What is the Church's view on the intellectually disabled?

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What is the Church’s teaching on people with intellectual disabilities receiving the sacraments and ultimately salvation?

I’ll use a personal example to help clarify the question. My youngest brother is 18 and has autism. His overall understanding is is roughly at the level of a seven year old. I don’t believe he has any real grasp on faith or anything to do with religion even with my parents trying hard to teach him. Because of this my parents don’t believe he should be baptised, receive communion, etc without having full understanding. My family is part of the Church of the Nazarene and this goes along with their doctrine.

I’m sure the Catholic Church would say he should be baptised but is it necessary for salvation in this case since he can’t make that decision on his own? What about the other sacraments or even faith for that matter?

Also at what point would someone with an intellectual disability be expected to make these decisions for themselves? Would it ever go off of physical age or would it only be at a certain level of understanding?
 
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I’m on the autism spectrum, and I’m what would be considered high functioning. That being said, a seven-year-old does know the difference between right and wrong, so someone who has the level of functioning of a seven-year-old, would still need to know the necessity of baptism. My nieces and nephews are not baptized, but that’s because they’re not my children, but my six-year-old niece knows the importance of it, she knows that I receive Jesus at Mass. Just because someone has the intellectual capabilities of a child, that doesn’t mean that they don’t know the difference between these things. Now as far as the Church is concerned, we have something called The Age of Reason, which is usually about 7 or 8, so if the church says that a seven or eight year old can understand certain truths of the faith, then there’s no reason that someone with intellectual disabilities of that sort should be able to. By the way, it’s notoriously hard to measure intelligence for so-called low-functioning autistics, my friend has a sister who is on the Spectrum, and she’s actually quite intelligent, the doctor said she has the intelligence of a four-year-old, but I’m not sure that’s true, and neither is my friend.
 
Of course baptism is important, while culpability for personal sin may be lessened or removed, we are all born with the stain of Original Sin.

There are many good resources here

http://www.ncpd.org/

The adaptive products from Loyola to help prepare those with intellectual disabilities for the Sacraments are very good. Your DRE should already have sets, if not, here is the link:

 
Torolf said:
hat is the Church’s teaching on people with intellectual disabilities receiving the sacraments and ultimately salvation?

I’ll use a personal example to help clarify the question. My youngest brother is 18 and has autism. His overall understanding is is roughly at the level of a seven year old.
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My eldest daughter, now 33 years old, is autistic and has been able to receive sacraments.

She was baptized before we discovered she is autistic. It took quite a bit more time to prepare her for confession, communion, and confirmation but she eventually got there. I do not think she is capable of sacramental marriage or holy orders though.
 
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Torolf said:
What is the Church’s teaching on people with intellectual disabilities receiving the sacraments and ultimately salvation?

I’ll use a personal example to help clarify the question. My youngest brother is 18 and has autism. His overall understanding is is roughly at the level of a seven year old. I don’t believe he has any real grasp on faith or anything to do with religion even with my parents trying hard to teach him. Because of this my parents don’t believe he should be baptised, receive communion, etc without having full understanding. My family is part of the Church of the Nazarene and this goes along with their doctrine.

I’m sure the Catholic Church would say he should be baptised but is it necessary for salvation in this case since he can’t make that decision on his own? What about the other sacraments or even faith for that matter?

Also at what point would someone with an intellectual disability be expected to make these decisions for themselves? Would it ever go off of physical age or would it only be at a certain level of understanding?
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What is the Church’s view on the intellectually disabled?**

Matthew 3: [5] Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 28:19-20 “[19] Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.”

Absolutely he should be Baptized.

The intentions of his GOD-Parents is sufficient for it to be valid and licit.

Please Do Do ASAP

God Bless you
Patrick
 
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