Talitha,

The biblical exegesis used in the current research, allows a reading, a broader hermeneutic because hermeneutics can not be taken only as a point of view.

The exegeses made considering aspects such as anthropology, sociology, history, geography, literary, allows you to see what was the prevailing theology and thought in the writings periods.

This procedure allows you to read meant which the hagiographer in their context and, based on this, complete the interpretation, the appropriate hermeneutic for the times and current knowledge.

Regarding your question, reading has done so rather allowed to recognize the possibility of a theology of disability, both to learn about how it was seen in the Old Testament concerning the points redeemed by Jesus man on the reception and aid those in need.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church effectively does not address this point directly, nevertheless should more clearly address this fundamental question from the point of view of pastoral theology.

Thank you Marcelo, for your answer. 

I completely agree with your message - it is indeed the exegeses from a disability perspective that shines a new light on biblical exegeses as a whole and makes possible a theology of disability.

I know the Catechism doesnot directly address the disability perspective, but it defends a certain anthropological theology (namely the christian anthropology) which inspires pastoral theology. I am doing a PhD-research on special needs catechesis (in pastoral theology) and I am trying to see the interconnections between the contributions of the biblical exegeses in a disability perspective to catechesis for people with intellectual deficiencies. I think the Catechism should take into account certain anthropological viewpoints raised by theology of disability. 

 My hypothesis is that is a normate hermeneutics of the Bible has inspired the Catechism. To substantiate this thesis I would need to analyse the Catechism from a disability point of view ...

But then again, maybe somebody has read the Catechism from a disability perspective already ... hence my question!

Talitha,

I understand.

But I submit an epistemological question: catechism, by its dogmatic basis therefore grounded in a Systematic Theology, has a priori categories, among them Christian anthropology, certainly.

And it seems to me your interest contains, and seems to me should thus be a necessarily exegetical focus.

The exegetical focus and systematic theology have dissonances that may reflect a less useful work.

Would forward yes, and I see among my network of researchers, if anyone has done this reading.

I was really surprised at his question and his research focus.

Moreover, complementing, as Christian anthropology speaks of the conformation of the human model Christ therefore may be seeking to include people as Jesus himself did is the model of action and perception should be as the background of any catechesis, and in consequence, of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

I will follow with great pleasure and taste this topic, opened by you, and I hope to eventually read the results of your search.

Again I appreciate your comment.

Talitha

Catechism of the Catholic church mainly deals with basic faith matters and religious duties of the faithful. The essence of Catholic catechism is God's love for humanity and Jesus' healing touch towards the differently able people irespective of their religious differences. I think this aspect as the anthropology of Catholic catechism.

This research topic has to investigated in relation to pastoral and sacramental theology. 

Thank you very much for your message.

If you read the Catechism, take for example par. 1303 on the sacrament of confirmation, towards the end, it says : "it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross." 

I am not saying that the Catechism has it wrong, of course, but what does this mean for a profoundly intellectually disabled person? How can you defend faith by word and by action, if the only things you are capable of are sleeping, breathing and eating? (I read this in Christopher De Vincks narrative of his brothers' life). 

The same goes for par. 1307 "The Latin tradition gives "the age of discretion" as the reference point for receiving Confirmation." But some intellectually disabled persons never reach the age of discretion ... does that mean they can only be confirmed when they are in danger of death?

Pastoral theology has for long decided against this point of view, and has readily accepted profoundly disabled people for confirmation. But the Catechism remains ...

Again: what does this say about the anthropology of the Catechism? Did anyone take into account disability when they wrote this?

In Biblical history, disability, from being stooped over by paralysis to barrenness to possession by spirits has been blamed on sin. In a case where Jesus was asked to heal a blind man, people asked, "Who sinned, this man or is parents" Jesus said neither. It is not surprising that when people feel they have no power over a challenge, that they seek to blame something or someone ELSE for the failing. In our time I surely hope that we realize that everyone has limitations and gifts.  I think you need to look at catechesis according to the individual needs of the students, as in a regular classroom situation.

The catechism is Q &A, and this is not how most people learn. It is a giant compendium of traditions, rules, doctrines. There is very little of "getting to know Jesus and how he lived, and therefore, how we might live."   Are you aware that there are versions of the Catechism for middle school, high school, as well as adults. Having been brought up in the Catechism structure, I have found it to be sorely wanting. It does not invite questions, doubts, etc.  And the Bible is another sources which is written in various times and cultures which are not as "enlightened" as even we think we are. 

In any case, teaching elements of faith to persons with disabilities is a HUGE task, as there are varieties of handicaps, some of which affect cognitive ability and other which do not. Best wishes with your project. ML  

Talitha,

Actually the Catholic catechism does not clearly presents an anthropology that considers people with severe disabilities.

There is, if anything, references to the brothers. But it is not perceived discuss about those with these disabilities, as well as the role of women still presented as submissive to men, not having a responsibility role very well defined in the church.

Thus, the pertinent discussion that brings us presents itself as open for discussion in the theological context effectively, but apparently did not merit such reflection to formulate the catechism.

It is necessary theological discussions to sensitize the ecclesial hierarchy so that it can one day occur.

Well, the catholic catechism definitely lacks the biblically profound theological anthropology for sure, let alone the disability hermeneutic. Its not even near it. However, such can be raised in pastoral and moral theologies when taught to the seminarians and the laity. Roman or pontifical institutes are still behind these areas of new research. Roman universities and the academia must allow the global catholic institutes to make their own syllabuses on these crucial matters. Hope the current pontificate can make that shift too, as the 2 former pontificates just reproduced stale and fossilized material for the future. It was protectionism and not innovation, hence the catholics went backward relatively into the past with its cultic moralism without compassion and love which is a Gospel value in the Jesus movement.

I quite agree with all of you - but I really want to focus on the catechisme (not the Question and Answer-formula, but the official 1992 version, the CEC). I know it to be doctrinal, but I still believe it can be read with a disability hermeneutic. 

The theology of disability has focussed primarily on exegesis, ethics and pastoral care - I think it is time it gets more into systematic theology too. I thought it would be interesting to have very close look into the CEC, from a disability point of view, exactly because nobody has done it before and because I think the official teachings of the Church should take into account the lives of people with disabilities.

For Mary : It would not come into my mind to try to use the CEC to teach anything about Jesus to anyone (abled or disabled alike). My main focus for the moment is not on how we talk about God to people with disabilities - but how doctrine talks about disability (which it does not very often ...) And I agree with Marcelo : I think the ecclesial hierarchy should be sensitized to the theology of disability.

Anyhow, as apparently not many people have looked at the catechism from this perspective, it might be an interesting topic to tackle!

In fact, this is not a single case. There are ambiguities at more over books than we could imagine.

That's a linguistic problem that is addressed by semiotic studies and cultural researches.

How could we understand by ambiguities, and more, by diversity to a comprehensive view of disability or disabilities, mean that?

We can to take care with words and terms.

Thank you for contributing - when I write about catechism, I refer to the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church)  of 1992... I wouldn't describe it as a contradictary and full of mistakes - I donot agree with everything it says, but it is doctrine and the standard by which the church tries to make intelligible our faith. I use it very often and have studied it in detail - why would you call it ambiguous?