I left the Catholic Church because of Autism Speaks

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To preface this, I wrote this in a hurry and did not edit it much: I apologize in advance for its errors.

1. A person (OP Aspendos) left the Catholic Church because of not only no representation at the Synod, but in fact mis-represented by Autism Speaks.

2. The Catholic Church needs to be fully aware of the issues of a group that it wants to help, including the issue of the contentions with Autism Speaks.
A list of those contentious issues needs writing, clearly and as skillfully as possible - so that it can be presented. B19 wrote that help is often the sunny side of control. This concern has to be expressed in the letter or list.

3. The Catholic Church might best be reminded/informed by one of its own - someone with an understanding of both Catholic tenets AND autism; that in partnering with Autism Speaks it strongly suggests eugenics to the autistic community. Plus, Catholics are against abortion, period. So this is in fact a wedge which might be employed to divide the Church from Autism Speaks(?). Please excuse me if I did not express that very well. (DW a mom?)

4. Creating schools &/or enhancing existing schools for appropriate and healthy educational opportunities for children and adults on the spectrum would be a positive step for the church to take. Members of the local business communities could both learn from and assist in these efforts. And if the schools and Catholic Church 'marketed' this....perhaps a certain amount of social change could begin. What about presenting all of this to Sal Khan, of Khan Academy too? That might integrate some of the issues with other educational changes that seem to be happening already. (The way Khan Academy is set up seems an ideal tie-in to me, for many reasons.)

^^^ close enough

One way to focus on the hidden agendas and issues in this conference: (not the only way of course)

1) read the programme- just read it, suspending judgment in the first instance;

2) read it again, only this time take a "reading between the lines" approach - specifically, focus on what isn't there - then make a rough and ready list of anything that springs to mind (don't evaluate at this stage, just note issues down);

3) have a strong cup of tea or whatever and disengage for a while, clear your mind;

4) review the list - sort the issues into categories, under sub-headings

(eg for me, it would be these issues:

Economic oppression;
Stigmatisation - in theory and practice;
ASD voicelessness and the perpetuation of silencing ASD voices by exclusion;
Institutionally entrenched failure to accord full human rights, dignity and respect to ASD persons;
The negative impacts and lifelong consequences of oppression at institutional levels;
Existing barriers to equal opportunities in education, employment, financial security;
The implications of treating ASD as if it were only a "family" or "medical" or "pathological" issue;
Policies, practices, strategies to promote the liberation of the ASD population
Working toward a Declaration of Rights, and a plan/timeline for its presentation to the UN

....

Obviously I've chosen to approach this in a radically different from the "pathological" approach that the organisers (and no doubt Autism Speaks as a prime mover behind the scenes) have elected to promote. They are worlds apart, in fact. (Oops, my bad for forgetting we are on the wrong planet...)

You may have different ideas, I'm not saying this is the only approach, far from it.

Here's a new article about it.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/ ... a-26989583

Maybe the bottom line all along was the Catholic Churches agenda of opposing divorce for any reason at all, irrespective of how horrendous spousal abuse may be or any of the other marital atrocities that are daily occurences. It figures.

I hope this gets discussed at the conference by Francis, as an example of the Catholic respect and acceptance of people with autism..
Leopards and spots, leopards and spots...


"In 2006, a 10-year-old Arizona boy with autism was denied taking Holy Communion by his Catholic church. Holy Communion is a ritual of the Catholic faith that commemorates the breaking of bread at Jesus Christ?s last supper.

Matthew Moran had trouble swallowing foods of certain textures, including the Communion wafer. The youngster had been taking Communion in a unique manner. With his father looking on, he would place the wafer in his mouth for a moment and then his father would take it out of his mouth and consume it himself.

Nick Moran, the child?s father, told the Arizona Republic newspaper that if he didn?t do this Matthew would spit the wafer out of his mouth".
Courtesy Spectrum Publications


Read more: http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/new ... z3JSXUJlq9

Even sticking it in his mouth is probably uncomfortable. In that way, it appears he showed more devotion to God than anyone in the sanctuary, including the priest.

I can't see Jesus denying him communion.

"But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16

From the Vatican, I'd say silence is approval.

Feeling guilty because I've dropped the ball and I think it is getting too close to the event to pursue it; I had finally gotten all the info on a good person to rope in for activism and then I got busy elsewhere ... sorry