I really don’t think any of this is about understanding disabilities or unruly, disruptive behavior in Mass. This issue has gone way beyond that. The problem is that there is a real safety issue here. It’s not this boys fault. Of course, he doesn’t understand what he’s doing.
It just comes across to me that the parents are more worried about their sons right to go out in public (and I can understand that) than the people that have been put in harms way. They explain it away and make excuses and refuse to acknowledge that there’s a problem. A child being hit is a problem. People being nearly run over is a problem. Elderly people nearly being knocked over is a problem. But they don’t seem to express any concern about it. They don’t even seem to care.
When you explain your perspective that way, it makes sense to me, and is not offensive. You may be right that the parents are in denial. That certainly is possible. Another possibility is the one I raised, which is that the priest is misinterpreting his behavior.
My perspective was best expressed by another blogger, Charles Leck, who wrote this today:
"*Thanks, Redtown, for your come-back comment. Good comments. I enjoy your polite, considerate style.
Yes, I’ve considered that someone might be injured. I’m suggesting, and not in some ideal way either, that there are solutions. A congregation that represents Jesus simply can’t turn someone away – especially someone diseased. I know how congregations operate and if this one had been given serious, attentive leadership, the they could come up with a solution. A special place for Adam – something he could take great pride in. He would be segregated from people he might injure, but he would be in the house of his Lord, and allowed to worship him.
Refusing someone entry into a church doesn’t sit right with me.
In a church, along time ago, that I had some major responsibility in, we had a homeless fellow who would just wander in, weave his way down the aisle to the front of the church and look up at the Pastor and give him hell.
One day I managed to find the fellow out on the street and I had a long, relatively sober conversation with him. I told him I’d like to give him the opportunity to speak to the congregation occasionally, but we’d have to set some rules of behavior. He wanted to know how long he could talk. Twenty-minutes, I told him, twice a year.
He was so nervous his first time that he gave up after 5 minutes and sat down in a pew and allowed the worship to roll on. He never asked to speak again. He began attending, got to know some people and eventually was talked into going into treatment at a Salvation Army facility. He works for the Army now (or did, the last time I heard) and I know he stayed sober for many, many years.
Charlie Leck"*
