There is an unbelievable story today about a boy whom a local Catholic Church has taken a restraining order out against. 13 year old Adam Race of Minnesota is no longer welcome at mass. He is so unwelcomed that if his parents bring him to mass they will be arrested. His mom already has been arrested. Why?
Well Adam is autistic and it seems that his behavior can be very disruptive to the liturgy and the other worshipers. The local parish repeatedly asked Adam’s parents to stop bringing him to mass, but it appears as if Adam’s parents actually want their son in worship.
This is an incredible test of what it means to be the church? What lengths should the church go to in an effort to minister to their community. Adam and his family are part of this church, they are part of its community. But does the churches responsibility to them supersede their responsibility to their other parishioners?
Can the church close its doors to anyone? Should it?
This is a tough issue from a practical standpoint, if Adam is truly as disruptive and potentially dangerous as the church suggests he is, but it is not a tough theological issue. This church has the responsibility to find a way to minister to Adam. Maybe they need to hold a mass specifically for those with autism or other needs. Have a mass that is intentionally messy, full of distractions and full of grace. It doesn’t take autism to want to eliminate distraction from a worship service. We do this with children all the time when we remove them and separate them from us because they are distracting. What about that person in your otherwise stoic congregation who likes to shout Amen! Should we remove them?
I am sure of one part of this story, a church taking out a restraining order against an autistic boy and his family who are coming to them to connect with God and worship is absurd and offensive. It is absolutely unreasonable. There is no part of this story that makes sense to me in regards to living out the gospel. Let’s pray that Adam and his family find the grace and mercy they deserve and that others who are just as desperately seeking God are never turned away from our doors.
June 3, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Yes, no doubt. People who shout amen should be restrained from the gathering. Ooooo, your post made me react rather pithy…so unlike me.
Actually, we should all cry out for God’s mercy…cause we all need it…each and every one.
“AMEN!!!”
June 3, 2008 at 6:14 pm
We have several developmentally disabled individuals within our congregation. One who is autistic will at times wonder around and make strange noises. The congregation has made a commitment to minister to these people and is it a blessing to do so.
I think the restraining order is extreme. Surely they could have found a more creative solution.
June 3, 2008 at 7:27 pm
When I hear a story like that of Adam, I think of my cousin Kaleb. We had to place him in a special school in Tennessee because his autism and other issues had become a hindrance to other students in the school system where he lives.
The church should not issue a restraining order against someone who has autism. That’s about the most irresponsible thing I’ve heard in such a long time. The church has a responsibility to minister to all, including this family. A separate mass for families with autism or other disabilities would be a good idea or even having a closed-circuit feed into another room of the church where Adam’s family could be with Adam if he got disruptive. Anything is better than a restraining order.
June 3, 2008 at 9:32 pm
The church has certainly failed those who are marginalized by autism and mental handicaps. There are some really great churches that have specific ministries for these precious and forgotten people. Wheaton College Church has one such ministry that parents drive hours to bring their children to each Sunday because it is so unique.
Once again, it just seems like Jesus would be going out of his way to help this group of people, not complaining that they interrupt the liturgy.
June 4, 2008 at 12:32 am
I saw this on the AOL ticker yesterday. I have more to say about this than a blog allows room for. It baffles, frustrates, saddens, and angers me. AOL had a poll you could take to give your opinion on the subject. Once you vote, you see the results. Here they are:
What do you think of the church’s decision to ban Adam Race?
I support it 53% 18,698
I’m against it 47% 16,562
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!?!? Most of AOL users agree with the church!
Children, in general, are a group that the church has excluded systematically for years. When it’s time for the sermon, we ship the children off for their “special church” or we offer Sunday School at the same time as worship and turn a blind eye to the mass of parents who use Sunday School as a babysitting service while they worship.
I will post again on this soon with some thoughts from Stanley Hauerwas who wrote a great article about worship being formed to reach all people, especially the least of these.
June 4, 2008 at 3:07 am
Internet polls are usually unreliable because you don’t know who was the ones clicking on the question. The main reason is because specific cell group questions such as Christian/or not, denomination, worship attendance are not taken into consideration.
That being said, the poll is striking and says a lot about the community and society at large. We don’t want to be inconvenienced or taken out of our comfort zones.
June 4, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I am an avid subsriber to not denying ANYone access to Christ., but I feel that this story as reported in the Washington Post link is a bit one-sided. Autism is very nebulous and must be considered on an individual basis. In this case I think there may be more of a safety issue than a disruption issue.
On the one hand, the Catholic church deems missing Mass and/or Holy Days of Obligation a sin, therefore they must concede to some means to allow him to attend Mass or else they are contributing to his sin (I suppose). To this point, the parents refused the initial offer of a broadcast mass, which is understandable, but where do you go from there? What are some other options? Even in their own household, the parents separate Adam from his siblings with separate study rooms. It seems a bit hypocritical to do that at home, but be unwilling to work out other options outside the home.
I can see where the church is coming from and this article leaves out a major event in that Adam got into a car and cranked it while children were standing in front of the vehicle (I think that was in the CNN link). That is a safety issue. Just like everyone having the right to attend church…they should also have the right to feel safe in doing so. Adam’s mom mentioned that he hasn’t injured anyone…”yet” and prevention must be considered if his behavior is indeed possibly dangerous.
I know…I’m probably coming off as a jerk, but the article doesn’t do a very good job of looking at the issue from both sides. I think that as long as others can worship safely with Adam, then it is up to them to be able to be more understanding of his condition and hopefully be able to tune out any so-called disruptions. Other means of allowing Adam his spiritual feeding should be explored and likewise, his parents should be open to considering those means.
Please don’t flame me too hard…
June 4, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I forgot to mention…the restraining order is a bit extreme. The church may be covering themselves up from any lawsuits if someone does get hurt….It’s a litigable little world we live in…
June 4, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Todd,
I think your point about safety concerns is very valid and something every church has to consider. But, should there every be a point where a church takes a restraining order out against someone with autism? That would seem far beyond a last resort effort.
The parents have to take responsibility for their child and insure his behavior won’t be dangerous for the congregation, they have responsibility as well, but the community that is the church needs to find ways to support this family and help this boy be in worship. It isn’t easy, in fact it is hard and messy, but that is the church for you.
Our church didn’t close its doors to a sex offender, we just made sure his presence wouldn’t ever be a threat to anyone. That is what it means to be the church.
June 4, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Greg-
Exactly! We all are called to work together as the body of Christ. This issue does not fall solely on the church, the parents, or the parishioners. We should work together to help others. Nobody should be denied Christ.