Vatican prelate calls for solidarity with autism sufferers, family members
April 02, 2014
On World Autism, Day, April 2, the president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care has released a statement calling for support both for those suffering from autism and for their families and others who care for them.
Cardinal Zygmunt Zimowski said that those with autism should not be isolated from society. While autism creates great difficulties in communication, he said, support and care—aided by “true understanding and acceptance of this illness”—can help. The cardinal said that the Church will strongly support efforts to promote understanding of the disease and care for families affected. In November, he announced, the Vatican will sponsor a conference for health-care workers dedicated to autism.
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Posted by: ElizabethD -
Apr. 03, 2014 9:25 AM ET USA
In my local area Catholic Charities provides some autism services, but they are not Catholic in nature, for instance they promote yoga as an autism therapy. I don't think the staff are Catholic. The problem is broader than this though, there is a serious lack across the board of mental health and developmental disabilities services that are truly appropriate for Catholics. And I don't there is necessarily a good knowledge of these conditions among actual Catholic leaders.
