Catholic Guild for the Blind A Survey of the Services of the Only Catholic Specialized Agency for the Blind of the Diocese of Brooklyn, 1945–1955
Abstract
In the light of history, how did society look upon those without the gift of sight? Society has regarded and treated the blind in three different ways---as liabilities, as wards and as members of the group. In the early days when struggle for survival brought individuals together to form a tribe, any member who was unable to completely contribute to the fighting force of the group was a liability. He would, therefore, be eliminated. For many centuries, the position of the blind fell into this liability status. Although this regard of them was widespread and of long duration, the growth of monastic religions brought about a marked change. Blind persons were given a right to live and the right to be protected. The early church looked upon them as its special wards and throughout the Middle Ages the blind, together with children and the aged, were considered as preferred recipients of charity.The end of this period came when an increasing number of blind individuals proved to themselves and to their contemporaries their capabilities and talents by outstanding achievements. Their accomplishments brought about public recognition and devotion to some degree which eventually led to pioneering in the education of the blind.
Subject Area
Multicultural Education|Religion|Religious history|Social work
Recommended Citation
Hamrah, Louise Anne, "Catholic Guild for the Blind A Survey of the Services of the Only Catholic Specialized Agency for the Blind of the Diocese of Brooklyn, 1945–1955" (1956). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI31050521.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI31050521
