The U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities - 37th anniversary

November 18th marks the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities:

"Concern for people with disabilities was one of the prominent notes of Jesus' earthly ministry. When asked by John's disciples, 'Are you He who is to come or do we look for another?' Jesus responded with words recalling the prophecies of Isaiah 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see; the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.' (Mt. 11:3-5) Persons with disabilities become witnesses for Christ, His healing of their bodies a sign of the spiritual healing He brought to all people. 'Which is less trouble to say, ''Your sins are forgiven'' or ''Stand up and walk?'' To help you realize that the Son has authority on earth to forgive sins' -- He then said to the paralyzed man -- 'Stand up! Roll up your mat and go home' (Mt. 9:5f)....

"All too often, abortion and postnatal neglect are promoted by arguing that the infant will survive only to suffer a life of pain and deprivation. We find this reasoning appalling....

"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....

"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 experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities vary, as do those of any group of people....Celebrating liturgies simultaneously in sign language enables the deaf person to enter more deeply into their spirit and meaning. Participation aids such as Mass books and hymnals in large print or Braille serve the same purpose for blind or partially sighted members."

Thirty-seven years later, we too find "appalling" the many hideous arguments for abortion and euthanasia, attempting to justify crimes against humanity with outrageous claims that people are being saved from lives of "pain and deprivation."  Against these voices of death, our embrace of people with disabilities should be clear, bold, and loud.  Yet at least for some groups of people with disabilities, it does not appear that their representation in our parishes matches their representation in the general population.  For example, 

Estimating the numbers of people with hearing loss is challenging, and how a hearing loss impacts a particular person depends upon the type/severity of the loss, available amplification, age at onset, and educational/ rehabilitation strategies, among other factors.  It is even more difficult to estimate the number of people who rely on American Sign Language (ASL). 

As of 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau reported 0.5% of individuals over the age of 15 to have a severe hearing loss, while 0.6% of those under 15 had difficulty hearing conversations.  Less formal estimates of how many people utilized ASL varied between a half million and two million.

Across the United States, there are extremely few priests who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).  Few Sunday Masses can be celebrated in ASL; Sunday Masses are also conveyed by sign language interpreters. 

Each Sunday, Mass is celebrated in ASL or conveyed by an interpreter in Northeast Philadelphia:

• 1st Sunday: Our Lady of Ransom, Philadelphia, 12:15 pm (celebrated in ASL)

• 2nd Sunday: Our Lady of Ransom, Philadelphia, 12:15 pm (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 3rd Sunday: Our Lady of Ransom, Philadelphia, 12:15 pm (celebrated in ASL) 

• 4th Sunday: Our Lady of Ransom, Philadelphia, 12:15 pm (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 5th Sunday: Our Lady of Ransom, Philadelphia, 12:15 pm (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

And in Bucks County,

• 1st Sunday: St. Joseph, Warrington, 10:00 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 2nd Sunday: Our Lady of Mt.Carmel, Doylestown 10:30 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 3rd Sunday: St. Joseph, Warrington, 10:00 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

And across the river in the nearby Trenton area,

• 1st Sunday: Holy Angels, So.Broad St in Hamilton, 8:30 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 2nd Sunday: Holy Angels, So.Broad St in Hamilton, 8:30 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 3rd Sunday: Holy Angels, So.Broad St in Hamilton, 8:30 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 4th Sunday: St. Gregory the Great, Hamilton Square, 10:30 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 4th Sunday: Holy Angels, So.Broad St in Hamilton, 8:30 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

• 5th Sunday: Holy Angels, So.Broad St in Hamilton, 8:30 am (conveyed by a sign language interpreter)

The gifts of our few ASL-fluent priests certainly need to be shared across dioceses for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, special missions, and retreats.

"'A Study Guide to the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church' (11/18/15 marks the 37th anniversary of the US Bishops Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities)"