent tens of thousands of dollars and years going to the "best" doctors for a family member.  I've found that chinese herbal doctors, acupuncture, teas and avoiding foods provide FAR more relief than anything any of the doctors have done.

[Wingnut]

@driftdiver
@Joe Wooten
Yeah but, is a little wafer that maybe has a few milligrams of gluten in it really going to affect anybody?

No.  Only your basic hypochondriac would.

[driftdiver]

No.  Only your basic hypochondriac would.

@Wingnut
Spoken from ignorance

[Applewood]

The only people who make fun of those who say they are gluten intolerant are those who have never had a serious GI issue.

In most cases medical science doesn't have the answer.   The treatments they offer are frequently nothing more than band aids to hide the symptoms.

That I can understand and those are the people I have sympathy for.  But it seems to me that most of the ones demanding gluten free everything are those who go gluten free for bogus reasons like weight loss.  I have a friend on a gluten free regimen for weight loss. She has lost an average of one-half to one pound per week.  Great, but she could have done that with gluten.  People are too focused on what they eat and not considering how much they eat and how many calories they burn. 

[Wingnut]

@Wingnut
Spoken from ignorance

You are probably lactose intolerant also.  You can't stomach anything.

[driftdiver]

You are probably lactose intolerant also.  You can't stomach anything.

@Wingnut
Well you could stop talking and let people think you're an ass or you can keep talking and confirm it.

[Oceander]

Apropos of nothing: the scientist who did the original study on which all claims of gluten intolerance not arising from celiac disease are based redid his study more rigorously and found that there was no discernible connection between gluten and the intestinal complaints of people who did not have celiac disease.  In other words, as far as objective fact was concerned, it was in their heads if celiac wasn't in their gut.

Gluten is not some general-purpose cause of upset tummy. 

[driftdiver]

That I can understand and those are the people I have sympathy for.  But it seems to me that most of the ones demanding gluten free everything are those who go gluten free for bogus reasons like weight loss.  I have a friend on a gluten free regimen for weight loss. She has lost an average of one-half to one pound per week.  Great, but she could have done that with gluten.  People are too focused on what they eat and not considering how much they eat and how many calories they burn.

Gluten free seems to be a a fad but I don't get too wound up about what other people want or dont want to eat.   You want to be Vegan, go for it.   You want organic?  Have two.   You want to force me to eat GMO, then I have a problem.

In regards to gluten, I think people eat too much of it.  Too many preservatives, carbs and sugars.   It messes up our systems and the lack of activity can lead to weight gain.    Once your gut gets out of whack it can be extremely painful and difficult to correct it.

[driftdiver]

Apropos of nothing: the scientist who did the original study on which all claims of gluten intolerance not arising from celiac disease are based redid his study more rigorously and found that there was no discernible connection between gluten and the intestinal complaints of people who did not have celiac disease.  In other words, as far as objective fact was concerned, it was in their heads if celiac wasn't in their gut.

Gluten is not some general-purpose cause of upset tummy.

Perhaps not in his test but there are a million variables.   I've taken my family member to the "best" GI doctors and they have no answers if its outside of their standards of care.   Heck for 4 years multiple specialists missed that their gall bladder wasn't functioning.

The GI tract is quite complex and not all that glamorous.  It doesn't seem to get the attention it deserves.

[RoosGirl]

I suggested to sub out the wafer and wine for milk and chocolate chip cookie to my Lutheran (Missouri synod)  pastor.  He laughed at me.  But I hate wine, so I figured if Jesus can come into wafer and wine, why not milk and cookie. :)

[Wingnut]

@Wingnut
Well you could stop talking and let people think you're an ass or you can keep talking and confirm it.

You are the only ass here.  If you don't want to be ridden like an ass don't act like one.

[driftdiver]

You are the only ass here.  If you don't want to be ridden like an ass don't act like one.

@Wingnut

Blah blah blah

Insulted any veterans today?  I know you like to do that.

[RoosGirl]

Yes! Finally a potential thread lockdown that doesn't involve Trump!
 

[Wingnut]

I suggested to sub out the wafer and wine for milk and chocolate chip cookie to my Lutheran (Missouri synod)  pastor.  He laughed at me.  But I hate wine, so I figured if Jesus can come into wafer and wine, why not milk and cookie. :)

[goodwithagun]

Apropos of nothing: the scientist who did the original study on which all claims of gluten intolerance not arising from celiac disease are based redid his study more rigorously and found that there was no discernible connection between gluten and the intestinal complaints of people who did not have celiac disease.  In other words, as far as objective fact was concerned, it was in their heads if celiac wasn't in their gut.

Gluten is not some general-purpose cause of upset tummy.

Gluten doesn't upset my son's tummy. It (along with artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, most preservatives, and MSG) sends him into meltdowns over issues that he has long since gotten over. For example, he is much better now with being interrupted. Two years ago had he been interrupted mid speech he would have had a meltdown. Today you can tell by his features that he's uncomfortable with the interuptions, but he doesn't meltdown at all. Give him a heavy gluten meal or any of the other things I mentioned and he reverts right back to where he was two years ago.

His regular ed teachers, special ed team, and aide take notes throughout the school year. We don't tell them when we're changing our son's diet or when we are taking him to hyperbaric chamber therapy. We keep those notes. We have devised a note taking system that's on identical calendars so that we can look at them side by side: our notes and the school's notes. It's astounding to see the correlations between diet, hyperbaric, and behavior. A few other parents  (of kids with autism and kids with Downs) have seen the light and are doing the same thing thing we are doing. It makes such a huge difference in our lives.

[RoosGirl]

Gluten doesn't upset my son's tummy. It (along with artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, most preservatives, and MSG) sends him into meltdowns over issues that he has long since gotten over. For example, he is much better now with being interrupted. Two years ago had he been interrupted mid speech he would have had a meltdown. Today you can tell by his features that he's uncomfortable with the interuptions, but he doesn't meltdown at all. Give him a heavy gluten meal or any of the other things I mentioned and he reverts right back to where he was two years ago.

His regular ed teachers, special ed team, and aide take notes throughout the school year. We don't tell them when we're changing our son's diet or when we are taking him to hyperbaric chamber therapy. We keep those notes. We have devised a note taking system that's on identical calendars so that we can look at them side by side: our notes and the school's notes. It's astounding to see the correlations between diet, hyperbaric, and behavior. A few other parents  (of kids with autism and kids with Downs) have seen the light and are doing the same thing thing we are doing. It makes such a huge difference in our lives.

I'm glad you have found a regimen that wroks for your son.  I think there is a lot of evidence that gut influences health, mood and behavior.  And since every person is different then every ingredient affects every person a little differently.

[jmyrlefuller]

Perhaps this is the Protestant in me, but can any bishop tell me where in the Bible it says that the bread in the Last Supper had gluten as a necessary ingredient?

This is the kind of stuff that Jesus warned about in regard to "teachers of the law:" getting so wrapped up in tradition and rules that they forget the whole point. Is a gluten-free wafer any less of a representation of the body of Christ than one with gluten?

[Oceander]

Perhaps this is the Protestant in me, but can any bishop tell me where in the Bible it says that the bread in the Last Supper had gluten as a necessary ingredient?

This is the kind of stuff that Jesus warned about in regard to "teachers of the law:" getting so wrapped up in tradition and rules that they forget the whole point. Is a gluten-free wafer any less of a representation of the body of Christ than one with gluten?

Gluten is not an ingredient added to bread, it is an integral component of the flour used to make bread. 

[Joe Wooten]

I suggested to sub out the wafer and wine for milk and chocolate chip cookie to my Lutheran (Missouri synod)  pastor.  He laughed at me.  But I hate wine, so I figured if Jesus can come into wafer and wine, why not milk and cookie. :)

When Pope Benedict first took over, there was a meme picture showing him using beer and pretzels instead of wine and communion wafers