EVANGELIZING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT THE GREATER NEED FOR DISABILITY MINISTRY - PART TWO..............

Today I continue my blogging about Evangelizing the Catholic Church in the United States regarding increasing the necessity of Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, in the second of three consecutive Thursday columns.  On  June 19th I blogged about the U.S. Bishops 1978 Pastoral Statement.  Next Thursday, July 3rd my focus will be some of ways dioceses and parishes in the USA are providing Disability Ministry.  Today I am blogging about the National Catholic Partnership for Disability - NCPD, the developing and coordinating ministry that emerged in 1982 from the U.S. Bishops Pastoral Statement on Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs.

For the past thirty two years, building on the foundation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.) 1978 Pastoral Statement on Ministry to Persons with Disabilities, the  organization that emerged from the vision shared in the Bishops' Statement, the National Catholic Partnership for Disability (NCPD) has coordinated and developed training and leadership in ministering to the 14 million American Catholics who are disabled - "physically, intellectually, sensory, mentally, or emotionally".  The NCPD provides training, resources, and networking, to dioceses and  parishes throughout the country working with diocesan disability ministry directors and an array of other ministry partners to, "promote and defend the culture of life, upholding the dignity of every human person." The NCPD  achieves this by sharing with dioceses and parishes in the USA, "the best practices and resources being developed and utilized," to bring necessary and vital Disability Ministry into more effective existence in the Catholic Church.

The NCPD is trailblazing in Disability Ministry in the U.S. Catholic Church by means of the, "Catechesis, Ministry Specific resources, various Ministry Models, Spirituality, and Building Awareness," the National  Catholic Partnership for Disability provides for the U.S. Catholic Church. As my three Disability Ministry blog column series is an Evangelization project, I will concentrate primarily on the 'Building Awareness' aspect of their efforts.  In building awareness and sensitivity in ministering to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, the NCPD proclaims that, "attitudes are one of the biggest challenges faced by people with disabilities."  These attitudes are manifested in the 'Power of Language', in the 'Stigma', in 'What's in a Word and Words', in Dignity', and in 'Love'.

The language we use  in speaking about and doing ministry to and with the disabled, the NCPD advises us has an affect on our listeners.  We must avoid stigmatizing disabled persons by our use of prejudicial, insensitive, or outdated, words about persons with special needs. Take care to use Person First Language in discussing persons with disabilities, referring to them for example first by name - Troy, and then if necessary, - my friend with a below the knee amputee; rather than saying, - my amputated friend, with or without referring to me by name.  Avoid victimizing disabled persons by the use of words such as being, "afflicted" or, "suffering from whatever physical, intellectual, sensory, emotional, or mental, condition they are contending with.  Speaking of the disabled as being afflicted or suffering makes it seem their entire lives are dominated and determined solely by their disability, when  in truth  their special need does not always adversely affect and interfere with their daily lives.  Making fun of, or the name calling of disabled persons  is inappropriate at all times and must never be used or tolerated; including jokes and stories that only stigmatize and mischaracterize the disability and denigrate the human dignity of special needs persons.  Telling persons with disabilities they are, "a burden" to others, or that they will have to prove they are not, 'disqualified' from ministry, presence, or participation, in the Catholic Church, is grossly unjust.  The NCPD has much to teach us about this, including in the Parish Resource Guide they published in 2003, "Opening Doors of Welcome and Justice to Parishioners".

The National Catholic Partnership for Disability continues to promote and expand the horizons of Disability Ministry in the U.S. Catholic Church and I am pleased as a life long physically disabled person and a twenty seven year Catholic priest of the Sacramento Diocese, to be teamed with them in bringing about greater enlightenment about, and empowerment for, the 14 million  of us who are Catholics and have Special Needs in the United States.  It was privilege to attend their Partnership '13 Convention October 31- November 2, 2013 in Houston Texas.  I am further blessed to have made my initial visit to the NCPD headquarters on June 13, 2014 in Washington, D.C.  I eagerly look forward to partnering with them over the next several years as I study, research, and then write a doctoral thesis on the Greater Need for Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs in the Catholic Church in the USA.  "Faith, Giftedness, Partnership".  These are the themes, the mission, and the accessible, inclusive, and empowering, Catholic ministry the NCPD, which I have evangelized you about today, strives ever more fervently to assure the Catholic-Christian right and opportunity of Catholics requiring Disability Ministry in the United States.Please reflect on what I have written and respond with your comments right here on my blog, or on Facebook.  Thank you for your assistance with my D.Min Evangelization project. .............Father Troy David Powers