On the whole, the majority of churches in Malta and Gozo are accessible to disabled persons in wheelchairs despite there still being some exceptions. When we come to parish halls, however, the situation leaves a lot to be desired.

For instance, Paola Lourdes church is still non-accessible to those in wheelchairs. There could be a ramp on the outside of the church in Brittanja Street as a solution.

The Paola Christ the King parish hall in Ġuzé D’Amato Street is still non-accessible to those in wheelchairs. This hall is part of a basement with a ramp leading to the entrance door above. But, and here is the irony, the threshold leading to this ramp is so high that no disabled person in a wheelchair can have access to the ramp.

In fact, those in wheelchairs seen in church refrain from going to Mass when it is celebrated in this hall due to the threshold problem.

This hall is used also for other religious activities.

The Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act 2000 (EOA) (Chapter 413) makes it illegal to discriminate against disabled persons in the areas of education, employment, physical accessibility, access to goods, services and facilities, housing and insurance.

The Catholic Church in Malta, which has the disabled at heart, should see to it that all churches and parish halls are accessible to one and all.

In this day and age there should be no need for disabled parishioners to complain to parish priests about such a basic right.

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