Disability Ethic/Preferential Justice: A Catholic Perspective

Disability Ethic/Preferential Justice: A Catholic Perspective

Project Summary

Disability is a global reality about which too few give thought until they, a family member, or friend experiences disability first-hand. As a result, people without immediate experience or regular encounter with persons with disability remain unconcerned with this largest and most diverse minority across the globe (15% of the Earth’s population). Disability Ethics/Preferential Justice engages the work of social scientists, their conversation partners in humanities and health sciences, scholars in systematic, moral, and ecclesial theological disciplines. The book introduces disability basics, realities, and etiquette; reviews landmark contributions of the United Nations and World Health Organization; and utilizes theological traditions on the Trinitarian basis of the imago Dei, Natural Law, Catholic Social Teaching on the option for the poor/marginalized, and the imperatives of disability inclusion for the Church and the world.

Facts & Figures

15–20%

of the Earth's inhabitants are persons with disabilities.

  • Disability does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, geographic location, or socioeconomic status.
  • Most people with disability report they are happy with their lives and frustrated with the lack of access to most public facilities.
  • Similarly, attitudinal barriers prevent many persons with disability from opportunities to develop friendships with the non-disabled.
  • Most people will in their lifetimes experience disability, and more readily available accommodations of functional access broadly now will serve a grateful populations in the future.
Psalm 85 by John August Swanson

John August Swanson. "Psalm 85." April 22 (Earth Day), 2003

Author