The Least of Our Brothers

By Mary Lou Rosien
April 6, 2010

I am the mom of several children with varying disabilities, from a mild form of autism, moderate cognitive delays, anxiety disorders and dyslexia. Working with children who have disabilities is a special passion of mine. This subject has been covered extensively in the news, at schools and in the public, and yet, I am frequently surprised by how much we still have to learn about working with this special group of people.

Recently a mom called me in tears to report that her eight year-old daughter, diagnosed with a mood disorder (expected to be a pre-cursor to bipolar disorder), had been, “kicked out,” of her religion class. Although this mom had approached the Faith Formation Director to discuss the issue, she had been told that the faith formation teachers are volunteers and didn’t need to put up with disruptive behavior. This mother had been pursuing help for her little girl for years and had finally been given a diagnosis only days before this incident. There was a plan in place to put the child on medication and yet the director held her ground.

Of particular interest is the lack of knowledge among some involved in Faith Formation of the Rehabilitation Amendments of 1974, and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. Enforcement of theses regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, forbids discrimination on the basis of disabling conditions. In response to the Rehabilitation Amendments, the executive branch of the federal government sponsored a White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals in 1977. Although we live in a society where separation of church and state is valued, our Church still falls under the rules of our government.

The Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities (1978) states,

“It is essential that all forms of the liturgy be completely accessible to people with disabilities, since these forms are the essence of the spiritual tie that binds the Christian community together. To exclude members of the parish from these celebrations of the life of the Church, even by passive omission, is to deny the reality of that community. Accessibility involves far more than physical alterations to parish buildings. Realistic provision must be made for persons with disabilities to participate fully in the Eucharist and other liturgical celebrations such as the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick. “

The USCCB also provides information and guidelines for the instruction of persons with disabilities and for their participation in the liturgical life of the church in Sharing the Light of Faith: National Catechetical Directory for Catholics of the United States.

Some of the recommendations of the Council are that we must love our disabled brothers and sister in faith as Christ loves us. They further refer to Pope John XXIII’s encyclical Pacem in Terris, which states, “every human being is a person,” and encourages dignity for all people. The Council advises that we encourage full participation for those with disabilities, not just in the sacraments, but in contributing to the Church. All people have gifts and talents that can add something to the Body of the Church as a whole. In my own family, my daughter who has significant challenges is also talented in playing the clarinet and in art. She hopes to use those gifts to add to the experience of others in participation in the Liturgy some day. We have much to learn from people who happened to have disabilities.

The Council also encourages faith educators to become educated in working with the disabled and commands us to be sensitive to the social needs of the disabled.

As for that sweet, little, eight year-old girl: a woman overheard the exchange between the mom, the director and the teacher. She personally confronted the Faith Formation Director and even offered to teach the little girl herself if other arrangements could not be made. The director then revisited the issue, realized allowances had not been appropriately made for the child and found an equitable solution. That child is now in a Faith Formation program and is thriving! God is great!

Mary Lou Rosien is a Catholic wife, mother to seven and has been a Catechist off and on for 30 years. She is trained as a social worker and parent/family coach. She is also a literacy volunteer in the public school system. Several of her own children have disabilities including Asperger's (a mild form of autism), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Learning Disorders, ADHD and Anxiety Issues. Her 16 year-old daughter had surgery two years ago for a Chiari I malformation of the brain and has recovered beautifully! She is a columnist for Our Sunday Visitor Online and is the author of, "Managing Stress with the Help of Your Catholic Faith" (OSV Publishing).

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