Headline of the Week Weak
Filed under: Headline of the Week
"Minnesota Church Files Restraining Order Against Autistic Parishioner"
He's not allowed to come to mass…because he's got autism and acts up! CLICK HERE to read the article accompanying this headline.
Church Files Restraining Order Against Autistic Parishioner
A Minnesota church is coming under fire for the way it's treating one of its parishioners.
Adam Race, 13, and his family did not go to mass at Bertha's Church of St. Joseph Sunday morning like they usually do.
The Todd County Sheriff told Adam's mom if she did take him to St. Joseph's, she would be arrested.
St. Joseph's has filed a temporary restraining order against Adam. In a statement, Father Dan Walz said he filed the petition as a last resort out of "a growing concern for the safety of parishioners".
Adam is severely autistic. He is home-schooled, and has attended St. Joseph's his whole life. He is also more than six feet tall and weighs more than 235 pounds.
In court documents, Father Walz said Adam's growing size makes it harder for his parents to manage his behavior during mass. Father Walz said Adam struck a child, bolts unexpectedly from church nearly knocking people down, including elderly people.
He said Adam also spits and urinates during church.
Carol Races said those allegations are either exaggerated or false. She said Adam is not angry or violent, he has never spit in church, and that on rare occasions, he has been incontinent.
Carol blames Adam's worst behavior, revving a church member's running car after mass, on a lack of accommodation from the church.
"They don't understand how the mechanisms of autism are working at the moment of these disruptions and so forth," Carol Race said. "And I want to point out that in the last couple of months Adam has been perfectly well-behaved. So that's what's shocking to me."
Carol said sometimes Adam is noisy and must be restrained during mass, but she said her family always sits in back and leaves church a few minutes early.
A hearing has been set on May 19th in Todd County Court.
firsttt
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Um pushing over old people and urination is a cause for banishment. Stop trying to be "nece perez". So phony
Ok this really makes me mad. I have two children with autism. If this boy was in a wheelchair drooling on himself it would be fine. If anyone wants to attend church they should be allowed. We are all of Gods children I thought!
sad
I understand the concern for this kid to be unable to go to mass. BUT the Priest is concerned about the safety of the others! I think the church is justified in their actions. There are other ways for him to attend mass and receive the Eucharist. It's an unfortunate situation.
i am appalled– i understand the church protecting the safety of others, but it is common practice in schools and other "public accommodations" that they provide equal access to all according to his or her ability. these laws are on the books and are written to protect the rights of members of our community who cannot provide for themselves. to deny this family access to their church and their spiritual salvation is criminal. shame on them.
okay that is so wrong, they should just let him in church..
wrong
!!!!!!!!!!
sick people…thats fucking stupid
THIS IS FUCKING DISGUSTING.
hey jessica…..go fucking kill yourself for your ignorant comments
Dude I live here, he takes several full grown men to restrain and pees in church. I'm sorry, home service would be a better option.
this is fucking sick :[ this world needs some help
This is terrible.
first! that's awful.. i know he acts up but this is discrimination.
FIRST
That's sad!
STFU retard!
I wouldnt want that fucker around anyways
this is absolutely ridiculous
god loves him just as god loves everyone
thats just sick! jenny mccartney is gonna be sayin somethin about this for sure!
first????…
I agree with the decision to keep him out. Seriously, it's for the wellbeing of others. People keep saying that "oh, he's autistic, so it's ok if he pees everywhere and knocks over elderly people".. no thanks.. that's just plain stupid.
No compassion from the church. That's what happens when you are Catholic. If everyone knows he moves quickly without looking around (typical autistic behavior) why don't they let him leave first. And I bet he is not the only one to ever have an incontinence issue at church. I wouldn't even want to go back to that church.
I'm sure this is EXACTLY what Jesus would do. I almost got hit by an old lady in a parking structure the other day. Should we ban that bitch from Target?
As a mother with 3 children / teens on the Autism spectrum; I WOULD NEVER think I had a right to take my kids ANYWHERE where they may interfere, harm, destroy property, disrupt the intent of a meeting or activity. This woman's interview is filled with statements about "God's love" yet she is showing NO LOVE for the other people who want to come and enjoy the service while taking responsibility for her child's behavior. Her child is huge, can be violent, and she takes NO STEPS to make him where clothing that will soak up the urine instead of putting it on the floor. She is TOTALLY in the wrong here.
First bitchs!
Thats pure Bullshit
I heard about this. Too bad they don't mention that the church provided a separate mass for them to attend privately, and the mom said no. Also, they did not mention that to calm him down his parents often sit on him (not a problem) but the problem is when he pulls young girls to sit on him for no reason. Too bad the article didn't mention any of that.
I believe church should be a place where everyone can go safely, but when safety is an issue, the church needs to protect all, including this young man. If he goes out and starts someone else's car, which he has done, and drives off in and crashes, who's fault is that then?
Perez, I had no idea you were an autistic parishioner. G-d bless you!
How sad. I can't imagine how hard it would be to take care of a son who has so many problems. The whole situation is sad.
Re: Djuna – go fuck yourself dude, YOUR GOING TO HELL FUCKHEAD wheather you like it or not, he deserves to be at church, n your a fuken christ reject!!
Well with everything in our sociaty going the way it is, this is another example of no true love in church and no true understanding. The church should have helped the family not hurt it. I will never understand why people use church as a crutch anyway, and nothing can be done, they are exempt from true justice…this is a true BS story!!!
I am the parent of a 9 year old autistic boy. He acts up when he gets impatient (like sitting in church). He's starting to become somewhat aggressive to other people and if he's made to sit in a spot (he never sits still for more than 15 seconds throughout the day), he will cry, and yell at the top of his lungs until he's allowed to get up and roam. My point is, there's not a chance I'd bring my child to church unless it were a special mass that was targeted towards people with special needs. The other parishioners have a right to be at church and not have to sit through a 45 minute mass unable to hear anything because of one child. Of course I feel the same way about newborn children who cry throughout a mass. Let's face it, the child isn't getting anything out of being there, there's no way he understands what is being said of what the purpose is of being there. If the god of that church couldn't understand that, would you really want to worship him at that church anyway?
[[[[[[[[[[[ I luv autiztic people..terretz ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
…they can be alot of fun..they are Godz chozen…
zzzzzzzzzhillary bitchez…shez the only one who beatz mccainz
This post is retarded…
I'm sorry, but for the safety of the parishioners I agree with this. Honestly, he struck a child and pees in church? He doesn't have the right to attend church at the expense of all of the other people attending. If he is this autistic and this disruptive, hard to restrain with no attention span, he is probably not getting much from the mass anyway. If he's not getting anything out of it then it is for the sake of the parents, not the child, that he attends. And it is THEIR fight, not in his best interests. Sad. Parents of any children, even special needs children, need to recognize that not every single situation is necessary or appropriate for their child or for the people around them.
And this part: "Carol blames Adam's worst behavior, revving a church member's running car after mass, on a lack of accommodation from the church."
OK… talk about lack of parental responsibility? A 13 year old severely autistic child was allowed by the parents to rev the engine of a running car (which could have ended up disastrous) and yet it was the CHURCH'S fault for lack of accomodation?!?!?!
THIS IS DISPICABLE. They should be fucking ashamed of themselves.
This kind of shit is why I left the catholic church….fuck that preist.
It makes NO SENSE to allow this boy, in a GROWN mans body to use his body size against others to do harm, intentional or not.
He has been offered home service and even a special mass just for his family. They were given the restraining order and violated it WILLINGLY AND REPEATEDLY.
Discrimination?? There are NO LAWS that tell churches who they can and cannot allow. Separation of Church and State sound familiar?
If this family cannot control him then they shouldn't force others into possibly being physically harmed by attending services with others present.
That's a very sad story and a very difficult life to lead. The church should find a way to accomodate him. Poor baby. That's heartbreaking.
That is so fucked up. Now I know why I don't follow religion. Pricks.
Why do people go to church? Stay home, God is not just found in churches! All parishioners should stop going to that church.
That's my problem with churches and religions in general: Most of them are too intolerant for my taste!
WHY WOULD A CHURCH DO THAT? THE ONLY REASON I CAN SEE IS IF HE WAS A THREAT TO OTHERS. IT'S SAD BUT IT CAN HAPPEN!
Uggg, Minnesota is getting such a bad rap in the media lately; between the hunter who didn't know the difference between a turkey and his kid, and now the church who won't allow all "God's children" in, it makes us all look crazy! But I assure you all, most Minnesotans are "normal" (like the Lohans, hee hee)!
Re: outrageous! – It's not criminal, because a church is private, and they can "discriminate" against anyone they want. Sad, but true-it's the same for any private institution.
That is really rude……
What type of church leader would do that…….a stupid one…
Bless his soul….I'm talking about Adam…..
As a mother of an autistic son, this disgusts me. Jessica - go f*** yourself…
Djuna-
I think you are the one with issues. God made each person in his own way.
If you understood this. Wake up during church buddy!
People don't always come in neat little packages. If he's disruptive, then he's disruptive, sometimes life is inconvenient. There's a way to allow this man to worship and have faith, it's not that complicated. I don't think God would look kindly on excommunicating anyone of His followers. It's shameful.
I heard about this story, the priest told the parents he can come to church but stay in another room. This kid was pulling female parishonrs on his laps, starting cars, and being phyically violent. He was disturbing the church and putting the other people in danger. The church tried to work with the family but they insisted he go to the regular mass. They didn't want to work it out so the church had no choice
As a mother of an autistic child I feel the pain - but I am trying to be objective, autism is a poorly understood disorder.
Imagine when you are out, every drop of a pin, a voice, a car driving by is magnified 10 times more….
Imagine not being able to look at a person and see that person in his/her entirety
Imagine seeing that person in bit or parts - an eye, a mouth etc
Everything in our world is confusing - our speech is like a foreign language
Imagine you are a person with feelings - love/anger/ sadness/ happiness
This is autism - we need compassion and patience not arrogance and intolerance …autism may not be a bed of roses but it is life and life is beautiful.
I think it's totally fair for the rest of the people attending the masses.
If yo cannot manage the beast, sedate him or leave him home. Sorry!
Re: caitlyn –
Exactly. This article is very biased. If the church offers a separate mass for the child and his family (WHICH THEY DID) and the mother refuses this (WHICH SHE DID) then what is the church supposed to do?
this is disgusting, this is that boys community, his religion. if that church is not willing to help him find what his family believes to be 'salvation' this boy is autistic not a monster
Why would the parents want to put themselves or their kid through such stress? I was forced to go to church as a kid and I acted up because it was SO BORING. The kid would probably be happier staying at home…..maybe that is what he's trying to tell them.
They should let him attend the mass in a cage.
this is so disturbing to me as a mother of a son with autism. I can't even gather my thoughts to write a decent comment. What I want to say is that people and children with autism already have it hard enough and feel shut out from the rest of the world. This family was trying to have some normalcy in their child's life. This is why i do not believe in organized religion, they are the most judgmental and hypocritical people I have ever met. Fu*ck that church.
Re: jessica –
nice*
first of all you should spell check before you post something that will be seen by millions.
second, he doesn't have autism by choice, and he can't control his actions, and he can not see what he is doing wrong.
the church should be accepting and not turn anyone away who is looking towards God.
Interesting! If the church's allegations are accurate, then they have the right to act on this. If the mom is in the right (and I doubt that that is the case), then the church is discriminating. Either way, this will be a fascinating story to follow. Update when there is more news, Perez. I love your reports on things like this…it really balances out the celebrity smut.
I'm not quite sure why people are saying this is wrong…….He is over 6 feet and weighs 235 pounds. He hit a child He knocks old people over……….he is a danger to everyone else in the church, even though he is autistic. Autism doesn't give him or the family the right to put over a hundred other people in danger, it's not a 'free pass' his family has the responsibility to make sure others are not hurt by this very large autistic child. They were offered the chance to watch the services in another room, to keep others safe while allowing the 6ft 235 lb autistic kid to participate in church. They denied therefore putting everyone else at risk. Autisim doesn't give them the right to allow children and the elderly to be injured. Yes, shame on them, not the church for offering alternitives for keeping EVERYONE safe, but shame on the family for thinking they have the right to endanger everyone around them just because their hulking child was diagnosed with the "a"word. All that means is they have the responsibility to protect others from his "behaviors" not excuse his "Behaviors" Take the option to watch from a different room if it is that important for you to take him to church every Sundey, Take the home visits that were offered to participate in the Eucharist, DON"T think autism gives you any extra rights over everyone else.
You wouldn't be so quick to support the kid being in church if it was your grandparent who was shoved or got pissed on.
Re: makesnosense – IT makes no sense to allow this boy to do harm to other people or not? Hes autistic you stupid idiot! He has no ability to comprehend right from wrong as easily as we do(or i should say everyone but yourself sense your to ignorant to comprehend anything thats different) He doesnt have the ability of common sense or often times self control like most autistic people do. This is the parents responsablity to judge the situation and act accordingly wheter to find a different way more suitable for him or not go at all. They need to take into account his needs and not their own. And next time educate yourself before you open your big mouth…idiot.
discrimination isn't a valid arguement - its a private place, they can't let anyone in or out.
he is like a loaded gun - would you want a gun in your church that randomly fired every 5 minutes? no. his mom can't control him & he hurts others, he is a danger to the general public. do home worship.
That is so wrong! God does not discriminate against anyone. I don't understand how people that say they are worshiping the lord could be so arrogant! The boy has every right to be there to praise the lord. god is the only one who can judge, but i personally think this is very wrong.
Perfectly well behaved for someone WITH a autistic child is one thing… perfectly well behaved to people with normal children is different.. i am sure this kid does shit that the parents don't pay attention to , that is a nuisance to everyone else…
good for the church stepping up… sorry but if the kid is a problem, pissing spitting etc.. then he has no place out in public.. sorry … he should not become EVERYONES problem.
This does not surprise me. Unfortunately, most Christians I've met are anti-gay, right-wing (even though religion is supposedly not involved in politics), they are pro-white, making them the biggest racist group I've ever encountered. This is why I stopped going to church. I'm not saying they are all like that, but the majority I met are not interested in helping other…….only in helping themselves. Truly disturbing.
I worked in a rehab and we had mass and some could not go. The Priest would go to them and blees them and it sad but true. Some not all have no control and can hurt you. I know people who have been hurt!
Just leave the monster HOME.
Dumbasses!
were all gods children. the hate in this world today is so sick. people need to grow up
This is not the first time this has happened to autistic child. My brother, who is on the autism spectrum (with Asperger's Syndrome) was asked to not attend mass for several years due to his behavior. It is sickening that a child is banned from a place where everyone should be accepted, no matter what their disability is.
one
sssssssssss
He was a threat, sad but true. Why would his parents put him in that situation? He doesn't know how strong he his and could hurt you. It does happen!
Ya
I look forward to getting hit and spit on when I go to church!
they were offered to get mass at their home but they refused. its about safety. if he's hitting other ppl and his parents can't control him then something has be done
That is horrible! Most churchs have a place from nosie children. And as long as he hasn't gotten into a fight, there shouldn't be a safety concern. That church just wants to "justify" thier decision.
that's messed up. it's church he should be able to attend .
that is HORRIBLE. they should ban him from the church he is a child of God just as much as the rest of us. if i went to that church i would start going to a different one. that is horrible
It is true that developmentally disabled and autistic persons should have the same rights and opportunities as all others, with the EXCEPTION of when it affects and can cause harm to others, because that is being discriminatory AGAINST the other people going to church or doing whatever else. This goes for anyone who openly displays the capability to cause harm or disruption in any environment, especially someone who is unpredictable in their actions. Wonder why he is homeschooled and not in a school that mainstreams people with disabilities??? Uhhh, probably because he is a threat to the other children, being that he is larger than the average man at age 13. The church should not be regarded separately from the same reason he is not able to be in a school environment–I bet there is a contradiction here.
Re: kp – it doesn't make sense to allow him to hurt other ppl even if he is autistic. ppl are supposed to just allow him to hit them or their children just because he's autistic? i don't think so. i get that he can't help it but that doesn't mean ppl should just have to sit around and deal with it.
Did God create this child? Doesnt God say to love all and NEVER judge? Well isnt this what this priest is doing. Its not fair to ban him from church where he may feel at home etc. He cant help if he urinates its out of this control this is how God created him and what the church is doing to him is discrimination.
If safety is an issue then thats understandable. Hopefully a compromise can be reached.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! How about posting some contact information for this "church"? This child is handicap and cannot be punished or banished because of his disability. And, Jessica…God FORBID you ever have a child with Autism….
I have a child who is on the Autism Spectrum, and honestly, I will never take him some place where I feel his behavior won't be appropriate. No, he's not severely Autistic, but he is far from perfect and I can't even imagine taking him somewhere where he was expected to sit down, pay attention, and BE QUIET for an hour or more…church included! We're not church-goers, but the couple services we've been to since he was born, we've sat in 'the crying room', so if he did act up, it wasn't a big deal.
I agree with the other parents who say this child's mother is completely in the wrong for laying blame on the church when as a parent of an autistic child, she knows damn well how he is likely to behave in church, and she takes him anyway. From what I can gather, this church has gone above and beyond to accommodate him in other ways, and his mother will not allow it. What does his mother expect? For them to just allow her child to make a scene and disrupt services every week? Yeah, right.
I can't even fathom the lack of respect for other people it would take for me to take my son to church and just let him 'be himself'—to run amock, screaming
How very unchristian of the church.
most of you saying "this world needs help" why dont you all help the world rather than say it. You guys are so ignorant and narrowminded. Pleasee research autism and learn something rather be a jackass and say "omg so disgusting get away from me" damn yo i hope you guys are still not in first grade.
I THOUGHT THAT ALL CHURCH PARISHIONERS WERE AUTISTIC? WOULDN'T YOU HAVE TO IN ORDER TO BELIEVE ALL THAT CRAP THAT IS FED TO YOU?
SERIOUSLY, THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT AN ELDERLY MAN CIRCLED THE WORLD AND COLLECTED 2 OF EACH ANIMAL AND PUT THEM ON A BOAT. I MEAN, COME ON!
BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I have a child who is on the Autism Spectrum, and honestly, I will never take him some place where I feel his behavior won't be appropriate. No, he's not severely Autistic, but he is far from perfect and I can't even imagine taking him somewhere where he was expected to sit down, pay attention, and BE QUIET for an hour or more…church included! We're not church-goers, but the couple services we've been to since he was born, we've sat in 'the crying room', so if he did act up, it wasn't a big deal.
I agree with the other parents who say this child's mother is completely in the wrong for laying blame on the church when as a parent of an autistic child, she knows damn well how he is likely to behave in church, and she takes him anyway. From what I can gather, this church has gone above and beyond to accommodate him in other ways, and his mother will not allow it. What does his mother expect? For them to just allow her child to make a scene and disrupt services every week? Yeah, right.
I can't even fathom the lack of respect for other people it would take for me to take my son to church and just let him 'be himself'—to run amuck, yelling at the top of his lungs (because nothing is ever quiet with him, even if he's just talking), or screaming if he's not allowed to do so!
Yeah, no. This child's mother was entirely in the wrong here. She should be grateful her church has gone so far to be accommodating.
Why don't they just sedate him with something before taking him to church? He doesn't sound that happy to begin with. We do it to our children all the time, but heaven forbid someone suggest something like that for a handicapped adult.
Who do you people think you are labeling this boy as a beast and saying to tame him?
If you don't understand Autism or have never expierienced being around someone with it then don't even comment!
Yes the church has a right to say who can and cannot visit only because they are private. And the family should take up on the private mass, if church and mass is what they REALLY want. He does not have the right to hurt others and urinate in church it is the parent's responsiblity to control that and prevent that from happening and if they can't then try something else like a private mass. END OF STORY
The kid is disruptive and dangerous! His mother is nothing but a publicity whore. The church offered to have service at their home or place him in a private room with a tv, but NOOOO, she wants him where everyone has to deal with him.
I dont' blame the church one bit. He should be arrested. People have the right to pray in peace, and not have it turn into a zoo.
He clearly is an atheist, and his mother should be praising the lord that he got out of that place!
I would start acting a fool too, if I had to sit and listend to fairytales every sunday!
THIS FUCKING KID PEES IN CHURCH AND KNOCKS OVER THE ELDERLY. HE MAY HAVE A MENTAL DISORDER BUT THAT BEHAVIOR IS JUST ANNOYING TO EVERYONE.
HAVING AUTISM IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR POOR BEHAVIOR!!!! Like any other child, children with autism need discipline and they do infact understand right from wrong if their parents are teaching them instead of treating them like their stupid. Children with autism are NOT stupid, they can be extremely perceptive, so these parents should have criminal charges placed against them for not properly teaching or restraining their child. Its funny how hes supposedly "TOO AUTISTIC" to understand he needs to sit still and be respectful to others, but hes not "TOO AUTISTIC" to run outside and start a car!!!! SHAME ON ANYONE WHO WOULD ADVOCATE TREATING AN AUTISTIC PERSON AS IF THEY WERE SOMEONE ABOVE THE RULES!! The church should file a suit against these parents for their nasty behavior, and all the parishioners voices also need to be heard.
It's easy to condemn people at a church that we do not intend. I am sure that some of you who are sooooooooo sympathetic would feel differently if he was peeing on you or hitting your kid. His mom has a ridiculous victim mentality. Go to a private mass and stop trying to get publicity.
okay honestly…everyone thats hardcore against the church's decision must have only read the headline…yes he may be autistic and that's really sad that he has to live with that..but when his disability starts inflicting itself onto others and disrupting their service, thats completely unfair…..the church is trying to make everyone happy by offering a personal service to his family as well..so in what way is this discriminating at all? his family is there to worship so it shouldn't matter if theyre with the rest of the congregation or not…his parents just want headlines and money
I understand that he is a danger to others….but just sit him in the back? People that have autism deserve the right to attend mass just like everyone else. He can't help that hes suffering from this disability!
OOOOHHHH NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!
typicial church going ppl u r not to judge or be assholes but those fuckers {the church going ppl} r going straight to hell!!!!!
hopefully in a really nice handbag!!!!!
Re: Bobby – totally agreed!
Jesus would weep over what his supposed people are doing. A whole church of people are not going to jesus's heaven for sure