Being Blind in a Christian Church

Note: The following views do not represent my view, but that of the one interviewed.

Beth is blind from birth and was raised Roman Catholic. She says Catholics helped with the poor, imprisoned, food etc. The Church even sent her food, during the pandemic. However, The disabled are often underconservatorships / guardianships, and thus, can't marry. This was the case with Beth, until 2020, when she was emancipated from it. Since the Church frowns on premarital sex, she says the relationship with her live in partner was a subject of ostracization. 

Beth was RC, then Muslim. The mosque was ableist, according to her. Then another church had all male leaders. She says a pastor called her a "whore", and "sexually deviant". She was voted out for living with her partner.

Beth claims disabled women are at a "high risk" of rape, because they are frequently not married to their live in significant others, and in  certain Christian communities, that makes them a prime target. 

Churches serve wheel chair users, but often not the autistic or blind. Her friend lost benefits, when married, so that was a warning sign for her. Beth had a commitment ceremony, not a legal marriage, because of her partner's health care being lost, if they did wed. 

Churches often think a blind couple shouldn't marry, further complicating the issue of marriage. Also, weddings are often expensive, and often, the disabled did not have family support of their marriage. 

Beth plans to have a baby. Nonetheless,  the church doesn't understand that they would end up in poverty, if they married.

The SSI rate in Denver is low for married couples. If Trenton, (her partner) and her don't have babies, they want to adopt. Marriage is sometimes required for adoption, and there is frequent discrimation against the blind. 

To support a potential child, she says, " A call center job just is not with enough benefits", so couldn't support baby. Family leave isn't good, so they couldn't get that, especially since finding a job is hard, for the blind. 

"Churches don't even want to serve disabled people." Beth and Trenton go to a Unitarian Church. "They want us to take mass transit, which is how we got bed bugs. All transit should be cleaned of bugs.l, but aren't, in Colorado." So the church helping with transit would help, both with attending services and church social events.

Inside church walls,  audio devotionals are often available, but not audio or Braille Bibles. Worship songs are on a screen, so are not accesible. 

In short, Beth says there needs to be an improvement in how churches treat the disabled. She has essentially left Christianity, because of the mistreatment she received.