Editorial
Pastoral statement on persons with disabilities marks 40 years
Persons with disabilities of many kinds are featured prominently in the New Testament. Jesus’ care and concern for the disabled women and men of his day provides all of us with a clear message: Every human being is made in the image and likeness of God regardless of his or her mental, physical or emotional condition.
This fundamental teaching is underscored by the bishops in the U.S. in their “Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities,” which was first published 40 years ago on Nov. 16, 1978. It serves as a guide for pastoral leaders, and the entire Catholic community, in reaching out to those of our sisters and brothers who are visually impaired, deaf, emotionally impaired or have mental, developmental and/or physical disabilities.
The bishops insist that “no acts of charity or justice can be of lasting value to persons with disabilities unless they are informed by a sincere understanding love that penetrates the wall of strangeness and affirms the common humanity underlying all distinction.” What persons with disabilities want, and need, above all else is acceptance. According to the bishops’ pastoral statement, “We must love others from the inside out, so to speak, accepting their difference from us in the same way that we accept our difference from them.”
Look at any Scripture passage where the Lord encounters someone who is disabled. There is never any indication that Jesus sought to avoid those who were different from him. On the contrary, many regarded his actions (and his attitude) as scandalous. When asked by John the Baptist’s disciples if he was the Messiah, Jesus answered: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them” (Mt 11:4-5). Jesus’ acceptance of persons with disabilities is a sign of his divinity because God alone is totally without prejudice, welcoming all his children with open arms and healing all their ills!
In a reflection on the 40th anniversary of these words, Indianapolis Archbishop Charles C. Thompson has affirmed the pastoral statement published by his brother bishops in 1978. According to the archbishop, “In 35 short paragraphs, an essential foundation was laid for the Church’s outreach to persons who have a disability, in order to best serve the spiritual, intellectual, moral and physical development of all.”
In addition, Archbishop Thompson observes, “this pastoral statement constitutes a mandate for a national office which would serve as a resource center for diocese and parishes in working with and for individuals who have a variety of disabilities as well as working with their families. Today this office is known as the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.”
The pastoral statement acknowledges that through its parishes, health care institutions and social service agencies, the Church has always attempted to show a pastoral concern for disabled individuals. “However,” the bishops say, “in a spirit of humble candor, we must acknowledge that at times we have responded to the needs of some of our disabled people only after circumstances or public opinion have compelled us to do so.”
The challenge presented by the pastoral statement 40 years ago, and repeated with even greater urgency now, “is to expand the Church’s healing ministry to these persons, helping them when necessary, working with them, and raising its voice with them and with all members of society who are their advocates.”
Archbishop Thompson’s reflection says, “We are reminded that any pastoral outreach is rooted in the dignity of each person, which leads us to safeguard the rights of each, including not only the right to life, but to education, employment, housing, as well as decent personal care and human support. Such rights also extend to full participation in parish life … not merely as people to be served, but also as people who have the desire and the capacity to serve.
“Even beyond rights,” the archbishop continues, “our Christian response is rooted in an understanding love which leads us to support one another in the struggles of life, and to recognize the invaluable gifts and contributions individuals who have disabilities bring to our community, and the witness they are to each of us.” Love transcends every disability. It overcomes every obstacle, uniting us in spite of our differences whatever they may be.
All Catholics in central and southern Indiana are encouraged to read the bishops’ statement on persons with disabilities, which can be found on the USCCB website at http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/upload/Pastoral-Statement-of-U-S-Catholic-Bishops-on-Persons-with-Disabilities.pdf.
—Daniel Conway