October is Respect Life Month – a time given by the Church for us to reflect on our responsible stewardship as recipients of God’s gift of life! We are also reminded during October that we are called to be missionaries of the Gospel. Therefore, we celebrate World Mission Sunday in October to heighten our awareness and our commitment, especially to missionaries as well as the poor and the vulnerable they serve in missionary lands.
October is also “Learning Disability Month” as pronounced by President Reagan in 1985. A recent proclamation by President Biden also makes it the “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”
Throughout October and beyond, we are challenged not only to become more attuned to learning more about disabilities through personal research and participation in relevant events, but to work vigorously and double down on the importance of meaningful employment for persons with disabilities.
Our Blessed Lord led the way by proclaiming the Gospel to all people. God’s Word in the New Testament shows no trace of bias or discrimination. Whether a child or an adult; infant or elder; Jew or Gentile; slave or free; a person “abled” or “disabled,” all are called to join our Blessed Lord in living the Gospel and extending His Kingdom.
By way of example, recall those of all age groups (men, women and children) “born again” through the waters of baptism (examples: Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, Acts 18:8, 1 Corinthians 1:16). No where do we see those with disabilities excluded from this number. In fact, Our Lord’s outreach to the multitudes included many with disabilities including the lame, the blind, the deaf, the mute, the leper and those possessed with demons. He made it abundantly clear that all are called to be His disciples.
Most especially during October we are reminded to include those with a myriad of learning disabilities in our loving outreach. Our attention must be marked by patience and hope because it is paramount that we take the time to understand correctly what another person’s learning disability is. We also need to help the person, despite their disability, to see the future with a reasonable expectation that every tomorrow will be ever brighter than today. Many of us know exceptional teachers who dedicate themselves to this daily challenge, not only in our Catholic schools and religious education programs but in our public schools as well. We salute those who go that extra mile for our children!
Owners of companies and employers must have hearts overflowing with a special disposition toward people with disabilities. We see the fruit of this in some retail stores and businesses. But it is too often the case that persons with more obvious disabilities are not promoted or even given a chance to become gainfully employed.
Even as a priest with a very visible disability, my experience tells me that people like myself with disabilities are clearly discriminated against. This is most obvious when seeking to gain access to certain offices (doctors, lawyers, dentists, ophthalmologists). It is equally obvious when seeking access to churches, and most especially sanctuaries. My former ministry as Vice Rector of a national seminary with the obligation to attend diaconate and priestly ordinations across the country would often result in having to concelebrate Mass from a place in the congregation or in a sacristy or behind a post or beam. My present ministry continues to offer challenges, especially when asked to visit other churches. I was once invited to officiate at a funeral in a parish where the pastor assured me that the church had “handicap access.” When I arrived, I made my way up a long ramp only to be blocked by a huge step. But it only takes one barrier! Before I had the opportunity to protest, some very well intentioned men tried to lift my 350 pound wheelchair up that step only to end up ripping the power stick and wires from my chair which caused it to immediately stop working.
I know from visiting other states how insurmountable it is for the disabled and elderly to get gas at a self-serve gas station. Although there is a decal on one of the pumps at each station to alert people with disabilities, the fact is that one must wait a very long time before being served, if ever! My sincere hope is that New Jersey will continue to provide everyone equal access to full-service gas.
I once answered the parish phone and it was a woman who asked if the priest in the wheelchair was offering the early parish Mass that upcoming weekend. She explained that her preference was not to attend Mass with the priest in the wheelchair because people have a right to attend Mass without distractions like wheelchairs and walkers. Little did she know I was that priest!
Even in our sophisticated culture people with disabilities are too often denied gainful employment due to “optics.” Our culture is fixated on how a person looks. People with visible disabilities are often denied a decent job or employed only for menial work that is unsuited to the greater gifts and proficiencies they enjoy.
I thank God each day for His many great gifts and for the exceptional gift of the Holy Priesthood. Sad to say, however, that the Church is still not onboard with welcoming many with disabilities to ordained ministry. When all is said and done, it always depends on the benevolence of the employer or superior as to whether a person, especially with a visible disability, is welcomed into their place of work.
May we use every means possible (our voices, our social media platforms, our peaceful protests and our powerful prayers) to make the path easier for people with disabilities to follow God’s dream into the place and type of gainful employment, as well as the life they so often desire.
Father Hillier serves as diocesan director, Office of Pontifical Mission Societies, the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Censor Luborum.