What image of God do we present in our Christian communities? This question lies at the heart of A Handbook in Ten Steps, written by Father Stefano Buttinoni. If we truly believe that Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, and that he described his Kingdom using images like a banquet open to the most marginalized people of his time, we must draw clear conclusions about how we live and act. We should recognize that we do not always do this—neither in our parishes nor in our hearts. But rather than judge or discourage, Buttinoni charts a path for us to examine ourselves and one another, so that we might realize the Kingdom we have been promised. A path of ten steps. Ten actions aimed at opening the heart of every Christian community to encounter—in this case—disability. Buttinoni has chosen to dedicate himself to this experience, which carries the risk of exclusion, because life has placed it alongside him. He has chosen to let himself be guided by it, as the younger brother of Roberto, a person with a disability. And because it speaks most powerfully to what it means to be human and to what image we hold of God's perfection. The many encounters that followed—above all his meeting with Jean Vanier and the movements he founded, L'Arche and Faith and Light—led the priest to seek a different vantage point from which to understand God and to share that understanding. He looked for theological approaches that could make God comprehensible in the world as we actually live in it, and in doing so, open that world to hope. It is no accident that Buttinoni proposes a theology from disability rather than about disability. Throughout the book, clear biblical references interweave with threads drawn from his long experience with various communities and movements—the Scouts, Unitalsi, Caritas, and others—and with the wisdom of teachers like Jean Vanier. The many episodes he recounts, both positive and negative, give substance to his words. Ten steps, beginning with the recognition of an absence, moving through invitation and responsibility, and arriving finally at belonging and reciprocity. In this shared body described by Saint Paul, each member rejoices and suffers with every other part.
The book began as a self-published work, but has now found a publisher. We hope that publisher will be able to improve it further in matters of form and presentation. We cannot fault the author for inconsistency here—he has already put one of his first suggestions into practice: the important thing is to begin the journey, even when not every detail is perfectly planned.
This book is self-published and available only on Amazon.