The Taoiseach has said Holy Communion should "mean what it's supposed to mean" and not be seen in cost and economic terms.Enda Kenny's comments came after it was announced that a special needs welfare payment used for religious ceremonies is being scrapped.
More then €3.4m was paid in communion and confirmation grants in 2011 to more than 14,000 families.
The payout was slashed last year with 12,500 families receiving a total of €1.5m. This year, the payment will be axed altogether.
The Department of Social Protection said clothing costs should be met from normal social welfare payments.
Mr Kenny said he was not in favour of the way the ceremony had become about money.
"The Pope himself has said we need to be far more simple in the way the Catholic Church does its business from the point of view of what Holy Communion means," he said.
"It should mean what it's supposed to mean, and not be seen as some sort of economic entity beyond that."