‘Discrimination’ row as Catholic church bars Down’s Syndrome boy, 7, from Mass

Young Denum Ellarby attends church, knows who Jesus is and is old enough to take part in the special ceremony.

But he will not be joining children of his age at holy communion preparation classes or on the big day itself at St Mary’s Church in Batley.

The diocese has written to Denum’s parents saying their son is not yet ready as he has ‘limited concentration’ and does not enjoy Mass.

His parents have now accused the Catholic Church of discriminating against him because of his disability.

His mother, Clare Ellarby, said: “I feel really let down by the Catholic faith. If I don’t stick up for him, no-one will.”

Mrs Ellarby, of Dewsbury, has collected more than 400 signatures on a petition fighting against what she believes is discrimination against her child.

Denum is a pupil at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Batley, where pupils are invited to take first communion classes at St Mary’s Church at about the age of seven.

But Mrs Ellarby said she never received an invitation and by the time her family heard about the classes they had missed the first meeting.

She said she contacted parish priest Father Patrick Mungovin, who said he was not prepared to take on any more children at that stage.

Mrs Ellarby then emailed the Diocese of Leeds and a response from the Vicar General, Michael McQuinn, gave further reasons for Denum’s exclusion.

In a letter, Reverend McQuinn said Denum’s class teacher reported that he had “limited concentration, doesn’t really access the RE curriculum and does not enjoy going to Mass”.

The letter suggests Denum might be able to take part in Holy Communion in future years, but is “unable to engage in the preparation this year”.

Wanting her son to be included, Mrs Ellarby had emailed the diocese to explain how Denum’s abilities could affect his preparation for taking Holy Communion.

She said: “My concern was that Denum can’t sit in an hour’s mass because of his concentration levels.

“I said could I do that work with Denum at home and if I come to mass he might only be able to stay for half an hour.”

But the Diocese has agreed with Father Mungovin and the school that Denum needs to have more of an understanding of holy communion before he can take part.

Mrs Ellarby, 30, said: “I’m really upset about it all, and I’m ready to go as far as I have to. I think it’s just discrimination. A Down’s Syndrome child may never have that understanding. He’s been singled out.”

Mrs Ellarby has been attending St Mary’s Church, Batley, for 30 years. It was the church where she married her husband, Darren, and where Denum was baptised.

She said: “They accepted him as a Catholic and now they are taking this right away from him. I feel really let down by the Catholic faith.”

In a statement, a Diocese spokesman said: “Often Baptism is celebrated for babies in order to bring them into the life of the church but they only proceed to the sacrament of first communion when they take part in the church’s life and understand the church’s faith in regard to these sacraments.

“Denum’s family has not participated in the regular life of the Church or in the preparation preceding first communion.

“We hope that this will change as Denum grows and we are working with him and his family to help him achieve this.”

Xanthe Breen, of the Down’s Syndrome Association, has been speaking to the family about their concerns.

“It’s not something we have ever heard of before,” she said. “It’s a shame all parties can’t come to a compromise.”

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