Maltese Church Introduces Inclusion Guidelines
By Dave
Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
December 6, 2006
VALLETTA,
MALTA--The Catholic Church of Malta has published specific guidelines on how to
make the physical, social and spiritual life of the Church more accessible to
people with disabilities and their families -- from birth through death.
The 50-page, 8-chapter guide, entitled "Towards a more inclusive Church:
The participation of persons with a disability in the life and mission of the
Church", was produced by the Church after extensive meetings with the National
Council for Persons with Disabilities, Agenzija Sapport, and a number of other
non-governmental disability organizations, according to several Maltese news
sources.
The document, which was introduced Wednesday by Father Martin Micallef,
reportedly addresses such things as building ramps at churches and residential
programs, encouraging blind people to read from Braille scripts during the
Mass, helping deaf people to confess in sign language, and supporting parents
whose newborns may experience disabilities to become active members of the
Church.
Father Micallef said that every action designed to fully include people
with disabilities would help everyone within the Church community.
"A lot has been done so far. Together we can do much more," he said.
Related:
"Church to take disability-friendly measures" (Times of
Malta)
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=245451
---
Reproduced here under special arrangement
with Inclusion Daily Express international disability rights news service.
© Copyright 2006 Inonit
Publishing. Please do not reprint, publish or distribute without
permission. |
