Pastoral Relationship with People with Intellectual ... - Theses

203discounted by dint of the disability construct being accorded the status of theshaper of human identity.When people with a disability are not regarded as whole, autonomousbeings the implications, in terms of human value and regard, are profound from amoral, theological and socio-political perspective. As Clapton indicates, “somewho fail to be full, autonomous persons are excluded from full moralconsideration and significance, are unprotected by any theodic considerations,and can be at risk of vulnerability and disposability." 541In seeking to relate honestly with the people for whom I care and toreflect with integrity upon the narratives I bring an understanding that the peopleunder consideration are whole persons who each subsequently live with their ownsocially and medically understood disability. It is from this perspective that Irelate to the other as a whole, fellow human being and not as one who can beregarded as less than fully human.I do not relate to the other as a medically-constituted problem in need ofrehabilitation, 542 nor as a tragedy unable to attain some acceptable level of humanfulfilment by dint of intellectual limitation. 543 I relate as a fellow human being,acknowledging that I am in the presence of one who can, in their unique way,give and receive love. I am in the presence of one who I can assist in theirrelationship with God and who, conversely, can assist me in my relationship withGod because we are both created in the image of God, and are loved by God.541 Clapton, “A Transformatory Ethic of Inclusion,” 57.542 There is a significant body of literature that critiques disability in terms of medicallyperceivedproblem, or medically-regarded inferior being. Amongst more contemporaryliterature see,Campbell, Gillett, et al. Medical Ethics.Clapton and Fitzgerald, "The History of Disability," 2-4.Goggin and Newell, Disability in Australia, 23-24, 56, 107.Swinton, Resurrecting the Person, 106.Titchkosky, "Disability in the News."543 The concept of disability as medically and bio-technologically constituted tragedy isconsidered in detail in,Clapton, “A Transformatory Ethic of Inclusion”.Clapton, "Irrelevance Personified."Clapton, “Disability, Ethics, and Biotechnology”.Clapton and Fitzgerald, "The History of Disability."Goggin and Newell, Disability in Australia, 23-29.Newell, Christopher. "Otherness, Virtue and Ethics Committees." The Mix 9, no. 6 (2004): 4-5.Thomas, "How is Disability Understood?"Common to such texts is the linking of disability as tragedy to the liberation theologyconcept of oppression and subsequently, liberation/emancipation.