Is the Catholic Church really disabled friendly?

[AlbMagno]

Being asked to leave the choir because you do not sing on key is not related to your disability

The OP said that she had a listening disbility, I’ve interpreted her message as saying she sang slightly off tune because of that.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I didn’t think of it that way, as the person said they were slightly tone-deaf. Tone deafness is something that afflicts many people who do not have a listening disability or other disability. In any event, whatever the reason for the tone deafness, one would not expect a choir to include someone who frequently sang off-key. The person is still welcome to participate in singing hymns from their pew.

 

[do_justly_love_mercy]

I am really sorry to learn that this has been your experience. The experiences that you describe have no place in the Catholic Church (or any Christian church for that matter). (Although I would agree that it’s probably a reasonable expectation that members of the choir should be able to sing in tune.) I can see no good reason at all why you should not be accommodated in wishing to pursue becoming an EMHC, reading at Mass, leading prayers, etc. Some of the attitudes you describe having encountered are completely unacceptable in today’s society. You do not mention where you live. Your country may have laws that should help to protect you against discrimination. You should definitely raise your points with somebody in authority.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I have dwarfism. If I wanted to volunteer to teach basketball to the youth group, my offer to do so would be kindly declined. However, I could be the statistician or the manager.

Same goes for choir. If someone does not have the gift of a pleasant singing voice, there are still a myriad of ways to serve the Parish in general and music ministry in particular. We always need AV techs to help with the livestream of Masses and other events! Someone who cannot sing can learn to play an instrument, we ALWAYS need organists!

 

[Margaret_Ann]

When I was in college, one of the girls who attended the Catholic community center was a quadriplegic, and the most joyful person I ever met to that point in my life. IIRC, two people would help her go up the stairs to the chapel where we had daily Mass. I don’t know if she was ever involved in ministry though.

At my UGCC parish, we have ramps as well as steps. Most of our parishioners are elderly. My late mother used a walker as did the gentleman who was a lector for many years.

We have a choir loft but it rarely gets used since we do congregational singing.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

Your avatar is really groovy, btw.

 

[Dorothy]

For many years there was a gentleman who was a reader in my parish who stayed in his wheelchair and was given a microphone.

 

[MrZoom]

Your avatar is really groovy, btw.

Thanks!

Some states are now using that symbol for their disabled parking, instead of the traditional, less, shall we say “dynamic” wheelchair symbol.