No communion for child with cerebral palsy

My opinion:

• Communing infants is the ancient practice.
• Most of the ritual churches in the Catholic Church do as well.
• The idea of understanding is a slippery slope that I'm not sure finds much of a foothold in the Fathers. We could apply this sort of logic to Baptism, which would of course make many Protestants happy.
• This should never have been handled like this. It should have gone to the bishop first. There should have been a long, prayerful meeting on the topic.
• There should have been a better explanation of the rite of anointing of the sick.
• The USCCB's own guidelines (PDF) tell them what to do: "It is important to note, however, that the criterion for reception of holy communion is the same for persons with developmental and mental disabilities as for all persons, namely, that the person be able to distinguish the Body of Christ from ordinary food, even if this recognition is evidenced through manner, gesture,
  or reverential silence rather than verbally. Pastors are encouraged to consult with parents,
  those who take the place of parents, diocesan personnel involved with disability issues,
  psychologists, religious educators, and other experts in making their judgment. If it is
  determined that a parishioner who is disabled is not ready to receive the sacrament, great
  care is to be taken in explaining the reasons for this decision. Cases of doubt should be
  resolved in favor of the right of the baptized person to receive the sacrament. The
  existence of a disability is not considered in and of itself as disqualifying a person from
  receiving the Eucharist."

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From the blog Creative Minority Report:

A child has been denied first Communion due to a rather severe cognitive disability which, according to the pastor, made him unable to understand the Eucharist.

I don't know the right answer here but it seems to me that the Church should do everything we can to offer the sacraments but the bishops have said:

It is important to note, however, that the criterion for reception of holy communion is the same for persons with developmental and mental disabilities as for all persons, namely, that the person be able to distinguish the Body of Christ from ordinary food, even if this recognition is evidenced through manner, gesture, or reverential silence rather than verbally.

It seems to me to be up to the priest to make the call.

I do get a bit weary of the exit line from the reporter saying that this incident makes the mother question not only her pastor but her faith. And Anointing of the Sick isn't just for those dying, despite what the woman says. And her calling it "discrimination" is a bit awkward in that the Church must be discriminating as to who receives Communion.

In the end, this is a terrible situation but I think you have to trust the pastor.