Kentucky Archbishop Joseph Kurtz who leads the archdiocese of Louisville shared an incident when he faced a six year old girl’s question. He replied for the question when a little girl asked him,’ why was my brother born with autism?’
“Well, you know when you and I get to heaven, and I hope we both do, we have a lot of questions to ask. One thing we know we don’t have to ask is that you and I will be changed because of the love we have for our brother. That’s the gift you can already begin to say ‘thank you God’ for,” the archbishop has answered. He spoke from his personal experience. His older brother, George, was born with Down Syndrome. He is also the primary reason why the archbishop serves as episcopal moderator for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.
The archbishop highlighted that those who spend time with people with disabilities would receive more than they give. The Church herself appreciates the beauty of every human person. So the dignity of every person relies on the greatness of God’s eyes. Hence the Church teaches and treats each person as precious, he added.