A court order banning someone from church? What was that thing about prohibiting free exercise of religion?
Yall read the article.
The Rev. Daniel Walz, who did not return calls left at the Church of St. Joseph parish office, wrote in court documents that Adam's behavior was "extremely disruptive and dangerous." He alleged that Adam, who is more than 6 feet tall and weighs over 225 pounds, spits and urinates in church and has nearly injured children and elderly people.
It sounds like the church doesn't want them there. It's a trespassing/restraining order issue.
I was outraged by the title and the first few paragraphs. After reading the whole story I can understand why the pastor did what he did. It’s sad but understandable.
"Race said that even though her son... sometimes acts up in church, the experience benefits him."
This ring any bells to ya?
Alarm bells go off even if you don't read the rest of the story...
>>The Rev. Daniel Walz, who did not return calls left at the Church of St. Joseph parish office, wrote in court documents that Adam's behavior was “extremely disruptive and dangerous.” He alleged that Adam, who is more than 6 feet tall and weighs over 225 pounds, spits and urinates in church and has nearly injured children and elderly people.
In an affidavit, Walz wrote: “The parish members and I have been very patient and understanding. I have made repeated efforts through Catholic Education Ministries, Caritas Family Services, and most recently, sought to try and mediate the matter with the family to ask them to voluntarily not bring Adam to church, but it has been to no avail.” The Diocese of St. Cloud said in a statement that the restraining order, issued May 9, was “a last resort.”
Race said Walz’s descriptions of Adam's behavior illustrate that he understands little about autistic behavior and how to address it. She said that Walz used language like “urinate” to describe an incontinence problem that Adam sometimes has which is no worse than that an elderly person or a young child might have.
Adam's parents sometimes tie his hands and feet with fabric restraints, which Race said is a technique used by other families and school personnel who work with autistic children. At Sunday's service in Browerville, Race said Adam participated in the service, kneeling with the congregation and accompanying family members when they went up front to take communion.
Carol Race said that her husband, John, attended mass at St. Joseph's on Saturday evening without his family and had stayed home Sunday morning because the family wanted to ensure that one parent would be available to care for the children if Carol were arrested.
The restraining order will remain in place for one year.
The Races haven't decided whether they will attend another parish. “My primary focus is to do the right thing, according to what God wants me to do,” Carol Race said. “Without church every Sunday, my family life would have fallen apart. This is what sustains us.”
Sheriff Mikkelson said he sent deputies to Sunday's service in case the Races tried to violate the restraining order.
“It was an uncomfortable thing, and we didn't want to get involved,” he said. “She heeded our warning. Now, hopefully, this will get resolved through our courts.”<<
Aside from yelling, spitting on people, urinating in public, and getting into other people’s cars and revving their engines, he is no problem.
OH yes: and he runs fast knocking down those in his way...
normal 2 year old behavior...except he is 200 lb and six foot.
Parents were asked not to bring him, but they stood on their rights to put others in harms’ way.
Maybe because I spent 8 years working at an institution (when they still exisited) I can appreciate how dangerous these kids appear to others...even though those of us who worked with them know the behavior is harmless...usually...I’ve also seen a lot of our staff injured.