Caring for the Mentally Challenged

[SnowAngels]

Hi CAFers,

Last night, before Mass, I was leading the Rosary. For the majority of the Rosary, there was a mentally challenged man walking around inside the Chapel, laughing, screaming, and, at some points, praying. He was very disruptive, but he seemed harmless. (I think) he even gave me an old palm. Into the fourth decade, one of the Church’s caretakers was able to keep him to the back of the Chapel, and eventually he wandered out. My Chapel is situated on the grounds of an old psychiatric hospital, and one of the buildings is still open, and that is where the man lives. Seeing this man spurred a question.

What is can be done for the poor mentally challenged souls that can be harmful? It seems cruel to lock such people up in mental institutions, closing them off from society. When someone talked to this man that was at my Chapel, he would said mumble random words, and jump up and down. How are to care for they or interact with them in a Christ-like way

Thank you very much for answering my question!

 

[WKW_69]

What is can be done for the poor mentally challenged souls that can be harmful? It seems cruel to lock such people up in mental institutions, closing them off from society.

The State only holds people by court order that are dangerous to others or themselves. They are not locked in a cage like prisoners, but have an open floor they live in. They also will have supervised outdoor activities.

 

[mikekle]

This thread made me think of this particular verse and wonder what the purpose of it actually was, as it has always confused me…

The LORD said to Moses, 17 “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. 18 No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; 19 no man with a crippled foot or hand, 20 or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. 21 No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the offerings made to the LORD by fire. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. 22 He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food; 23 yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.

 

[Christy_Beth]

This verse is from the Old Testament. Remember at the time of Jesus’ death, the veil in the temple was torn. This opened God’s mercy for all people. You must also remember that in the Old Testament times, only that which was unblemished could be used as a sin offering. In fact, if I remember correctly, all offerings had to be without blemish. Jesus, the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God, has taken the place of all those offerings, so we, blemished by sin but made perfect by His sacrifice, may now approach the mercy seat of God with courage. Why? Because Jesus did away with the old law, and gave us a new one. “Love one another as I have loved you.” Or, as in another place, “Love the Lord with all your mind, body, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself.” This covers all the old law, and gives it new life.

 

[hu324b]

These people are a gift to us from God and a test - we should love them even more and show patience and understanding - these are people that will draw the wrath of regular people when it should inspire love for them and understanding. This man left alone with some people would make them do evil things to him because he is helpless - laugh at him , insult him beat him and look down on him because of his condition - look at it as a test be nice and respect him and show him love - espesially if he irritates you. You don’t want to turn into one of the evil people who would torment him even more.

We have a man in our church who does strange things at mass - goes the wrong way in the communion line , sits during the Gospel and other things We have embraced him as one of our own and encorage him to participate in the mass - such as bringing the gifts up to the priest - not one person looks down on him - if they did I would stand up for him - he is loved by us and a gift to us in our church.

 

[Mickey_Finn]

Medical care is what they need the most. Followed by help with hygiene, and nourishment.

That people who encounter them in public or in their church and except them with their limitations is very en-heartening. It’s what I believe Christ would want. Beyond that, I think applying pressure on our legislators to make some progress in the area of humane care is the way forward. Here in Michigan there is very little help outside of prison for the mentally ill.

ATB