Those of us disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivities are unable to attend many public places, including church.
Post by guest blogger Bonita Poulin.
On Saturday, July 4, radio talk show host Drew Marshall will we covering the topic of scent-free churches. His website describes the segment like this:
Should Canadian churches be perfume free?
We had a lady contact us from St.John’s, Newfoundland, who feels that “the Church is guilty of systemically excluding Christians because of certain illnesses and disabilities.” She says that no other media is willing to tackle this topic and wants to know if we will. Well, by golly we’re gonna tackle it. Do you think that all churches should be perfume free? Now there’s a good politically correct Canadian predicament, isn’t it??
Here is what I wrote to him in response:
“I found your comment about scent-free churches being a “politically correct Canadian predicament” insulting! This has nothing to do with political correctness but everything to do with the need to accommodate disabilities and disabled people having the same rights and freedoms as anyone else. Those of us who are disabled by Multiple Chemical Sensitivities are unable to attend many public places, including church, because of all the hazardous chemicals present, including the fragranced products on others. If you don’t think these products are hazardous, check out this study: Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients
“People with MCS have been poisoned by chemical exposures and as a result have damaged detox pathways leaving us vulnerable to even the slightest exposure. The Canadian Human Rights Commission has stated that MCSers must be accommodated and yet we are not! Personally I am an atheist, so this particular issue does not affect me, but when our rights are being trampled, I feel compelled to speak out!”
Let’s let Drew Marshall know this is NOT a Canadian “Politically Correct” issue. This is life and death for some of us.
The MCS show is on Saturday, 1:00 -5:00 EST. You can listen to live streaming radio on Internet or the Radio JOY 1250, it should be good reception in Ontario.
To call into the Live Radio Show of Drew Marshall, dial (905) 338-1250 on Saturday, July 4th, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm EST, to make your views known about Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and scent-free policies in churches.
Is the Church “SENSITIVE ENOUGH” about this issue?
Link to The Drew Marshall Show website.
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Bonita Poulin is an activist in the MCS community and is the Canadian coordinator for MCS-Global, an organization dedicated to MCS awareness based in Australia.
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