How Are We Called?
May-June 2014
Faith grows only when it is stretched.
Since the moment Pope Francis first appeared on the balcony at St. Peter’s, he has been engaging the world. He energizes us and at the same time challenges us to actively participate in our faith. Most of us would rather practice our faith within the safety of a little box, where the Christian call is as clear-cut as praying the rosary, lighting a candle, and attending Sunday Mass. Pope Francis asks us to move beyond the walls of the Church and be a true witness to Christ in the world. Like many faithful people, I always thought most issues had simple answers; however, after having a child with a disability, I realized that when the Christian call intersects with the real world, things become more complex—life isn’t that simple.
Consider the pro-life cause, perhaps the most clear-cut issue imaginable. It’s not enough to believe that children with disabilities have a right to be born. Their needs impose a heavy financial burden on their families: therapies, surgeries, orthotics, and so on. We have a moral obligation to support life at all stages, even when it requires societal intervention that runs counter to ideals about self-sufficiency.