Minn. mom told she'd be arrested if autistic son went to church

These parents have carried more of a burden with this kid than anyone should have to. Unfortunately, they've lost perspective about how much of a burden they're putting on everyone else. My experience with churches who allow bad situations to go on is that most people who are affected don't confront or even complain -- they just go somewhere else. Every place has to set some limits on what behavior it will tolerate. One option for the church might be to set up some kind of care program for the handicapped that would provide care during the services. This would probably have to involve paid caretakers. Most volunteers won't care for people bigger and stronger than themselves -- I know I wouldn't.

This is not a tolerance issue, but a public safety issue. Other news sources go into greater detail and reveal a pattern of not only disruptive but dangerous behavior. Of course the child is not acting maliciously-- he simply has no concept of the danger to others. This step by the church is a "last resort" after other, less drastic solutions have failed. It sounds harsh to say this, but perhaps this child needs to be institutionalized. Are there younger siblings at home who are also at risk?

Let's solve the problem the way we used to do it: Reopen the state hospitals and warehouse these individuals is the parents are willing. Stop foisting the problem onto everyone else, especially small towns that are getting over run with "adult foster care"

I agree with the pastor. If he has been disruptive several times he shouldn't be there. I'm sorry that her son has a disability, but at some point the parents need to realize that he may get out of control and seriously hurt someone. Good job to the pastor for standing up for his parishoners!!

Going places such as a church, or a store, or wherever is a privlige, not a right.

Good job on the church for standing their ground.

Sara wrote:

Going places such as a church, or a store, or wherever is a privlige, not a right.
Good job on the church for standing their ground.

God accepts everybody, no matter who you are, or what church you attend, and people is disabilities are no exception. I can't believe how callous these "comments" can be. A person is still a person no matter their physical or mental abilities.

God accepts everyone but you shouldn't have to be concerned about safety or a health issue when you are at church. I empathathise with this woman's plight as the burden of care has to be overwhelming. How about if the priest comes to their home once a week and says mass.

Bertha doesn't get on the front page much.

I'm with the Pastor on this one. "During" Mass is a tough situation to confront a behavioral issue.

RGA -

It is not a matter of God accepting or not accepting.

If one of your best friends had a child who was VERY disruptive, destructive, and abusive to you, your children and property... would you continue to invite them over??? I think not.

If this was a case of preventing access to a physically handicapped just because of the inconvenience and cost to the parish that is one thing... There is a certain responsibility by the parents/caregiver regardless if there is a disability involved or not. Adult judgement, common sense and general courtesy must be weighed.

What is Autism? Something you pick up at the grocery store?

The behavior on the part of the church would keep me away, and I would have to wonder what God they worship.

To accommodate the family, the church has offered to 1) simulcast the service to another room in church, 2) provide service at the family's home. The church practices acceptance and tolerance, but must also protect. Personally, I would be okay with the offered accommodations. Unfortunately, this particular family isn't. Reasonable accommodation?

I have four young children and go to Mass every Sunday. I'm very aware of how they are behaving and respectful of those sitting around me and often times I will remove them from Mass if they are crying too loud or can't sit still. I have to believe that this situation is out of control for the Pastor to go to such lengths.

The PP did the crib notes version of the story. The Strib said the kid is a 230lb. 13 year old with a severe case of autism. This is a giant toddler with a large mans' strength. God's creature or not, the parents have to take everyone's well-being and safety into consideration. Has anyone sat down together to work on a solution? My church's pastors have always done visitation for the shut-ins. Many people, it seems, forget just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I think it applies to both sides. In today's society, its sad that a pastor/priest is forced to this ban a member. I wonder how his conscience is treating him.

If the child cannot attend traditional services, it seems that the church should at least try to minster to the family in another way. I agree with Ben G.

As much as many of these so called Christians want their perfect little service with only perfectly healthy and sound minded congregants...Jesus ministered to the poor and the sick...the very people not permitted in the Temple. Jesus didn't reject based on disability.

If my son isn't welcome somewhere then neither am I. If I am not welcome than neither is my money. If these churches really are the houses of God then they would bend over backwards to help this family somehow. I don't want any part of any religion or any God that views my son as a burden rather than a blessing.

This boy can't control himself because of his condition. The church has offered to pipe the service to a separate room and provide the mass at the boy's home. Obviously the church is not refusing to meet the religious needs of this family.

The priest also has an obligation to the rest of his parishioners. The boy is a potential danger to others. It's not his fault but the danger exists. The priest would be irresponsible to others if he allowed the boy to be with the other parishioners.

This mother is being unreasonable. It sounds like she's in denial. Autism can be mild but it sounds like this boy is severely autistic.

The mom should be arrested.

I was at a high school choir concert and there was a youth in the audience who had some sort of mental illness. Every few minutes he would bellow something out at the top of his lungs. Needless to say, it completely spoiled the mood of the event for me.

I noted to my boys that we don't always realize how the success of public gatherings depends on the cooperation of hundreds of people who form the audience. It seems that today, political correctness, has decided that the wishes of a few parents are more important than the success of these events.

Needless to say, get one of these kids in a class and the rate of learning approaches zero.

Charlie Manson is God's Child. So are the meth baked, pshyh med skipping lunatics you hear about running through the streets naked with swords. Just because they are God's children, we should be tolerant of dangerous disruptive behavior? I suppose we should also hand Usama Bin Laden a bible, invite him to mass and hug him because that would show God's love and our tolerence too? Come on...

Just to make my position clear...

My own children had a time in their lives when they bellowed things out--completely unaware of the effect of their noise on others, and completely indifferent to the disturbance they caused.

Of course, they were god's children, and I loved them dearly. But, I respected the world around me, and did not bring them places where they would wreck it for everybody else. Fortunately for me, their condition was changed as they grew out of infancy.

Wheaton MOM wrote:

If the child cannot attend traditional services, it seems that the church should at least try to minster to the family in another way. I agree with Ben G.
As much as many of these so called Christians want their perfect little service with only perfectly healthy and sound minded congregants...Jesus ministered to the poor and the sick...the very people not permitted in the Temple. Jesus didn't reject based on disability.
If my son isn't welcome somewhere then neither am I. If I am not welcome than neither is my money. If these churches really are the houses of God then they would bend over backwards to help this family somehow. I don't want any part of any religion or any God that views my son as a burden rather than a blessing.

Did you hear the part about how they've offered to either simulcast the service or come to the family's home? Sounds like they've already tried pretty hard to accommodate a potentially dangerous man/child.