Spare the Rod, Spoil the Special-Needs Child?

I went to 7:30 Mass this morning, which to many people is crazy. Many people would be right.

However, doing so not only fulfills my Sunday obligation as a Catholic, but it also frees up the rest of my day to watch football.

Besides, the priest’s homilies are shorter and Communion takes about half the time, because not as many people want to get up that early.

Anyway, there I was sitting in the pew during the homily, when I heard a voice call out from the other side of the church.

“Yes!” and then, a few moments later, “Good! Good!”

“Oh Lord,” I thought to myself, “one of those ‘call and response’ loonies.”

Suddenly, I heard clapping. I looked over and saw a boy standing up, his hands continuing to clap.

He looked like he was in his teens, and he also looked like he had special needs. I felt bad. So I tried to ignore him.

So there he stood, clapping, when an older gentleman next to him started to escort him out of the pews and toward the “cry room.”

The “cry room” is exactly what it sounds like. If you have a crying baby or rambunctious toddler, the “cry room” is where you can take them so the rest of us don’t have to be subjected to their racket.

However, the “cry room” is visible through glass walls, so you can see anyone sitting in there.

So the man escorted the boy into the cry room, and they both walked toward the back. Suddenly, the man turned around and appeared to strike the boy.

I jumped up from my seat and looked around to see if anyone else had noticed.

It was early in the morning, so there is a slight possibility that my mind was playing tricks on me. I guess?

Nah. No fucking way.

That’s some bullshit right there. I can understand if a kid is acting up during Mass and his or her parent pops them on the leg to get them to be quiet.

I don’t AGREE with it, but I understand it.

However, hitting a special-needs kid? Seriously?!

Read: Fuck. That.

If I had done what I THOUGHT about doing, though, and marched into the “cry room” and given that man something to cry about, I wouldn’t be sitting here writing a blog post about it. Then I’d have to wake my wife up to come bail me out of jail.

I called and left a message for the Parish Administrator, and I’m going to follow up tomorrow.

If you don’t have the self-control to keep you from hitting your special-needs child DURING MASS, then, in my humble opinion, you don’t have any business supervising children. Teen or not.