Separation from Communion

I always feel sad when I talk to a Catholic with a disability who has stopped going to Mass. This separates them, in many cases, from Holy Communion and also from being in communion with other Catholics.

I'm not talking, of course, about those who are ill and homebound. That's a different situation.

What I'm addressing are people who could go to Mass, but either don't have the transportation, are afraid to go or think they aren't wanted in our parishes.

My friends down in the Diocese of Trenton have an active disability ministry where they are working toward getting folks without transportation to Mass. This is a very necessary and practical outreach for those with disabilities and our elderly who could go to Mass if they had a way to get there. There are also several local parishes who have parishioners offer rides to people to get to Mass. These solutions are simple and can easily be implemented in most, if not all parishes, over time once the awareness is there that transportation is a barrier to attendance.

It is harder to address the fears of people with disabilities. I received a post from a reader who put it well by stating that he may be wrong in assuming that he won't be welcomed at Mass because he is often treated that way in other places.

The Catholic Bishops not only promote inclusion of people with disabilities in the Church, but in society in general. Their statements on this issue are broad and far reaching. Take a moment and read the USCCB's more recent statement . You will continue to see more posts on this as I address issues raised by the Catholic bishops on inclusion.

I can assure readers with disabilities that the Catholic Church promotes our inclusion and there is a positive momentum toward full inclusion. On the other hand, if you sit back and don't join in, you will be separated from Communion.

That, my friends, is too high a price to pay for being afraid to take the risk of showing up.