A critical analysis of a theology of disability in the Australian Catholic Church: a qualitative study into contemporary inclusionary practices

This thesis examines the role of the Australian Catholic Church, its leaders and its relevant agencies and organisations in advocating for and welcoming people living with a disability into the life of the Church. It is intended that this thesis will go beyond issues of accessibility and definitions of “disability” and instead explore developments and tensions in the Australian Catholic Church’s response to issues of disability. It is clear from the literature and the qualitative interviews examined throughout this thesis that, at the rhetorical level, the Australian Catholic Church accepts, welcomes and advocates for all people regardless of their intellectual or physical abilities. This inquiry seeks to investigate the relationship between this rhetoric and actual substantive efforts towards inclusion of people living with a disability. It finds, based on the lack of substantive evidence revealing actual inclusionary practices, that there is a significant contradiction between the policy rhetoric and practice. To this end, it will be argued that the Australian Catholic Church is not engaged in sufficient practical action to foster and support communities to genuinely welcome people living with a disability and to enhance their sense of belonging to such communities. While acknowledging some good work being conducted by individual Church agencies, based on the evidence accrued from the qualitative data gathered for this thesis, it is the contention of the researcher that there are few tangible, consistent or concrete strategies or actions towards inclusion and genuine belonging that one can point to in day-to-day practice in the Catholic Church community. It is a central concern of this research to open up a conversation, dialogue and debate that might bridge the gulf between the policy rhetoric and practice, and so foster more positive inclusionary approaches and substantive change in this area of Catholic Church life.