The Lucky Pumpkin

On a walk this evening, we bumped into a neighbor we haven’t met yet. The conversation turned to schools, and she told me some bad things about the catholic school. She said that she pulled her kids years ago because of a poor principal. So I told her that I was considering the school, but probably won’t let Anna go there because they won’t take Emily. I also added, “Wouldn’t you think that would be the place above all others that WOULD teach a disabled child?” I was so surprised at her quick and decisive answer of, “No!” After putting down the school two minutes before, she went on and on about how they can’t afford to do it. Blah, blah, blah! That is code for, “This is the best excuse we have ever come up with! If we say it is finances, we can get away with being prejudiced without appearing that that is what we are doing!” Like I have said before, if there is a commitment, it WILL happen. I don’t want to be like “The Secret,” but it is true that if you believe it can happen, it will. Henry Ford said, “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right!”

I think that she represents the majority of people in the church. They feel that everyone should be like them, and to be different is a bad thing. Well guess what, folks? Emily is different. She has more compassion in her little finger than ten of you have combined. Her Down syndrome is a blessing, not something to be shoved away, shunted to the public schools. She deserves everything that every other child has, including opportunities at education. What surprised me the most, was that her attitude was basically that Emily didn’t deserve the education, that it would be a waste to send her there. The truth is she DOESN’T need them THEY NEED HER!!! She is more spiritual than any of them. I don’t worry about her spiritual education at all, I just want her to be in a loving community of people who openly and actively love God. I guess I am learning that the Catholic Church is NOT that community.

The saddest part for the church, is that this neighbor was talking about how much money the church was in the hole, and how bad things were. I told her that if they started a program, more families would come, and it would pay for itself, or even make money. She really wasn’t interested in that, just like most of the people in the church. (What’s that? I am proving that you really are just prejudiced and elitist? That it is not a money issue when I can show you that it would MAKE money?)

So, I ask myself, “Why am I even trying?” Is family tradition that powerful and important? Is the love and approval of my in-laws that important? (Or, in other words, is keeping my father-in-law from dying from disappointment that important?) My wise piano teacher, Sr. Aimee, said that to change the church, you must do it from the inside. True, they won’t change for outsiders, but I also think that the church won’t change until it is forced to change. (That means when it is losing enough money.) I don’t think that will happen because there is a sucker born everyday who is all too happy to buy into the zealous harshness of the church, and will be too happy to give their money to feel like they have an excuse for their hatred.

What’s next for us?  Episcopal Church, anyone?