How are those affected by disability being included in the body of Christ?

Q: I have a son who suffers from a mild form of disability. Our family are practicing Catholics and would like to know what the Church is doing to include us in the body of Christ?

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has given a new focus to the many gifts and blessings that people with disability and their families can bring to the life of the Church.

The ACBC has acknowledged the need for the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life to have a specific mandate to promote the participation of people with disability and their families in their faith life.

The chairman of the Commission, Bishop Eugene Hurley, appointed Bishop Davis, the Catholic Bishop of the Australian Defence Force, as delegate for disability issues. Bishop Davis said the lived experience of the life of Jesus challenges us all to be more aware of the diversity of needs that our faith community embraces.

Bishop Davis has established the Australian Catholic Disability Council to advise the Bishops’ Commission on strategies and projects it can undertake to promote the participation of people with disability in the life of the Australian Church. Bishop Davis said he expected that promoting the participation of people with disability will provoke yet another step in a wonderful process, which will enrich our Church community’s appreciation of the presence of Jesus in our midst – a presence which is so rich in diversity but so focused on the unity His Presence brings.

You can obtain further information and resources to promote the full participation of people with disability by contacting:

Patricia Mowbray (Mrs)
Disability Consultant
Disability Projects Office
Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life
GPO Box 368 CANBERRA ACT 2601
ph (02) 6201 9868, fax (02) 6247 6083