Denum Ellarby may only be eight years old, but he has already won an important battle against discrimination that outraged millions.
When Ellarby, who has Down's Syndrome, was refused the opportunity to make his First Holy Communion alongside his young classmates it was because he was unready for the experience, his parish priest said.
He would not understand the concept of communion, or enjoy 'participation in the mass,' Father Patrick Mungovin informed his shocked mother Clare.
Father Mungovin's opinion was also shared by the Diocese of Leeds, who informed the boy's parents, who live in West Yorkshire in England, that the sacrement would be withheld in Denum's case.
Clare Ellarby reacted with surprise and shock to what she called this 'cruel discrimination.'
It was not until the Daily Mail highlighted his plight in January (leading to angry headlines worldwide) that Father Mungovin began to reconsider his original decision.
Clare Ellarby collected a 400 signature petition in support of Denum from the local community, but bad publicity and blaring headlines in the world's media may have prompted the church's change of heart.
A meeting with the parish priest Father Patrick Mungovin and the boy’s headteacher was hastily arranged at Denum's Roman Catholic primary school, and special arrangements were quickly made for Denum to be prepared for First Communion.
Although Denum was not allowed to join his classmates in their monthly preparation sessions for First Communion, he was given private weekly religious tuition by a member of the church support staff.
That decision seems to have laid the groundwork for the church's sudden change of heart.
'I am very happy they have allowed him to take communion after all, but they have made him do more than most other people,' Clare Ellarby, 31, told the Daily Mail.
'I think they shouldn’t have done what they did in the first place and if it wasn’t for the Daily Mail and the media interest he would not have been taking part at all.
'The church, quite rightly, came in for a lot of criticism. I think they have got a way to go before properly accepting children like Denum and other people with disabilities.'
Darren Ellarby, 37, a property developer said he was glad that Father Mungovin had changed his mind. On Saturday Denum took his First Communion in front of dozens of friends and relatives.
'It was a lovely service and I am so glad we fought for Denum to be treated like anyone else,' Clare Ellarby said.
The resolution was made bittersweet by the news that three weeks earlier church officials held a First Communion party for Denum's classmates who had been prepared together, but Denum did not receive an invitation.
Church officials refused to comment on the matter to the press.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.esatdigiwank | Jul 11, 2012, 03:28 PM EDT
"He would not understand the concept of communion, or enjoy 'participation in the mass,' " >> Thats a problem many of us could empathise with I can tell you! Those of us who still bother with the hocus-pocus weekly event, that is.
KatieMurphy | May 27, 2012, 03:08 AM EDT
If he was gvay th4e priest would probably walk out of the ceremony. just as in multiple cases in the USA and Britain, when a priest discovered the deceased was a parent of a gay person the rotten priest simply disappeared and didnt show up at the cemetary as well. .............There is no end to the catholic church's hate............. Little different then how they demonized Jews for a millenia, building the foundations for the holocaust................Jesus probably is expanding hell just for the hierarchy - the sooner the better.
billie061 | May 24, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT
This is incredible in this day. 30 years ago my uncle fought tooth and nail for my cousin to go to mainstrem school. Did this priest never hear about Jesus and the children ????????????? An Americian man 25 years ago when his daughter was run over was holding her as she lay dying on the side of the road. She said Dad stop crying Im going home to Jeasus and he will look after me. Out of the mouth of babes. Denum you looked so handsome. Reminds me of when I had my first child My p.p refused to christen her with the other babies, when I requested a baptismal cert I was told When you produce a wedding cert. That was 30 years ago I thought things had moved on.
Madeliene | May 23, 2012, 07:25 PM EDT
God Bless the little man.
seanomelbourne | May 23, 2012, 06:45 PM EDT
100thApefrom58 I am elderly if you see the face of God in mine what do I look like??
cynicus | May 23, 2012, 06:35 PM EDT
Is the 'Daily Mail' closer to God that the Parish Priest and the Bishop? They seemed to have influenced these 'little Gods' right enough! What a dysfunctional set-up! Denum is closer to God than those who denied him! Suffer the little children to come unto me - ever hear of that, Parish Priest?
EphraimKibbey | May 23, 2012, 04:15 PM EDT
@100thApefrom58 - On the other hand, Eros is doing quite well there. Maybe they flunked their ancient Greek class.
barneyjo | May 23, 2012, 12:29 PM EDT
@Georgedillon - so you do take my point then that this Priest was out of step with your understanding as to how someone such as this young man should have been treated by his Parish Priest. Still, pleased to note that the Priest is now "on message" Hope springs eternal, eh George :)!!
100thApefrom58 | May 23, 2012, 12:27 PM EDT
I could never understand the dispensation of "God's " policies through a weak single human, who tells you not to read the manual of "God's' will ? where is the empathy there ? do as I say..not as I do..sounds like flesh to Me..all the supposed non Canon books tossed out ? I sure see why "Enoch" scared the (tares) It warned Us of the current Church and the corrupt leadership..If I were them , I would have burned it too..their rotten fruits are ignored as what ? Rape and abuse the real Saints..with a Vatican seal ? I know and feel and see there is a GOD..mostly in the faces of children , the elderly , the suffering. those that have "Empathy" not dogma ! to measure their steps..We don't need pomp and gold to represent a beauty obviously beyond human understanding ..all the billions sunk by pomp and ceremony ? disgusting waste ! dictators ! shine the light on THEM ! root em out as the tares they are..but no.?. send them Your 10% and MORE .. sheeple. buying a drunk a drink would be less of a Sin..and the analogy is Damning close..Agape is dead in the Vatican..
Intercessor | May 23, 2012, 10:56 AM EDT
God's eternal love and mercy supersedes any man-made laws as well as manmade Canon Laws of the Roman Catholic Church, and I say this as a "Cradle Catholic!" This child's parents are to be commended for fighting for his human rights in the arena called, "The Holy Roman Catholic Church!"
IrelandNorth | May 23, 2012, 05:51 AM EDT
Yes, indeed! IrishCentral/LáranáchÉireannach (Lor-in-och Air-in-och) does have a fixation with the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church (HRC&AC). Surely one anti-Catholic tirade per issue would suffice. Demanding equality in an institution you despise is surely hypocritical.
100thApefrom58 | May 22, 2012, 08:23 PM EDT
These whited tombstones need to drop the dogma and up the "empathy" I think "Enoch" was correct in warning us about the end time Church in this case..The "Lord" practices "Eugenics" ? Verily NO !
sirpeter | May 22, 2012, 08:20 PM EDT
What's wrong with these priests???Seven year olds these days don't half understand the experience anyway.
barneyjo | May 22, 2012, 07:24 PM EDT
Ah now George......."Are there those so blind who do not see"??
Bythebay | May 22, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT
I have never heard of any disabled child in Ireland being refused the sacraments. This story is grotesque.
mairint | May 22, 2012, 06:00 PM EDT
It seems a strange case. Perhaps there is more behind the story. It is good that this little boy is now receiving Holy Communion. My sister in Ireland, now almost 70, severely mentally handicapped all her life, received the Eucharist as a young child. For years the local priest would than bring the Eucharist to the house for my sister as she was rather disruptive in the the Church due to her nervousness. I never heard of any Church 'ban'. Omitting Denum from any party was unforgivable. Mentally handicapped children cannot even commit sin if they do not understand the concept. God bless all handicapped children.
seanomelb | May 22, 2012, 05:20 PM EDT
The RCC is run by a heartless mob of religious bigots.
joan1954 | May 22, 2012, 04:09 PM EDT
Right on Claredaughter, these children are able to undrstand some concepts and can be tutored to understand it all.
joan1954 | May 22, 2012, 03:45 PM EDT
I think it is outright prejudice...my child was able to pass his catechism test and treated like any other....they may simply need extra tutoring, but just having Downs Syndrome or any other form of retardation does not mean you are automatically too stupid to learn ....someone is operating under decades old procedure, whereby these students were locked up and scorned. Shame to whoever did this.......