Vocation Qualifications

[Daniel_Boucher]

Why do religious orders require their applicants to meet physical health requirements? Shouldn’t people with physical disabilities be allowed to enter into the consecrated life? I am glad that Canon Law is not restricting in this regards, but it seems to me that this is a requirement that religious orders should accomodate for, just as even worldly institutions do. To hinder someone from entering the consecrated life because of physical disabilities is disconcerting to me. Jesus loves us no matter what condition we are in and he needs us to serve him no matter what condition we are in. I believe that someone with a physical disability wouldn’t be hindered from doing many things that serve and please God, although it is true that some things would prove to be obstacles to overcome.

 

[puzzleannie]

Why do religious orders require their applicants to meet physical health requirements? Shouldn’t people with physical disabilities be allowed to enter into the consecrated life? I .

an order requires candidates to have the physical qualifications necessary to meet the demands of the life and obligations undertaken by members of that order. That is reasonable and necessary. If it is a nursing order, the applicant must be able to do nursing duties, and so forth. Also the order has to bear in mind its own resources in providing medical care and other support for its members, and quite often is in no position to provide for special needs of persons with certain disabilities. the requirements are not blanket for all orders, and their probably are some who can accept persons with disabilities, own facilities where they can live and be cared for, and have work they can do within their capabilities. If someone truly has this vocation, they will have to find a place where they can live it out. It is also possible for someone to be consecrated in single life under the direction of one’s bishop, and continue living in their current circumstances, outside an established order, but that is something the bishop would have to direct.

just because I am not accepted as a candidate by this religious order or that, because I lack the spiritual, or physical or other qualities required for life in that order says absolutely nothing about how much Jesus loves me, it simply says I don’t have the charisms for life in that specific order, as discerned by that order’s leadership. it is not a personal rejection, it is just a fact of life.

 

[JReducation]

Why do religious orders require their applicants to meet physical health requirements? Shouldn’t people with physical disabilities be allowed to enter into the consecrated life? I am glad that Canon Law is not restricting in this regards, but it seems to me that this is a requirement that religious orders should accomodate for, just as even worldly institutions do. To hinder someone from entering the consecrated life because of physical disabilities is disconcerting to me. Jesus loves us no matter what condition we are in and he needs us to serve him no matter what condition we are in. I believe that someone with a physical disability wouldn’t be hindered from doing many things that serve and please God, although it is true that some things would prove to be obstacles to overcome.

We have to be careful with blanket statements. There are people with physical disabilities in religious communities. We have one brother who has CP, another who is blind and a third who is deaf.

The physical requirements depend on the mission and apostolate of the religious community.

Individuals with mental health issues are usually excluded from religious life because of the ability to adjust to transitions, community living and the stress that often comes from these.

Every vocation director makes a judgment call one case at a time.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF