‘Totally humiliated:’ Blind man and service dog turned away from South Carolina church
Since moving back to Bluffton a month ago, Taylor Burch has been trying to make the town his home.
Finding a church to love and accept him and his service dog, Independence, is part of that.
On Sunday, Burch, who is 29 and legally blind, was turned away from LowCountry Community Church on Buckwalter Parkway, he told The Island Packet on Monday afternoon.
The church has said it did nothing wrong. Churches and synagogues are exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Burch’s mom dropped him and Independence off at the church, which is just down the road from their home, and members greeted him at the door. After Burch and Independence went inside, someone helped him to a seat in the cafeteria.
Moments later a man with a name tag approached Burch and led him into a classroom.
He shut the door.
“You can’t have that dog in here,” he said to Burch.
“He was questioning me like he didn’t believe me,” Burch said. “I was totally humiliated.”
Burch left, immediately called his mother to pick him up, and sat on the patio until she got there.
The entire interaction, he said, lasted five minutes.
“I was sad,” he said. “I was frustrated. I was in shock.”
Burch said he and Independence have never been turned away from any establishment, including the church in Charleston he attended before moving to Bluffton. They’ve been to movie theaters, football games, restaurants and Christian concerts.
He would like LowCountry Community Church to change its policy.
“Not that I would go back to this church,” he said, but in the future, people who require service animals should be able to go in and worship.”
He said the church has not apologized, but continues to reiterate that its policy does not allow animals of any kind, citing potential problems such as loud music and bright lights.
Burch’s sister, Tiffany, shared a photo of him and Independence on Facebook hours later, describing what happened to her brother. The post garnered more than 1,700 comments and 2,000 shares as of Monday afternoon.
Burch’s mother, Lisa Willingham, said the incident was heartbreaking.
“He lives with me, and part of the reason we came back was so he could be in a safe community,” she said through tears. “That was shattered yesterday.”
Alright
y’all time for a rant. You see this handsome man here and that adorable
guide dog. Today my legally blind brother and his guide dog were asked
to leave Lowcountry Community Church in Bluffton, SC. Now, I understand
that churches are exempt from having to abide by ADA laws in regards to
service dogs. I’m not disputing that.
I am however in disbelief that a place that teaches love and acceptance would not allow a person like my brother with his very well behaved and in...
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I am however in disbelief that a place that teaches love and acceptance would not allow a person like my brother with his very well behaved and in...
See More
After the incident, LowCountry Community Church’s Facebook page received about 70 new reviews from people saying they do not recommend the church.
The church responded to some of the reviews with the same three paragraphs.
“Because of the various needs of the large number of people visiting LCC every weekend; LCC does not allow any animals in any of its facilities. Due to ADA Title III, this has to include all animals, including service animals at all LCC events.
“LCC’s facilities are not safe environments for animals, even service animals. This decision was made with the safety of everyone in mind.
“Everyone is welcome to worship God at LCC, and there are a team of volunteers who are trained and willing to help anyone who needs assistance.”
The church responded to some of the reviews with the same three paragraphs.
“Because of the various needs of the large number of people visiting LCC every weekend; LCC does not allow any animals in any of its facilities. Due to ADA Title III, this has to include all animals, including service animals at all LCC events.
“LCC’s facilities are not safe environments for animals, even service animals. This decision was made with the safety of everyone in mind.
“Everyone is welcome to worship God at LCC, and there are a team of volunteers who are trained and willing to help anyone who needs assistance.”
17 comments:
The blind refusing the blind.
Yes dogs should be allowed when possible, that my opinion for pets. Especially for places that have a significant tourist population. Service dogs should be allowed as a matter of law, not accommodating those animals is discrimination. Its the same discrimination as not making a building accessible to a wheel chair, or providing handicapped parking.
At one of the venues at which I sing, a member of the congregation would bring his spaniel who would lie down with his head on his paws and remain in this posture throughout the Mass, without uttering a sound.
He was a very devout dog and obviously appreciated the traditional Roman Rite. Sadly, he is no longer with us.
One related thought Some members of the congregation will be allergic to dogs. I am uncertain how you accommodate both. Any thoughts?
TJM, that would extend to the dander on the clothes of the folks who leave the dogs leashed out front so I don’t think it would matter except in the smallest chapel.
Service dogs, yes. Pets, no.
Notice the reason given by the church- the lights and sounds. In other words, this isn't a Mass (and I wouldn't expect one in a church like this), but it's a show. Let's bring in lights, fog, special effects! Yes, those can surprise and alarm even well-trained service dogs. However, who's being worshipped in services like this, God or us?
Create a service that worships God and not Oz, and then you won't have a service that could potentially spook service animals.
I suppose the pet prohibition would include snakes?!? Lots of those critters in the Low Country! Probably still have some country churches where the preacher picks up a rattlesnake and...well, you know the rest of the story! Wonder if there were any animals at the Last Supper?!?
Michael of VA is right, would not expect a Mass at a place like that---unfortunately, few denominations in the Protestant world observe communion on a regular (weekly) basis. Even here in Atlanta, two of our (relatively) "high" Methodist churches ("high" in the sense there are robed clergy, processions and a central altar) only celebrate the Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month in their main sanctuary (although you can receive communion in side chapel on the other Sundays). With the Baptists, it may only be quarterly...
Fr Fox, what about my parrot? He can accurately provide every response, he just can’t hold hands for the “Our Father”. He also demands his cracker on the tongue but kneeling is an issue as his knees are backwards. Oh, and he once whistled at a woman dressed inappropriately as discussed in a previous thread. The only really embarrassing part is when adds things I left out during confession.
Bee here:
Wouldn't it seem that a person who was really interested in religion and worshiping God would want to go to a church regardless of whether they allowed his service animal or not?
Are some people just trying to make test cases of these situations, generating outrage on their own behalf as a form of activism? Maybe not this guy, I don't know, but all these people making a huge deal out of very small inconveniences for an individual seem to be just trying to blow up the society in favor of an individual's preferences.
For instance, in this case, I bet the members of that church would be happy to assist him while he is there...getting in and out of the seats, guiding him to whatever social area there is, helping him meet people and be involved, and waiting with him until his mother or someone comes to pick him up. So why, if his purpose was really to attend services and be a part of that community would he not make the adjustment and not bring his service dog if they said no? Why do his desires and what he thinks is in his best interest supersede the interests of the entire community? If they say okay to service animals, does that mean the purse Yorkie or comfort alligator are welcome too?
I've sat next to someone on a plane once who had a service animal. That pretty big dog laid beneath the guy's seat the entire 2 hour plane ride and did not make a move. You wouldn't even have known the dog was there unless you saw him board with it.
I personally don't have a problem with true service animals that are trained for the blind or those with epilepsy of being in churches. But I think a church has a right to ban them, while making sure the person attending services is helped in every way the dog helps them.
God bless.
Bee
One time in Rome, I saw a women walk into a renaissance era Basilica (Chiesa Nuova), she had a small terrier on a leash. She tied the dog to one of the posts in an altar rail and went to confession. The dog sat patiently as she confessed. It was a beautiful sight.
"Wouldn't it seem that a person who was really interested in religion and worshiping God would want to go to a church regardless of whether they allowed his service animal or not?"
No.
The man in the story is blind. His service dog gives him the dignity of not having to rely on guiding him helping him meet people, holding his hand till his mother came to pick him up, etc.
Would you ask a person in a wheelchair to leave the chair at home and allow members of the congregation to carry that person up and down steps or stairs, in and out of bathroom stalls?
I just saw where Arte Johnson, the comedian who played the German soldier on "Laugh-In", has died at age 90. I read his story, "very interesting . ."
It seems to me this could have been handled much better, yes, allow for service dogs (and kittens), not pets...
Bee here:
If this man's dignity is dependent on having his service dog with him in a church, he has far bigger problems than blindness.
God bless.
Bee
A man's dignity doesn't come from a service dog. It comes from the independence that the service dog allows him to enjoy.
If you can't see that, you have bigger problems than dogs in churches.
Bee,
You realize you are dealing with Mr. Snark, clericalism on steroids K!!!
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