Boy denied first communion due to mental disability.

Well, aside from the mental part, it's not like other kids his age who do go will be exempt from these reasons either. I didn't take religion seriously when i was 8 and my aunt/uncle/their kids were heavily involved in the church. Sure as hell didn't have any idea what the first communion was for if/when i went to it. I didn't even know what the point was until i read your explanation for it just now. I would imagine most kids don't take religion seriously nowadays. Which is why it's been dying out lately.

I went to catholic private schools for years (as stated above) and had to study religion an hour a day..... all of that made a lot of things stick to my memory, but I still hardly remember most of it. I see your point.

I think heavily religious choices such as this should be put off at least until people are in their mid-late teens where the person actually knows (somewhat) what the pineapple they're getting into and why they're doing it.