Uproar over church banning of autistic boy

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Uproar over church banning of autistic boy

A restraining order was placed on a six-foot tall Minnesota autistic

boy, thereby banning him from a Catholic parish church. Autistism

campaigners urge " radical inclusion " preached by Jesus.

By Ekklesia

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Autism campaigners around the world are urging church leaders and

clergy to understand the complex needs of children and adults with

autism and Asperger's Syndtome in the light of a hugely controversial

decision by a Roman Catholic priest, Rev Walz who has banned a

13 year old boy with autism from his church on the grounds of

disruptive behaviour.

The Catholic priest's action has caused an uproar around the world.

Autism affects over 60 million people all over the globe. In the UK

there are 500,000 people with autism. According to UK researchers 1

in 100 children are on the spectrum and numbers are rising.

Recently the United Nations General Assembly launched the first ever

World Autism Awareness Day. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid

tribute to the courage of children with autism and their families,

who strive every day " to confront the disability with a powerful

combination of determination, creativity and hope. "

In his message marking the World Autism Awareness Day, Mr Ban Ki-moon

stressed the need to build enabling environments for children with

disabilities so they can prosper as future members of their

communities, citizens of their countries and as fully-fledged members

of the global community.

Ivan Corea, head of the Autism Awareness Campaign UK urged churches

all over the world to try and understand what autism is all about and

to go back to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the radical

inclusion that he practiced and preached.

" Churches need to reach out to the marginalised, the socially

excluded, the downtrodden, " said Ivan Corea who together with hiis

wife Charika launched the Autism Awareness Campaign UK in 2000. They

also initiated Autism Sunday which falls on the second Sunday in

February every year.

Carol Race, the mother of the autistic boy, named Adam, found out

about the restraining order when she tried to attend mass at the

Church of St. ph, where she usually went on Sundays. Todd County

Sheriff Pete Mikkelson appeared in her driveway to warn her she would

be taken into police custody if she and her son entered St. ph.

Carol Race of Bertha, Minnesota in the United States, completely

refuted the claims made by the priest and stated that Adam may be

noisy at times, but they usually sit in the back of the church and

try to stay quiet. She also said that the restraining order amounts

to outright discrimination.