To the Pastor of ____________ :

Upon the announcement of the removal and forbiddance of the use of the Altar Rails throughout our Diocese, as promulgated in Bishop Martin’s “Pastoral Letter on Holy Communion,” issued December 17, 2025 and labeled Prot. No. B 339/25, which I find to be an infringement upon my right to kneel to receive Holy Communion, I hereby ask for an accommodation, by which I may more reasonably, comfortably, and efficiently exercise my right to kneel to receive Holy Communion. Those who are aged, elderly, physically-impaired, carry children, or are otherwise physically-hindered, find it very difficult to kneel for Holy Communion without the assistance of an Altar Rail or kneeler. I find myself among those who have this difficulty.

The USCCB Committee on Divine Worship issued a document called Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities in which, in paragraph #3, it states:

Parish sacramental celebrations should be accessible to persons with disabilities and open to their full, active, and conscious participation, according to their capacity. Pastoral ministers should not presume to know the needs of persons with disabilities, but should rather—before all else—consult with them or their advocates before making determinations about the accessibility of a parish’s facilities and the availability of its programs, policies, and ministries. Full accessibility should be the goal for every parish, and these adaptations are to be an ordinary part of the liturgical life of the parish.

I humbly ask that, if you decide to implement Prot. No. B 339/25 at our parish, that you find a way to make kneeling for the reception of Holy Communion more accessible, granting me adequate assistance to kneel down and to stand back up when my time comes to receive Our Lord. The best solution is to not remove the altar rails, which remain the ideal means of making kneeling easily accessible to Catholics. I am open to other pastoral solutions you may have to this dilemma.

Sincerely,

Your Child in Christ,

__________________________________                 __________________________________

(Printed Name)                                                           (Signature)