Full Circle - Judge rules autistic teen can be barred from church

Judge rules autistic teen can be barred from church

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Judge: Disruptive autistic teen can be barred from church

Adam's mother, Carol Race, of Eagle Bend, said today that she found Robertson's ruling "very shocking."

"What does a judge have to say or not say about what is acceptable in a chjurch service?" she added. "That comes down from the Vatican."

Okay ... then why did you take this to court in the first place?

Race said she is exploring whether to continue challenging the restraining order, either through the courts or within the church hierarchy.

Speaking on behalf of the parish this afternoon, Jane Marrin, director of pastoral planning for the St. Cloud Diocese, said that St. Joseph "is involved in mediation with the family, and it's the parish's hope that we can come to a mutually acceptable solution. That has been the goal all along for the parish, and the judge's ruling doesn't rule out."

The Church has courts for this

I Corinthians VI - How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the holy ones? Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you unqualified for the lowest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? Then why not everyday matters? If, therefore, you have courts for everyday matters, do you seat as judges people of no standing in the church? I say this to shame you. Can it be that there is not one among you wise enough to be able to settle a case between brothers?

I have to admit that the specifics of this case escape me. It seems this child is very unruly however something must be done to ensure he and his family have access to the sacraments. I think she should pursue action within the Church hierarchy. That said, if the Church rules against her then the state interfering would be a GROSS offense to freedom of religion.

If anyone has more insight on this story I would like to hear it.

Subvet

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

You'd think this would be what a crying room is for. Unless the kid is downright violent towards himself & others I'd say he'd fit right into the ones I've seen.

Redtown

Friday, July 4, 2008

This isn't just a kid making a few noises.

According to a previous AP story, “Adam struck a child during mass, nearly knocks elderly parishioners over, spits and sometimes urinates in church and fights when he is being restrained. He also… assaulted a girl by pulling her onto his lap and started up two cars in the parking lot. There were people who could have been injured or killed.” His own parents cannot physically control him.

The priest has, in fact, offered the family home Masses and use of the church library with closed-circuit TV. Carol Race refuses.

Carol Race's response in the Star Tribune is most telling: "I totally understand that the church environment in this case has to be safe. But the bottom line is one out of 150 births includes an autistic child and as a society we have to deal with it. We have to be able to go out to church and restaurants and events as one family."

So Ms. Race, an activist, self-proclaimed “Moses” of families with autistic children, admits that her out-of-control son poses a safety risk to others. But everyone else still has to conform to her politically correct views of inclusion.

The judge sensibly put public safety first: your rights to accommodation end where others’ rights to public safety begin.

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