Disability

Christianity has had a bad track record with disability. In the past, people with disabilities were seen as 'having something wrong with them'. They have been excluded, treated differently, even pitied. Churches have been slow to change their thinking, but it looks like they may be getting somewhere.

For example, the Church of England has recently changed the way it refers to people with disabilities; many churches are improving physical access to buildings, providing better facilities to those who are deaf etc.

However, there is a more fundamental issue, linked to the ideas of healing and perfection. Christianity has a long tradition of 'praying for healing' of those with disabilities. Some Christians go on pilgrimage to Lourdes, hoping to be miraculously cured of their disability. In some cases, people with disabilities are even told they are being punished by God, and do not have enough faith.

There are many within the faith who are working hard to move away from this way of looking at disability, seeing every individual as a perfect child of God, made in His image. Rather than trying to 'help' those with disabilities, churches are now focussing on removing barriers to disability, and allowing people with disabilities to flourish in a church setting.