Disability: Living into the Diversity of Christ’s Body
American theologian and author Brian Brock speaks with Director of Jesuit Communications Pat Coyle about ‘disability theology’. He focuses on the role of the Christian community and how it responds to those with special needs and disabilities.
Brian’s firstborn child, twenty-year-old Adam has Down’s Syndrome and is neuro diverse. Brian admits that Adam has utterly changed his previous misconceptions regarding the way a Christian community, and indeed wider society, should relate to those with disability. He says the insights afforded by Adam also shed new light on the way Christian communities should be relating within themselves and as part of wider society.
He also recalls two powerful moments with Adam that opened up for him a new understanding of how God works in the world. The first involves Adam deciding to sit next to the Parish Priest at the altar during Mass on Pentecost Sunday. The second concerns a street encounter with an aggressive drug addict.
