Inclusion in the Liturgy...

"Persons with disabilities... seek to serve the community and to enjoy their full baptismal rights as members of the Church" (PS 33)

A question was brought to my attention the other day, and I realized that this person may not be the only one wondering!  The question was essentially, "Are there guidelines for persons with disabilities participating in liturgical ministries?" 

The short answer is, not specifically.  Participation of persons with special needs in pastoral ministry to the fullest extent possible is the goal and a strong 'ought' given to parishes by the US bishops.  Beyond that, the guidelines are essentially the same for persons with disabilities as they are for any lay person. 

To give a more "official" [read longer] answer , I looked to the US Bishops Guidelines for Celebration of Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities (CS), as well as the Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities (PS).  I also looked into Christifideles Laici (CL), the document by Pope St. John Paul II, which resulted from the synod of Bishops on the vocation and mission of laity in the Church and the world, and even a little canon law.     

I'll begin with some of the Bishop's thoughts on inclusion in liturgical celebrations in general:

"It is essential that all forms of the liturgy be completely accessible to persons with disabilities, since these forms are the essence of the spiritual tie that binds the Christian community together." (CS Introduction)

Keep in mind, the bishops are not talking specifically about liturgical ministries at this point, but about the accessibility of the liturgy itself.  In this regard, the wording as it continues is quite strong:

"To exclude members of the parish from these celebrations of the life of the Church, even by passive omission, is to deny the reality of that community." 

Wow. 
They go on to acknowledge inconsistencies which have arisen, and are still being faced- including the availability of sign language interpreters and the general physical accessibility of buildings.  Much of the basis for these inconsistencies is not what you might think, and the bishops address that too:

"[Inconsistencies] arise from an uncertainty about the appropriate application of Church law towards persons with disabilities. Others are born out of fear or misunderstanding. Still others are the result of a studied and honest acceptance of the realistic limitations of a parish's or diocese's available resources." (CS Preface)

Here the Bishops actually do make a recommendation, that in the case of limited resources, a parish might pair up with a neighboring parish or parishes to provide what is needed.

"parishes should encourage persons with disabilities to participate in all levels of pastoral ministry (e.g., as care ministers, catechists, etc.)." (CS general Principals #5) 

Now we get to it.  Short and sweet.  And here is another:

"Parish sacramental celebrations should be accessible to persons with disabilities and open to their full, active and conscious participation, according to their capacity"
(CS #3) 

The phrase I am looking at in particular here is "according to their capacity."

Now for a little bit of law... before I do though, a caveat: I do not profess to be a canon lawyer, so I will keep my commentary to a minimum and primarily clarifying.  Also, this is not an exhaustive list-  I wanted to point out a few canons that seemed pertinent and apply, I might add, to ALL laity, not just persons with disabilities.

Can. 228 §1. Lay persons who are found suitable are qualified to be admitted by the sacred pastors to those ecclesiastical offices and functions which they are able to exercise according to the precepts of the law.
 [any lay person who is found suitable (proper/appropriate) by the priest is qualified to be admitted to the Church offices and service allowed them by canon law]  

Can. 230 §1. Lay men who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of the conference of bishops can be admitted on a stable basis through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte.
[Lay men who are old enough, and meet the prescribed qualifications may be admitted to the stable (permanent) ministries of lector and acolyte (service on the altar)]
                       click HERE for more information on the qualifications.
 

§2. Lay persons can fulfill the function of lector in liturgical actions by temporary designation. All lay persons can also perform the functions of commentator or cantor, or other functions, according to the norm of law.
[just want to note a couple of distinctions here: a lay man or woman can act as lector on a temporary basis- it does not have the same binding nature of a permanent ministry]
 

§3. When the need of the Church warrants it and ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside over liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion, according to the prescripts of the law.        [emphasis added]

Can. 231 §1. Lay persons who permanently or temporarily devote themselves to special service of the Church are obliged to acquire the appropriate formation required to fulfill their function properly and to carry out this function conscientiously, eagerly, and diligently.

[a long way to say, you must receive training for any liturgical service you take part in]

 

Ok, you still with me?  I want to return to Canon 228 for part of our answer.  Read it again, and note who admits a person to a liturgical service.  At the parish level it is the priest.  So, the clearest way to view participation in liturgical ministries is as a service provided by the laity when need warrants it, and at the discretion of the pastor. 

 

That being said, questions and tough calls do arise.  So should something come up, my best advice is to first speak with your pastor, calmly expressing your concern(s) and also listening with openness.  This can be a key moment for building a relationship!