The Bishops’ Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities at 30: Bright Past, Bold Future

The Bishops’ Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities at 30:

Bright Past, Bold Future

NCPD WebinarAugust 13, 2008

Janice L. BentonExecutive Director

National Catholic Partnership on Disability

Bishops’ Pastoral Statement• Road to new opportunities

Legacy Partners

• Cardinal Stritch College• CUSA www.cusan.org

• Victorious Missionaries www.vmusa.org

• National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry www.nafim.org

• National Catholic Office for the Deaf www.ncod.org

• USCC Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities

Dr. Dave Byers Rev. Dave Walsh

Sr. Rita Baum Dorothy Coughlin

The Pastoral Statement…

• Prophetic…

• Groundbreaking…

• Inspirational…

• Our Declaration of Independence

Pastoral Influences

ADA

Impacting Federal LegislationIt is not enough merely to affirm the rights of people with disabilities. We

must actively work to realize these rights in the fabric of modern society. (Pastoral, 10 & 11)

The Pastoral Calls Us to A-C-T

A ffirm

C hallenge

T ransform

The Pastoral… Affirms• Dignity of all people• Responsibility to

respond with love • Giftedness

• Early pioneers• Devoted parents• WE ARE ONE FLOCK

The Pastoral… Challenges• Embrace responsibility• Deepen understanding

of pain & potential• Act with justice and

compassion

• Address need to integration & full participation

• EXAMINE ATTITUDES

The Pastoral… TransformsDisabilities are the normal, anticipated

outcomes of the risks, stresses and strains of the living process.

(NCPD—Mary Jane Owen)

In other words, disabilities are a normal

part of life, touching everyone regardless of age, race, or culture.

The Pastoral…Transforms

• Ensures that nothing is impeding access

• Calls to service

Colleen Ruppert

Larry Thompson

The Pastoral… Transforms

Trends• Disability experience is ever new• Scarce resources call for creativity• Changing face of the US Church

• Reexamine attitudes• We are a community• Share the message

ACT on the Vision of the Pastoral

• Sincerely Affirm as often as you can.

• Challenge yourself to ongoing growth and introspection.

• Be ever mindful that a Transformative ministry is always evaluating, evolving, modifying, and moving forward.