Catholic Church investigators have concluded that a communion host was not miraculously "bleeding" when it developed a dark red hue last month in a Kearns church.
A red bread mold caused the discoloration on the sacramental wafer at St. Francis Xavier Church, the Diocese of Salt Lake City announced Wednesday.
Church officials also called its display at the church "premature and imprudent."
The host — a small wheat disc that is consecrated and eaten during Holy Communion — was not consumed during Mass on Nov. 8 and was returned to the church, diocese spokeswoman Susan Dennin has said. In accordance with church practices, the host was placed in an ablution bowl to dissolve.
A week later, the host had not dissolved, but developed the dark-red color and appeared to be "bleeding." The host was "publicly displayed" at Masses on Nov. 14 and 15, diocese officials wrote in Wednesday's announcement.
"In the wake of the excitement generated by the premature and imprudent public display and veneration of the host," church officials wrote, "an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter was appointed on Nov. 19."
The panel included experts in Catholic theology, canon law, molecular biology and ministry; they had the host tested by a scientist, who found the development was consistent with "red bread mold," or red bacteria.
"Great care was taken," church officials wrote, "to ensure the reverent handling of the consecrated host throughout the scientific examination."
The committee also reviewed accounts by the Rev. Eugenio Yarce, pastor at Saint Francis Xavier Church, and numerous parishioners.
"A crucial element of these events," officials wrote, "was the fact that the host in question was left unprotected and unattended in a dish of water."
Wednesday's news release does not identify who put the host on display. Photographs by members appeared in news reports about the host, which quickly gained national exposure.
"Predictably, these reports led to rash speculation about what caused the change in the color of the host," church officials wrote. "In the history of the church, by divine providence, miracles have taken place. The sole purpose of a miracle is to bring about good. False claims of miracles, on the other hand, cause harm to the faithful and damage the church's credibility. While not dismissing the possibility of miracles, understanding the potential harm of hastily jumping to conclusions should cause all the faithful, lay and clergy alike, to act with great prudence."
In addition to finding the host's discoloration was not miraculous, the committee also recommended the establishment of "proper protocols for clergy dealing with such situations in the future."
ealberty@sltrib.com
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