2 minute read
In all of Christian culture, the thing I find most absurd is the Catholic Church‘s prohibition against gluten-free Communion wafers. This sacrament is a means of grace to spiritually feed God’s people, but even microscopic levels of gluten make it dangerous to worshipers with celiac disease and other severe gluten sensitivities. Yet the Vatican‘s dogmatic hierarchy refuses any pastoral adaptation because traditionalism dictates that a glutenous, Medieval wafer with a cross stamped on it is apparently the exact right theological point between literalism and symbolism.
While demanding churches use poisonous communion wafers is utterly despicable, the problem of refusing to make reasonable accommodations to serve the vulnerable extends much further. It’s systemic throughout Christian culture. Did you know evangelical organizations successfully lobbied Congress to have religious entities completely exempted from Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990? God forbid our places of worship be required to build ramps and have wheelchair-accessible bathroom stalls like virtually all other public spaces. Unbelievable.
Ask around. Seriously, go to the people you know with special needs and gently inquire about their experiences in Christian spaces. They’ll often report feeling unwelcome and unsafe. It’s commonly the single hardest place in their lives to get accommodations for physical disabilities like deafness, food allergies like peanuts, learning disabilities like dyslexia, and neurosensory sensitivities to things like strong perfumes, bright fluorescent lights, and loud music. For whatever reason, an attitude of callousness to special needs is commonplace in Christian settings.
Whether it’s a passive reticence or an active annoyance towards accommodating special needs, I cannot imagine how this mentality possibly squares with The Way of Jesus. Rather than grumble and complain, we should joyfully jump at the opportunity to help others feel welcome. Jesus followers are to be characterized by the virtues of love, grace, charity, compassion, sensitivity, empathy, kindness, hospitality, and self-sacrificial service. I don’t know where we got this idea that “disability” and “accommodation” are bad words, but that ain’t from the Holy Spirit.
The original beatniks were known for their spirit of inclusion toward minority groups. What I don’t know is if that charitable posture also extended to those with special needs. No information came up in my brief search. What I will say is two things. First, Beatnik Christianity is passionate about extending that loving spirit to those with physical disabilities, food allergies, neurosensory sensitivities, and the like. Second, when operating in a priestly capacity I always provide a gluten-free option without absent-minded cross-contamination. That’s because I’m not an asshole.
