DESPITE WHAT SOME MAY SAY, THINK, OR FEEL, AS A PRIEST OF JESUS CHRIST I AM NOT HALF A MAN OR A TARNISHED COMMODITY JUST BECAUSE I AM AN AMPUTEE..............

The 1978 United States Catholic Bishops Pastoral Statement on Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs decreed, "There is No Separate Church for the Disabled".  Thirty six years later that declaration is not as true as it sounds.  Too many of our Catholic churches and other parish and ministry facilities remain inaccessible to those of us with special needs, who require the use of accommodations such as wheelchairs and walkers, to enter and exit church buildings.  The lack of external and internal ramps in any of our churches and subsequent structures, are far overdue and are a given to the, "full. active, and conscious", participation and presence of the  Disabled Catholics in our communities.  Bishops need to step up and show leadership in facilatating the full implementation of Catholic Disability Ministry and the issues of accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment; of those of us with Special Needs without exception or discrimination, and without further delay or indifference,  Pastors, Administrators, Pastoral Councils, Finance Councils, Prinicpals, DREs, School Boards, Liturgy Committees, and Building Commissions, must enlighten and educate themselves to guarantee Disability provisions are made with no excuses to see everything their parish communities do is open and available to the presence and participation of the Disabled.  All Catholic-Christians must grow in sensitivity to those with Needs.  Whether priests - as one of my international priest diocesan colleague has referred to me as, "Half a Man", in response to my physical disability challenges; or diocesan administrators - as for nearly three years I have been treated as if I am a tarnished commodity, "a burden, liability, and hardship", rather than the capable, competent, person and priest I am, retaining human dignity.  As we near 2015 may the mutual and unconditional commitment of all U.S. Catholics to Disability Ministry increase as we fulfill what Jesus and Pope Francis want us to do - Reach out and Include All God's People..............Rev. Fr. Troy David Powers