The Paralympics: The human body in all its potential
(Vatican Radio) With the Olympics and Paralympics fast approaching the Catholic Church
in England and Wales this week held a conference and a national day dedicated to disability.
The London conference, entitled 'EveryBody has a place', was attended by 160 people
from all denominations interested in the centrality of disability in the Christian
experience. The national day called ‘Now is the time to be friends’ set out to explore and celebrate the gifts of all people while offering theory and practice in the context of the topics of disability, theology and sport.
“Well it was very very important that this (conference) took place for us” says the Catholic Co-ordinator for the 2012 London Games, James Parker who adds that the Paralympics demonstrates the great dignity of the human body.
“That lasting image of this summer’s games won’t necessarily be the Olympians with their Gold Medals but will be the Paralympians and not just with their bronze silver and gold medals but with the efforts and energy they put in to try and use their God given potential to the full. So, these are the lasting images that young people will have and this speaks to us about several things, its about the dignity of the human body itself”.
James Parker goes on to say that Blessed John Paul II provides a shining example of how “ God can manifest his own glory through our bodies irrespective of what stages the body is at”.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games run from the 25th of July to the 12 August 2012. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with James Parker.
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