NEW YORK LITTLE LEAGUE DIVISION THINKS TWICE ABOUT BANNING BOY IN A WHEELCHAIR FROM THE DUGOUT............

Having been a child with a physical disability that prevented me from participating in athletic games other than kickball/dodgeball, with my fellow students, but included by an inclusively minded teacher, as the scorekeeper of the other games the students played, I was particularly taken yesterday with the story of 12 year old New Yorker, Evan Sussman, who because of cerebal palsy is in a wheelchair, yet a member of his Nyack Brewers Little League team.  As a team member for the past three years, Evan has been allowed to sit in the dugout with the team during its games and serves as pitch counter, while also cheering on his team mates and occasionally throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.  That was until recently, when a local Little League administrator told the team's Coach, that Evan would no longer be able to sit in the dugout during Little League games played by the team, stating only team members and coaches are allowed in the dugout and saying, "It's a liability issue"..."We have to go by Little League rules".  Little League International concurred with the local administrator and banned Evan Sussman from the dugout. But Evan's Coach and Team, showing full support and appreciation for his presence with them in the dugout and sought a waiver to the rule.  Happily, the waiver has been granted and Evan has returned to being in the dugout with his teammates, as of their semifinal game Wednesday night.  Evan came out with his team members as they were announced, and was loudly cheered by the spectators, tipping his cap twice to the crowds.  As his mother said in response to his reinstatement, "he only wants to be with his teammates".  As a priest in a wheelchair being left out of parish life and decades prematurely caused to reside and sit on the sidelines in a retirement community, I acutely identify with what it means to the Evans in the world who want to be included, not excluded - from presence in the activities and interactions they have an opportunity to participate in and contribute to.  And if that is undeniably rightfully true of Evan Sussman, a Little League team member, all the more it is true of a Priest of Jesus Christ, committed to serving the People of God in the Sacramento Diocese, despite and beyond my physical limitations, I was ordained to minister to twenty five years ago, as the fortieth native born, local grown, priestly vocation of the Church of Sacramento............Fr.  Troy