BERTHA, Minn. — Carol Race thinks it’s important for her 13-year-old son to be in church on Sundays for Catholic Mass.
Leaders of the Church of St. Joseph once felt the same way, but not anymore. They say Race’s autistic son, Adam, is disruptive and his erratic behavior threatens the safety of other parishioners, and the church has obtained a restraining order to keep Adam away.
“My son is not dangerous,” Carol Race said. The church’s action is “about a certain community’s fears of him. Fears of danger versus actual danger,” she said.
In court papers, church leaders say the danger is real.
The Rev. Daniel Walz wrote in his petition for the restraining order that Adam — who already is more than 6 feet tall and weighs more than 225 pounds — has hit a child, has nearly knocked over elderly parishioners while bolting from his pew, has spit at people and has urinated in the church.
“His behavior at Mass is extremely disruptive and dangerous,” wrote Walz. “Adam is 13 and growing, so his behaviors grow increasingly difficult for his parents to manage.”
Carol Race said Walz’s claims are exaggerated.
“He’s never actually injured anyone,” she said. “He’s never knocked down anyone. He’s never urinated on anyone or spit on anyone.”
In his court petition, Walz said that after one service Adam got into another family’s car, started it and revved up the engine while there were people in front of the vehicle.
“Adam’s continued presence on parish grounds not only endangers the parishioners, it is disruptive to the devout celebration of the Eucharist,” Walz wrote. “I have repeatedly asked John and Carol to keep Adam from church; they have refused to do so.
“In fact, Carol told our parish council that she would have to be dragged from church in handcuffs if I tried to keep Adam from attending Mass,” he wrote.
Carol Race was cited for attending church May 11 in violation of the restraining order, and faces a hearing today. She says she can’t afford a lawyer and will defend herself in court. A lay mediator is scheduled to meet with her and church board members on Wednesday.
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It is more severe in some people than others. Adam has limited verbal skills.
Walz did not return calls seeking comment, but Jane Marrin, who works for the Diocese of St. Cloud and is acting as a spokeswoman for the parish, said the church board tried working with the Races to find “reasonable accommodations.” That included offering a video feed of Mass that could be watched in the church basement.
The family refused all suggestions, she said.
“It’s a difficult issue,” Marrin said. “There are no easy answers.”
Carol Race dismissed the church’s suggestion that Adam watch a video feed in the church basement, saying that “does not have the same status as attending Mass. Otherwise we could all just sit home and watch it on TV and not bother to come in.”
“It’s considered a sin in the Catholic church not to attend Mass on Sundays and every holy day of obligation,” she said. “And that’s what this is about. I’m just trying to fulfill my obligations.”
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