What is the truth about "canceling First Communion in the Maronite Church"?

Issued by the head of the Patriarchal Committee for Liturgical Affairs, Bishop Youssef Sweif, the following statement:

"Following what has been circulated in some media outlets and social media platforms regarding the subject of First Communion in the Maronite Church, and what has been attributed to the Patriarchal Committee for Liturgical Affairs of information and conclusions related to this file about canceling First Communion, it is important for us to clarify the following:

The Patriarchal Committee for Liturgical Affairs, chaired by His Grace Bishop Youssef Sweif, continues its work according to the approved ecclesiastical procedures, and submits the results of its studies and recommendations to the competent ecclesiastical authorities, without any official decision having been issued to date regarding what is being circulated in the media about this matter, which is devoid of truth in its headlines and content.

And while we express surprise at some media entities preempting the deliberations of ecclesiastical bodies and the work of the Maronite Synod, we call for objectivity, accuracy, and professional responsibility, and for refraining from publishing or circulating news that is not based on official sources authorized to announce ecclesiastical positions and decisions.

We also affirm that everything related to liturgical and ecclesiastical affairs remains subject to the path of study, consultation, and ecclesiastical discernment within the competent institutions, and that any final decision issued in this regard will be announced exclusively through the relevant official authorities.

Therefore, we call upon our faithful children and all those interested in ecclesiastical affairs not to be drawn into rumors or undocumented news, and to rely on statements issued by the Maronite Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Committee for Liturgical Affairs, and the competent official ecclesiastical bodies as the sole source of accurate information.

The Maronite Church, faithful to its spiritual and liturgical heritage, continues its journey in a spirit of communion and synodality, keeping in mind the good of the faithful and the preservation of the richness of its living traditions, far from any prior interpretation or conclusion."