An inclusive Church in local catechetical programs

Abstract

The Christian Church has a long history of caring for those finding themselves in the community's peripheries — the poor, the sick and those with disabilities. Even today, many Churches provide services and opportunities for worship to those at risk of being marginalised by society. Moreover, many biblical texts demonstrate that during his mission on earth, Jesus was highly concerned with these individuals who are at risk of being marginalised. Nevertheless, the local Christian community still lacks the ability to meet the needs of families who have a member who has some disability, especially when it comes to intellectual disability, such as autism. Most frequently, this is not due to the Church being indifferent but rather the fear of the unknown, which is a consequence of lack of knowledge and training. To this end, this research studies the importance of including children with autism in the community, together with their peers. It also studies different pedagogies and approaches which can facilitate their inclusion in the community, primarily in the catechetical programs. Four questionnaires were filled up by individuals in charge of the spiritual formation of children at the time of the research. Although all four participants had a positive attitude towards children with diverse needs and recognised that children with autism should be given the same opportunities as other children to receive the sacraments, they demonstrated that they are not fully aware of practices and approaches that can be used. In light of these results, this study strongly recommends further training to all those in charge of the spiritual formation of individuals with intellectual disability.