La asociación Asprodes Plena inclusión Castilla y León ha expresado su «profundo malestar y rechazo» ante las declaraciones del obispo emérito de la Diócesis de Alcalá de Henares, Monseñor Juan Antonio Reig Pla, durante la homilía celebrada el 11 de mayo en la Basílica de la Anunciación de Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Alba de Tormes (Salamanca), en las que atribuyó la discapacidad a una herencia del pecado.
During his intervention, Monseñor stated that «also for children born with physical, intellectual, or psychic disabilities; this is already an inheritance of sin and disorder of nature,» a statement that the mentioned collective, through a press release collected by Europa Press, considers «deeply offensive, stigmatizing, and completely removed» from the inclusive society model they defend.
From Asprodes, an entity with over 60 years of experience dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, they recall that disability is not a punishment or a moral consequence, but rather has organic and biological causes (congenital or genetic) and must be understood from the perspective of human rights, equal opportunities, and the full recognition of the dignity of each person.
«We deeply regret that in a space of spiritual contemplation and celebration, messages perpetuating stigmas are broadcasted, and we believe that the 21st-century Church should review its language and attitude to align with a truly inclusive and respectful vision for all individuals. Therefore, from Asprodes, we publicly reject any discourse linking disability to sin or moral disorder, we assert the equal dignity and value of all individuals, regardless of their abilities: we invite Monseñor Reig Pla and the ecclesial community to firsthand experience our work model centered on respect, inclusion, and full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life, including the spiritual dimension, and we reaffirm our commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive, and more supportive society,» Asprodes concludes.