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Church Documents

Featured Resources

Fr. Justin Glynn

#TheChurchIsOurHome Vatican Video Series

Priest kneeling to interact with children with disabilities

Welcome and Justice  for Persons with Disabilities

A Sunset

Mental Illness: A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of California

Picture of Sacramental Guidelines booklet.A person holding a golden chalice with the title of the sacramental guidelines above.

Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, revised edition

Dark church with three stained glass windows and 3 golden stained glass chandeliers hanging on each side

Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities

Pope John Paul II speaks into a microphone from a seated position, bent a bit.

Letter to the Elderly from John Paul II

A Sunset

Mental Illness: A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of California

"Those living with a mental illness should never bear these burdens alone, nor should their families who struggle heroically to assist their loved ones.  We Christians must encounter them, accompany them, comfort them and help bear their burdens in solidarity with them – offering our understanding, prayers, and tangible and ongoing assistance." - Hope and Healing: A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of California on Caring for those who Suffer from Mental Illness Addressed to All Catholics and People of Goodwill
Picture of Sacramental Guidelines booklet.A person holding a golden chalice with the title of the sacramental guidelines above.

Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, revised edition

Dark church with three stained glass windows and 3 golden stained glass chandeliers hanging on each side

Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities

This USCCB pastoral statement (1978) uses language to describe disability that is now outdated. Read the NCPD document, “Speaking of Disability: Pastoral Guidelines on Language” for information about appropriate language. November 16, 1978
Fr. Justin Glynn

#TheChurchIsOurHome Vatican Video Series

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has published a video series #TheChurchIsOurHome, on persons with disabilities and the Synod. 
Priest kneeling to interact with children with disabilities

Welcome and Justice  for Persons with Disabilities

A Framework of Access and Inclusion A Statement of the U.S. Bishops
Pope John Paul II speaks into a microphone from a seated position, bent a bit.

Letter to the Elderly from John Paul II

Read this October 1,1999 letter from His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the Elderly.
Older man on a couch with a younger man on one side and woman on the other, all smiling.

The Dignity of Older People and their Mission in the Church and in the World

The Contents for this 1998 Pontifical Council for the Laity document: Introduction Meaning and value of old age The older person in the Bible Older people's problems are the problems of us all The Church and older people Guidelines for the pastoral care of older people Conclusions
Gospel of Life

Evangelium Vitae study guide, USCCB

Picture of chalices during the consecration

USCCB Resource: "Celiac Disease, Alcohol Intolerance, and the Church's Pastoral Response"

Read this resource from the Committee on Divine Worship Newsletter, October 2012.
Vatican sculptures of saints with blue sky in the background

Most recent letter from CDF regarding low-gluten hosts and mustum:Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 2000

"Circular Letter to all Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences  concerning the use of low-gluten altar breads and mustum  as matter for the celebration of the Eucharist"
A sign language interpreter and a child in a wheel chair at Mass

2014 Vatican Talk: Animating Hope in Christian Communities throughout America

"The question before us is whether individuals with autism and their families experience this dignity and love within their faith communities.  Do they feel of 'inestimable value…masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever?' iv Are they truly 'willed…loved…and necessary'v as proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI?" - Janice Benton
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Partnership on Disability

Advancing the Meaningful Participation
of Persons with Disabilities in Church and Society

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