**Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease, and not an allergy, but the food safety practices are the same for those with food allergies. To show the universal issues involving us, the word food allergy is used throughout this article. **

Sanctuary & Belonging

When you have Celiac Disease or a food allergy, navigating life can be stressful. We’re always second guessing, asking questions, and the day to day can feel like a burden. We are grateful when we find a place of refuge.

But sometimes church feels less like a sanctuary when your faith and food allergies collide. Sometimes our local church sanctuary feels nothing like a place of rest for those who are weary.  It has been said that food unites us, brings our communities together. But when you have a food allergy or intolerance, more often it makes you feel like an outsider.

My Celiac Disease can make me feel like an outsider.

Deep down we know it’s often unintentional. When you don’t live with food sensitivities, you don’t see the way it can become a stumbling block to someone’s faith walk.

Below are four key areas that are a hindrance with faith and food allergies . Maybe they impact you as well. Hopefully with a little conversation, we can open the eyes and ears of others and make it possible for all to come to the table.

Communion

To this day, I am still moved by a friend’s story. She was newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease, learning how to navigate life. Upon going to church, she realized that her disease kept her from communion. She recounted how she sat in the pew and wept deeply. An illness, not of her own doing, kept her from participating with others with whom she identified.

It makes me think of the lepers in the Old Testament, separated from their community, unable to worship God with others because of their disease. When communion is no longer available to me or those I care about because of food allergies, I want to stand and shout, “We are not lepers!” Please don’t exclude us.

I’m very blessed that my church offers gluten-free and allergen-friendly communion for all believers. When we first started attending our church, I would bring my own cracker and partake it on my own. But I still felt like an outsider, as I wasn’t really partaking with everyone else. Once I sat down with my pastor and explained how my faith and food allergies were causing a disconnect, we were able to create a solution together.

There are many ways churches can help others to worship safely through communion. Some may offer allergen-friendly communion stations. While the Catholic Church believe the host must contain wheat, they offer a  low-gluten host, made from pre-gelatinized wheat starch that tests below 20 ppm of gluten. No matter our denomination, we can arrange for food-allergy safe communion practices.

Children’s Ministry

“Let the little children come unto me,” Jesus says. It is so vital that churches offer a safe place for children with food allergies. If they don’t, it harms not just the child, but the whole family.

My friend’s son has Celiac Disease and is allergic to nuts. Her family had been active in their church for a long time. She took her child to Vacation Bible School, assured that they would be attentive of his food allergy needs. Imagine the mother’s horrific shock to see snack time involved Honey Nut Cheerios, peanut butter M&M’s and trail mix.

The mother was so shaken, she and her children left the venue immediately. The church didn’t handle the follow-up well, and the family didn’t attend church for months. If this can happen to someone who has been attending a church for years, my concerns are raised for food-allergy families attending a place of worship for the first time.

FARE, the Food allergy and Research and Education network, states that 8% of children have a food allergy. That breaks down to 1 in 13 children. Peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish and fish are allergens that most commonly cause anaphylaxis, which can cause a person to stop breathing and lead to death.

Because of this, it might be wise to simply not serve snacks that contain these allergens. Craft supplies must also be evaluated, especially as very young children tend to put things in their mouth. I’ve been told by church groups that they’ll worry about food allergies when they finally have a food-allergic child come to their class. By then, it may be too late.

Community Outreach

I live in a poverty stricken community. Our congregation has seen this need and started to offer community meals through our after-school program called Intersection. It is such a joy to work with these kids, to feel their joy when an adult cares about them. By offering family meals, we’re now connecting with their parents and building relationships.

But sometimes it’s hard for me to do that. Most weeks the meal is not safe for someone with Celiac Disease to eat. I again feel like an outsider. Sometimes it’s mentioned “At least there’s salad.”

Once I had a community member try to joke with me, asking if the church food wasn’t good enough for me, because I brought my own meal. It stung. I should have been able to shrug it off.  I’m an adult, but these issues are sometimes still hard to handle.

While it is impossible to anticipate every food allergy, steps can be taken to make the practice of faith and food allergies a little easier. The first is education. Learn about which food allergies are common and learn how to substitute ingredients.

Having ingredient lists next to prepared foods alleviates the anxiety of asking someone how something was prepared. Making simple dishes with minimal ingredients may allow more to eat a dish. While simple chicken, potatoes and green beans may not be fancy, it will go a long way towards feeding those who are are hungry.

Potlucks

Faith and food allergies collide most notably at potlucks. If you have a food-allergy, going to a potluck can be enough to induce a panic attack. Truth be told, most people I know with allergies avoid them all together. I will usually attend, but I will bring a main dish that I can eat and usually a side as well. We bring our own serving utensils and label our spoons and dishes gluten-free.

My husband is usually great in insisting that I get towards the front of the line, not because I’m “special” but because there is less chance of crumb-dropping or spoon-swapping. I am also blessed with a friend and fellow worshiper who takes my Celiac Disease to heart and makes gluten-free dishes that I can eat. To me, that is the greatest example of what being Christ-like is all about.

Inevitably, there’s always a dish that “looks safe” to me, but without knowing for sure I will pass.  A simple solution for this would be to ask all people to bring a copy of their recipe and lay it next to their dish. This allows those with allergies to verify a dish is free of allergens. It can also help to build relationship, as people ask for copies of recipes and cooking practices.

Discussing Our Concerns Allows Others to Come to the Table

Life is more than food and drink, and there are times when we train ourselves to enjoy those who are present instead of focusing on the food in front of us. For me personally, it can feel like I’m being a bit of a nag if I bring up my food allergies.

After all, I’m only one person, and why should others go to the trouble to meet my needs? My anxieties of how others will react also play a role. Maybe they think I’m being to picky or asking too much.

Then my heart breaks to think that other food allergy families feel the same anxiety. I’ve come to realize that by voicing my concerns about the difficulties between faith and food allergies, I may be straightening the path for those who are to come.

Maybe through bringing about awareness, I’ll be safeguarding a child from anaphylaxis or a visitor from feeling alienated. After all, aren’t we to be like our Heavenly Father, who defends those without representation, loves the foreigner, and supplies for their needs? With a little intentional planning, we can make our communal table welcoming and open to all with food allergies and intolerances.

What have been your experiences with worship and church? Does your church accommodate your needs? Have you felt the need to leave a church due to their lack of understanding? Please feel free to share your experiences, below.

Originally Published April 2016

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What is The Celiac Project Podcast?

Do you listen to podcasts? People record podcasts on just about everything these days. Mike Frolichstein and Cam Weiner fill the gluten-free void each week with their show, The Celiac Project podcast.

Each Wednesday they discuss topics related to Celiac Disease, including current headlines, dating, and living with Celiac Disease in the workplace. Mike and Cam have a great rapport and it’s great to hear a male voice in the Celiac Disease conversation. They’ve hosted this podcast for 10 years, and have recorded over 400 episodes!

How This Gluten Free Podcast Started

I first met Michael Frolichstein at the GFAF Expo in Chicago many years ago. Michael makes documentary films, and realized after his own Celiac Disease diagnosis that he could use his skills to promote Celiac Disease advocacy.

I watched his documentary, The Celiac Project, while attending a support group meeting in the greater Detroit area. It is a montage of  different people, who discuss living with Celiac Disease. Michael also discussed his nephew’s experience journey in being tested for Celiac Disease. The documentary was the foundation for their weekly podcast.

How Can I Listen to The Celiac Project Podcast?

You can find The Celiac Project podcast on all of your favorite podcast platforms. I personally use Pocket Cast, but it’s also available on Amazon, Spotify, Apple and more. Not a fan of apps? You can also listen to their podcast directly from their website.

Celiac Project Podcast Episodes I’ve Been On

I’ve had the pleasure of being a guest on their podcast three times. I embedded those episodes so you can easily listen to them. The first two podcasts were recorded Q&A sessions we held at the Indianapolis GFFA Fest in September of 2017.

The last embedded podcast session is from August of 2017, where Mike, Cam and I discuss the Catholic church’s stance on communion. For more on this topic, you can read my post about Celiac Disease and Catholic Communion.

The Celiac Project Podcast in Indianapolis – Part 1 (Episode 92)

On this episode we answer questions from the audience, discuss the NIMA sensor, and my affinity for rice cakes.

The Celiac Project Podcast in Indianapolis – Part 2 (Episode 93)

Here we discuss Celiac Disease symptoms, our biggest challenges, and what areas we would still like to see change.

The Celiac Project Podcast – Conversation About Catholic Communion

In my first podcast with them, we discuss the Catholic church’s stance on wheat being required in the communion host.

Other Gluten Free Podcasts You Might Enjoy

• You Had Me At Eat with Erica Dermer and Jules Shepard
• 100% Gluten Free News with Andrea Tucker
• A Gluten Free Podcast with Ben Hampton (Australia)
• A Canadian Celiac (Canada)
• Celiac Straight Talk (Beyond Celiac)
• Gut Health Podcast (covers add’l digestive issues)
• Gastro Girl (covers add’l digestive issues)

Have you listened to The Celiac Project Podcast? What other Celiac Disease or gastro- related podcasts do you listen to?

Originally Published October 2017

The post The Celiac Project Podcast- Talking with Mike and Cam appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

Let Me Be Transparent: I’m not Catholic

It’s the beginning of July 2017, and the Catholic Church has released a statement. 100% wheat-free Catholic Communion wafers are not valid for Holy Communion. Before I unload my research, thoughts and feelings on the issue, I will fully confess I am not Catholic. I attend a Protestant church that believes in open Communion. Amid the headlines of the Pope Francis’ declaration, I want to state some facts that might settle some fury. I also want to share some theological thoughts and concerns on their stance.

As I stated previously, I am not Catholic. I do however hold much respect for the Pope Francis. One, because he is a fellow Christian, living out the spiritual call on his life. Also, Pope Francis has of late done much to remind all believers that we are to take care of the poor, the hurting, and to show love and compassion above all else. Therefore I am surprised about his stance on not allowing a gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer, void of wheat.

Where the Catholic Church Stands on Wheat in Communion

First, some background on the Catholic Church’s belief on communion.  They believe once the wafer and wine are blessed, they transubstantiate into the body and blood of Jesus. Transubstantiate is simply a big word for “change into.” So yes, those of the Catholic faith believe they are LITERALLY consuming the body and blood of Christ. Like the sacrifices in the old testament, the host should be without defect or blemish.

This is why the wafer must be made of pure ingredients. Christ is pure, and therefore can only inhabit those things which are pure. Furthermore, this is why a true gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer is not possible in their belief. The Catholic Church believes a wafer made from grains other than wheat are not “pure” and will degrade easily.

How the Catholic Church Accommodates Those with Celiac Disease

Low Gluten Communion Wafers

Don’t run out with pitchforks and torches just yet. There are “low gluten” Communion wafers that are considered valid by the Catholic Church. These low-gluten hosts are made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration specifically as a response to those from the Catholic faith who have Celiac Disease.

While they are made with wheat starch and water, Tricia Thompson of Gluten Free Watchdog has tested these wafers. By her testing, “The amount of gluten in one host is approximately 0.0019 milligrams. In other words the amount of gluten in any one wafer is negligible. For context, a one ounce slice of gluten-free bread containing just under 20 parts per million of gluten contains 0.57 milligrams of gluten.”

Those with Celiac Disease Have Other Options

All that to say, that those wanting a gluten-free Catholic Communion experience, there are options. If you choose to partake of these low-gluten hosts, it’s best advised to keep a small box of them of your own. All parishes may not have them available. This also helps to prevent cross-contact from other gluten grains on the communion plate. Also, those with Celiac Disease can partake of wine only, from a separate chalice. In these ways, the Catholic Church is trying to accommodate the needs of those with Celiac Disease and wheat allergies.

So far I’ve tried to explain the stance against a true gluten-free Catholic Communion wafer. I understand that although my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ serve the same risen Savior, we have different practices. However, as a Christian there are issues I have with this stance. I have heard too many comments from Catholics and non-Catholics on this issue to simply remain silent. Bare with me as I explain some of my concerns on the denial of a wheat -free, gluten-free Catholic Communion host

My Concerns with the Pope’s Stance

What a Mighty God We Serve

As previously stated, the Catholic church states that the Communion wafer must contain gluten. This is because they believe that the communion host LITERALLY becomes the body of Christ after it has been consecrated. While that’s hard to wrap my mind around sometimes, I’ll be at peace with the idea. But stating that the wafer (or host) must contain wheat for transubstantiation seems to hinder the power of the Mighty God whom we serve.

Is He not the God who spoke the world into being? Is he not the God who parted the Red Sea, restored the dead to life, and healed the blind? Surely, a God of this magnitude can transubstantiate into any form of matter He chooses. If it is a matter of having “pure” ingredients, should we not be more concerned about the purity of our “host”? It is in our hearts that the Holy Spirit dwells. Purification of our own hearts and minds should deserve greater concern than the grains of a cracker.

Making Jesus Accessible to All

Second, this policy alienates so many. There are 75 MILLION people in this world with Celiac Disease. Many more with gluten-sensitivity. When we, the church, makes rules that make it harder to come to Christ, don’t we become like Pharisees? I have a friend who left the Catholic church for very personal reasons. She stated “if this is literally the body of Christ, why would we do anything to prevent others coming to Him?”

I think of the men in the New Testament who broke a roof to get their sick friend to Christ. What about the bleeding woman who pushed through the crowds simply to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe? He did not rebuke those men for not entering through the door. He did not rebuke the woman for being “unclean.” He welcomed them because their hearts realized that He was their Messiah.

Our Infirmities Should Not Keep Us from Christ

Third, I and my fellow brothers and sisters living with Celiac Disease are not lepers. Even if we were, Christ still would still have compassion on us. However, this rule of not allowing gluten-free Catholic Communion may make those with our genetic disorder feel like outsiders. I remember the story of a woman newly diagnosed with Celiac Disease in our support group. She relayed her heartache as she realized that her new diagnosis would hinder her participation in community. She spoke candidly of how she sat in her pew and wept deeply.

I’d like to think that Jesus wept with her. Just like he did Martha and Mary at the loss of their brother. When the Curtain of the Temple was torn in two during Christ’s crucifixion, it was done to restore relationship. Restore relationship not just with God, but with each other. It breaks my heart when any church – Protestant, Catholic or otherwise- sets up rules like the Pharisees that make relationship harder. I’ve written about this issue in our own church, here. 

Should Those with Celiac Disease Become Priests?

Partaking in Holy Communion is so central to the Catholic faith that remnants cannot simply be discarded. It is the literal body and blood of Christ, broken for us, and therefore must be consumed. Because of this, the Catholic Church has actually dissuaded men with Celiac Disease from becoming priests. As published in a Vatican document, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, “4. Given the centrality of the celebration of the Eucharist in the life of a priest, one must proceed with great caution before admitting to Holy Orders [priestly ordination] those candidates unable to ingest gluten or alcohol without serious harm.”

Why would one dismiss God’s servant because of a food intolerance? Men willing to take a vow of celibacy, deny the blessing of marriage, who take the personal commitment to being a man of the cloth should be honored. One willing to make that sacrifice for Christ should not be dissuaded.

“If You Had Enough Faith…”

Lastly, I’m concerned about what precedent this stance may set. Will priests still be compassionate to those who need the low-gluten hosts? Will they be willing to order the low-gluten hosts for those that need them? Is it possible that one’s request for a separate chalice will be seen as a “bother”? My heart broke as I read a comment on the GlutenAway Facebook thread from a Catholic parishoner. “My priest told me that if I had faith, I wouldn’t get sick. That it is NOT bread but the body of Christ.”

The “if you had enough faith” comment has been used in multiple denominations, and it’s simply WRONG. I think of the story of the young man born blind. The disciples ask “Who sinned, he or his parents?” Jesus answers “Neither, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed through him.” Again and again, Christ shows that we are to be people of compassion, and not judge the faith or sin of another.

Some Final Thoughts

So thanks for bearing with me on my long article about this issue. My goal here is not to destroy and disrespect the Catholic Church. My goal isn’t even so much to make the Pope rethink his denial of a true gluten-free Catholic Communion host. (Although that would be FANTASTIC!) More than anything, I want people to see the heart and compassion of Christ.

So many times I believe traditions established by churches are out of fear of God, and not an understanding of God. While it is true that we should come to Christ in reverence for what He has done for us, God does not stand ready to smite us if we get something wrong. He is our Abba, Father. We are His children. He defines us by our relationship with him, not our body’s relationship to wheat protein particles.

What’s your take on this issue? Please share your thoughts, keeping in mind that this is a sensitive issue and I will not tolerate demeaning comments from either side of the argument. How has your congregation or parish accommodated your Celiac Disease or food allergies? You can read my post on how I’d like to educate priests and pastors on that issue here.

For more on this topic, listen to my Celiac Project Podcast interview with Mike and Cam. (Audio starts at 30 seconds.)

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