the bishops’ pastoral statement on people with disabilities at 30: bright past, bold future
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The Bishops’ Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities at 30: Bright Past, Bold Future. NCPD Webinar August 13, 2008 Janice L. Benton Executive Director National Catholic Partnership on Disability. Bishops’ Pastoral Statement. Road to new opportunities. Legacy Partners . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Bishops’ Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities at 30:
Bright Past, Bold Future
NCPD WebinarAugust 13, 2008
Janice L. BentonExecutive Director
National Catholic Partnership on Disability
Bishops’ Pastoral Statement• Road to new opportunities
Legacy Partners
• Cardinal Stritch College• CUSA www.cusan.org
• Victorious Missionaries www.vmusa.org
• National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry www.nafim.org
• National Catholic Office for the Deaf www.ncod.org
• USCC Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities
Dr. Dave Byers Rev. Dave Walsh
Sr. Rita Baum Dorothy Coughlin
The Pastoral Statement…
• Prophetic…
• Groundbreaking…
• Inspirational…
• Our Declaration of Independence
Pastoral Influences
ADA
Impacting Federal LegislationIt is not enough merely to affirm the rights of people with disabilities. We
must actively work to realize these rights in the fabric of modern society. (Pastoral, 10 & 11)
The Pastoral Calls Us to A-C-T
A ffirm
C hallenge
T ransform
The Pastoral… Affirms• Dignity of all people• Responsibility to
respond with love • Giftedness
• Early pioneers• Devoted parents• WE ARE ONE FLOCK
The Pastoral… Challenges• Embrace responsibility• Deepen understanding
of pain & potential• Act with justice and
compassion
• Address need to integration & full participation
• EXAMINE ATTITUDES
The Pastoral… TransformsDisabilities are the normal, anticipated
outcomes of the risks, stresses and strains of the living process.
(NCPD—Mary Jane Owen)
In other words, disabilities are a normal
part of life, touching everyone regardless of age, race, or culture.
The Pastoral…Transforms
• Ensures that nothing is impeding access
• Calls to service
Colleen Ruppert
Larry Thompson
The Pastoral… Transforms
Trends• Disability experience is ever new• Scarce resources call for creativity• Changing face of the US Church
• Reexamine attitudes• We are a community• Share the message
ACT on the Vision of the Pastoral
• Sincerely Affirm as often as you can.
• Challenge yourself to ongoing growth and introspection.
• Be ever mindful that a Transformative ministry is always evaluating, evolving, modifying, and moving forward.