Dear Friends in Christ,
It is appropriate that we celebrate and observe the International Day of People with Disability as we prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in Advent. The Church has taken this day as an opportunity to encourage a truly pastoral view that embraces our total community as the living Body of Christ. The day is observed annually on 3rd December and coincides with the beginning of Advent.
The theme this year is ‘Dignity and justice for all of us'. This timely theme is an invitation and call to us to create and ensure a change in societal attitude that sees disability as a burden.
Not only is this a call to encourage and invite faith communities to promote full participation of people with disability. It is also a call to actively and practically face the massive assault on the very lives of those living with disability. The unborn are the first targets through the misuse of pre-natal testing, leading to abortions, and those already born may face the possibility of euthanasia.
We are called to actively support and encourage people with disability on our journeys of faith, perseverance, hope and love; a love based on the faith and knowledge that we, the Church, are truly the Body of Christ, where every person is gifted, called and loved. It is time to truly proclaim that we are all made in God’s image and we are wonderfully made (Psalm 139).
Yours sincerely in Christ
Most Rev. Peter J. Elliott
Bishops’ Delegate for Disability Issues
Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
3 December 2008
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