Multimedia Lenten resources

...are offered by the USCCB if you click here.

Books and reluctant prophets

I'm reading Prophetic and Public: The Social Witness of US Catholicism by Kristin Heyer. It's an interesting - and timely book - considering the many social issues we all face in our country, ranging from poverty, homelessness, marginalization of people, and many others. Heyer discusses the writings of Charles Curran, Michael and Kenneth Himes and David Hollenbach, who are proponents of a public church and Michael Baxter's analysis of that view. There is also an interesting discussion of Murray's "incarnational humanism". Heyer points readers toward advocacy groups such as NETWORK, Pax Christi USA and the USCCB.

Her analysis of contemporary Catholic thought left me pondering many questions and issues. For example, I've written about the USCCB quite a few times and their guidance to the Church on issues concerning inclusion of people with disabilities - not only in the Church herself but in society in general.  Many of their statements on economics and poverty deal with a myriad of social issues also affecting the disability population.  Marginalization can occur due to a number of reasons. 

And although the position of the USCCB on these issues is public knowledge and has been for over twenty years, the actual change in the Church has been slow.  We see disability ministries cropping up.  (See a list here of disability ministries by diocese.)  Yet I have found that many Catholics remain unaware of the USCCB's writings in this area, which is both unfortunate and a bit sad, when you stop to consider the number of people whose lives disability touch. 

I've sat in churches where people in wheelchairs are treated as if they are in the way ;  where there not only aren't any Masses for the deaf, but no listings available for local ones; where blind people receive no hymnals or books in Braille; where volunteering and joining groups means exclusion from activities due to lack of access or negative attitudes - and I could go on and on. 

I've also sat in churches where there are disability ministries and it is an entirely different world. Those congregations have a voice that speaks up and advocates for the needs of its members with disabilities.  Not every disability ministry works as effectively or even in the same way, but there is much to be said for the fact that the very existence of such a ministry.

I realize that the social witness of US Catholicism touches ethical issues and is the subject of debate and intellectual discourse. There may always be some disagreement on how the Church should address issues concerning our society.  It all makes for a very interesting subject.

But the  book I'd like to see written would be about the growing emergence of disability ministries, their ripple effect and, on the other hand, the resistance to or apathy regarding such ministries where that occurs.  There may be quite a few reluctant prophets out there who could help lead- and it would be helpful if the USCCB statements on disability were heard more often in the Catholic arena. Ultimately I believe change in this area will come through the voices of members with disabilities in the Church. 

Spiritual Inclusion: The Movie

Got your attention? Good.

I can see the rating now on Rotten Tomatoes: 17 out of 100. The review "This movie tries to push for spiritual inclusion of disabled people in institutions like churches, but is anyone in Hollywood really interested in that? Ben Affleck does a great job as a parish council member who starts a disability ministry but the scenes showing the meetings are really boring." 17 seems to be the score given to movies that go out on a limb.

So for a number of years now I've been working on a book about spiritual inclusion. The truth is there always seems to be advocacy work that needs to be done so the book doesn't quite get finished. The other day a friend of mine pointed me toward a self publishing website and said "I dare you" and added "Think about how you can sell the film rights" and we both laughed.

But the idea of making a film about spiritual inclusion stuck in my mind. It's probably not going to literally happen because of several reasons. But that doesn't stop me from mulling the idea over.

And it makes a great post heading, doesn't it?

"Called to be Witnesses, Not Philosophers"

Found this on Mirror of Justice, a blog about Catholic legal theory. Interesting post referring to Stanley Hauerwas' A Community of Character and refers to this passage:

"The task of the Christian is not to defeat relativism by argument but to witness to a God who requires confrontation. .. The command to witness is not based on the assumption that we are in possession of a universal truth which others must also 'implicitly' possess or have sinfully rejected...the command to be a witness is based on the presupposition that we only come to the truth through the process of being confronted by the truth."

I also was glad to re-read this yet again which was in another post:

"We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person. . . In a global culture driven by excessive individualism, our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also social. The Catholic tradition teaches that human beings grow and achieve fulfillment in community."
-U.S. Bishops, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions

"It is not enough merely to affirm the rights of people with disabilities. We must actively work to make them real in the fabric of modern society. Recognizing that individuals with disabilities have a claim to our respect because they are persons, because they share in the one redemption of Christ, and because they contribute to our society by their activity within it, the Church must become an advocate for and with them. It must work to increase the public's sensitivity toward the needs of people with disabilities and support their rightful demand for justice. Moreover, individuals and organizations at every level within the Church should minister to persons with disabilities by serving their personal and social needs. Many can function on their own as well as anyone in society. For others, aid would be welcome. All of us can visit persons unable to leave their homes, offer transportation to those who cannot drive, read to those who cannot read, speak out for those who have difficulty pleading their own case. In touching the lives of men, women and children in this way, we come closest to imitating Jesus' own example, which should be always before our eyes."

-Pastoral Statement of U. S. Catholic Bishops on People with Disabilities, 1978 (Updated 1989)

No Nursing Homes on Wheels

You may be scanning posts on my blog and wondering what the information about community living for those with disabilities is about.

Basically there are people with disabilities who are being housed in institutions, such as nursing homes, against their will. Disability rights advocates, including groups like ADAPT, are working hard to change this situation with new laws and advocacy efforts.

The US Catholic Bishops have agreed to support new legislation entitled MiCASSA, the Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act, recently renamed the "Community Choice Act". This bill would let Medicaid recipients use their long-term care funds to live at home and avoid institutional treatment.

Our Church has always supported the sacred worth of every human being. If you scroll down you will see more posts about testimony given by disabled people who have been institutionalized .

This article "No Nursing Homes on Wheels" from 2002 explains the history and background- click above to read.

What is the Catholic Church's vision for people with disabilities?

In the 1978 Pastoral Statement of US Catholic Bishops on people with disabilities, the Church's response to people with disabilities and guidelines as to the parish/diocesan levels are provided. I urge you to read this document if you haven't.

As the statement indicates, the Church has a history and tradition of ministry to people with
disabilities and there is a realistic optimism about the future.

Ministries for people with disabilities are encouraged. Over the years since this statement was issued, ministries have cropped up all over the world. This "grass roots movement" is taking on momentum, as you can see from an earlier post showing a list of such ministries in the US.

It is important to realize, however, that even if your parish does not yet have such a ministry, there are easy steps to take toward inclusion. If you are a person with a disability, serve the Church with your talents and gifts. Others can help to create a welcoming and open atmosphere for such change to occur.

Together we can make the Catholic Church's vision continue to grow.