Professor Tom Shakespeare on the Topsy Turvy Topography of the Kingdom of God

Dr Tom Shakespeare, Professor of Disability Research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, delivered the 2024 Craigmyle Lecture on Tuesday evening.

Baroness Sheila Hollins, President of the Catholic Union, chaired the event held at the Royal Society of Medicine in Wimpole Street.

Entitled: 'Make a level path for my feet: disability equality, and love' Professor Shakespeare's informative and witty lecture explored the challenges faced by people with disabilities and encouraged the audience to take a fresh look at the entire issue.

He began: "First, everyone is welcome: In the Parable of the great feast in Luke 14, 21, the servant is instructed to "bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame." And if we're not there, it's not a proper feast. And we are welcome as we are. I know in many places Jesus cures people with all sorts of mental and physical impairments. But I do not think we should today be trying to cure people. I don't think we are called to cast our devils or look for miracles. Because I think we are not looking for a cure like that. To be embodied is to have limitations of body or mind. This not just about disabled people: it's about everyone. Eventually we die. Everyone. I am not saying we are all disabled. I am saying we all experience limitations."

Professor Shakespeare commented on the difficulties of finding basic things like good signage and good wheelchair access on public transport or in buildings. He pointed out that probably half the people in the audience were wearing glasses. Something we take for granted - yet without glasses many of us would not be able to do our work or travel.

Second, he said "I want to remind you of the principle of 'nothing about us, without us', which means if you want to know about disability, why not ask disabled people? If you want to accommodate disability, why not ask disabled people? If you want to make provision for disability, why not ask disabled people? Third, make a level path: smooth out environmental and social barrier."

These barriers of access and attitudes and discrimination are a large part of why disabled people are twice as likely as people without a disability to be unemployed. He urged us to approach helping people in a different way, so that it is seen as solidarity, not as charity, and so that we can still be equals.

He praised the L'Arche communities, DEEP projects (Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project) and other self-organised groups for people with various mental or physical conditions - which really function because of mutual respect and solidarity.

There was a discussion about how caring solidarity had an intergenerational cyclical dimension to care - where over time, we are all carers and cared for at some time in our lives.

Baroness Hollins, President of the Catholic Union, said: "Tom is indeed a farmer of thoughts and we are very honoured that he delivered the Craigmyle Lecture. He gave us much to consider especially the concept of caring solidarity which should break down false barriers and encourage each and everyone's contribution, all as equals. The concepts of caring for and caring about are central to the way we love one another".

The Topsy Turvy Topography of the Kingdom of God2024, sponsored by CCLA and collaboration with University of Birmingham and Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, is the Catholic Union's annual flagship lecture, giving a platform to a prominent public figure to talk about a matter of importance to Christians and wider society in this country. Some of the previous speakers have been Dame Rachel de Souza, Baroness Hollins, Lord Bird, and Sir James MacMillan.

Lord Craigmyle (Donald) was a former President of the Catholic Union after whom the lecture series is named. The current Lord Craigmyle attended this year's lecture and spoke briefly about the history and legacy of the lecture.

LINKS

The prepared transcript of the lecture can be read here: https://catholicunion.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Craigmyle-Make-a-level-path-for-my-feet-Catholic-Union-Shakespeare-speech.pdf

Catholic Union: https://catholicunion.org.uk/