About

The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) was established in 1982 to foster implementation of the Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on People with Disabilities. Passed unanimously on November 16, 1978, this prophetic document calls for welcomMother and Father lead their two daughters up church aisle in offertory procession at mass.e of the now over fourteen million Catholics who live with disabilities. It states that these persons must be able to participate in the celebrations and obligations of their faith, and advocates for their inclusion "within the total fabric of society." NCPD likewise promotes implementation of the Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities, approved by the U.S. bishops in June 1995 to provide pastoral guidance on sacramental access for people with disabilities. In addition, NCPD is guided by the policy statements and resolutions passed by the NCPD Board of Directors. (See NCPD Board Resolutions.) This mission of inclusion for disabled persons moves forward through a national network of diocesan level leaders called by their bishops to address access and inclusion within parishes (see Diocesan Directors map link on home page).