Well - thanks WifeofBath and Red for being the voices of reason here. There is probably far more to this on both sides - that's very true.

Pecker - the priest went to the famility and offered them alternatives - I'm fairly certain 'home ministering' as you call it would have been among the options. Both here and in other countries I've lived every single one of the Catholic Churches I have attended have had a system whereby the priest, or nuns, or sometimes lay members of the parish bring the host (when asked) to the disabled or otherwise housebound members of the congregation. Full Catholic Mass can't be said - but as damn near as they can get it can be done as well. I'd be hugely surprised if that had not been offered to this family.