Q: I am a practicing Catholic but have gluten intolerance. What are the options available to me for receiving communion?

The following advice has been provided by the Bishops' Commission for Liturgy. The St Vincent de Paul Society at Lewisham in Sydney now produce very low gluten hosts. These have been assessed by the Coeliac Society's scientific officer and have found to be so low that coeliacs are not affected when they are received as Holy Communion.

If, however the condition is so severe that would preclude even low gluten hosts, then they should make arrangements with the parish priest to receive Holy Communion from the chalice. This is a practice that is widespread both here in Australia and overseas.