God's kingdom should be enlarged to make room for disabled members

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

The Feast of Christ the King (Nov. 23) reminds us that in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Kingdom of God has broken into our world in a dramatic and definitive fashion.

Jesus tells us, in Sunday's Gospel reading, that His kingdom is not of this world. The values of God's kingdom are not the values of wealth, power or prestige that the world espouses. Rather, in the Kingdom of God, wealth is the treasured beauty and dignity of every human person. Power is love poured out in service to others. Prestige is knowing that we are all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, and, so, equal in the eyes of our God.

Jesus embodied this radical vision of the Kingdom of God throughout His earthly ministry. Every person was welcomed in His presence, and He reached out to those who were excluded by the society of His day. In a particular way, He reached out to persons with disabilities. He saw beyond their disabilities, and invited them to share in His life and in His mission.

November marks the 25th anniversary of the United States bishops' "Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities." This special anniversary and Sunday's feast invite us once again "to reexamine [our] attitude toward our brothers and sisters with disabilities" (Pastoral Statement, par. 1).

To be sure, in the past 25 years, we have seen tremendous strides to include persons with disabilities into all aspects of life, especially in our churches. Many more of our parish facilities are now accessible. Persons with disabilities participate in parish life and serve in a variety of ministries. Likewise, children, youth and adults with disabilities are included in faith formation opportunities and sacramental preparation. Retreats and other spiritual events are offered especially for those with cognitive disabilities.

Most importantly, we have come to understand that it is ministry with persons with disabilities, not simply ministry for persons with disabilities. We recognize and affirm the many gifts that persons with disabilities bring to our Church.

Yet, even as we rejoice in these blessings, we are reminded that God's Kingdom has not yet arrived in its fullness. Threats to the life and dignity of persons with disabilities are very real in our society. We know that only 17 percent of persons with disabilities are working full-time, and some 64 percent report active discrimination in seeking employment. Our churches, too, may not fully be the places of welcome and inclusion that they might be.

I invite all the People of God in the Diocese of Albany to assess our efforts and attitudes regarding persons with disabilities, and to strive to imitate Jesus' attitude of welcome and inclusion. Moreover, I invite persons with disabilities themselves to share their gifts and talents with our Church, so that the Body of Christ may be truly complete.

May Jesus, our gentle King, guide and direct our continued efforts to invite, welcome, and include our brothers and sisters with disabilities. With His help, may we build God's Kingdom, "a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace" (Preface for the Solemnity of Christ the King).

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Howard J. Hubbard

Bishop of Albany

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