{"id":8924,"date":"2021-12-02T10:06:32","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T15:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/throughcatholiclenses\/?p=8924"},"modified":"2021-12-02T10:06:32","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T15:06:32","slug":"australian-bishops-want-us-to-include-those-with-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/throughcatholiclenses\/2021\/12\/australian-bishops-want-us-to-include-those-with-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Bishops Want Us to Include Those with Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Pope Francis and the Australian Bishops had some good words about those with disabilities for International Day of Persons with Disabilities<\/em>. <\/em>I wrote about this on FrMatthewLC.com<\/a> so I\u2019ll quote a bit of that here.<\/p>\n

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\"Woman<\/a>
Woman taking a man in a wheelchair to look at the beauty of creation (CC0 pixabay<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tomorrow is the\u00a0International Day of Persons with Disabilities<\/em>. (Obviously, some of us \u2013\u00a0particularly the blind, Deaf & autistic<\/a> \u2013 prefer identity-first language but most disabled people prefer person-first language.) The Church celebrates it on the closest Sunday (i.e. in three days). This year, I was most impressed by the Australian bishops\u2019 words so I\u2019ll focus on them. But, I\u2019ll mention what the Pope said first. [\u2026]\n<\/p>

I want to emphasize several of the points in that quoted document makes. I notice they are not always present even in good disability ministry.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    The document talks about \u201cactive participation,\u201d being \u201cagents of their own life,\u201d and \u201cmak[ing] their own contribution to the common good.\u201d This would indicate that the disabled are not just called to be served but to go deeper and actually serve the community as well. This fulfills a deeper good than just serving them.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    It also puts \u201cignorance, intolerance, injustice and exclusion\u201d as the main issue. It lists the antidote as understanding \u201cthe dignity and humanity of the person.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    It speaks about the diversity of experience. Even among autistics, I don\u2019t want to generalize my experience too much. I went and got a few dozen testimonies of autistic prayer for my book. The issues I have vs a person in a wheelchair are likely very different, so it\u2019s even harder.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Finally, the whole issue of an \u201cUs,\u201d not a \u201cThem.\u201d We are all together as brothers and sisters in the same family of the Church, not different groups.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    You can read the rest over there<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Note: Please support me on Patreon<\/a> so I can keep writing more analysis on disability and Catholicism. Patreon provides most of the money I get from writing to help support my community.<\/p>\n

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