The parents of a severely autistic 13-year-old boy in Bertha, Minnesota, are facing a restraining order from their priest because the boy’s behavior was “disruptive and dangerous,” court documents say.

Carol Race, the mother of the autistic boy, named Adam, found out about the restraining order when she tried to attend mass at the Church of St. Joseph, where she usually went on Sundays. Unfortunately, Todd County Sheriff Pete Mikkelson appeared in her driveway to warn her she would be taken into police custody if she and her son entered St. Joseph.

It seems that the Rev. Daniel Walz said the Race’s son, who weighs at least 225 pounds and is more than 6 feet tall has a “disruptive and dangerous” behavior. Moreover, Adam spit and urinated during services and once struck a child, court documents write. Therefore, he is very worried about his parishioners.

Carol Race completely refuted these claims and stated that Adam may be noisy at times, but they usually sit in the back of the church and try to stay quiet. She also said that the restraining order amounts to outright discrimination.

“He said that we did not discipline our son. He said that our son was physically out of control and a danger to everyone at church. I can't discipline him out of his autism, and I think that's what our priest is expecting,” Race said, the local Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

The priest’s attitude towards the child’s disorder raised protests among autism advocates. Pat Mellentin, executive director of the Arc of Minnesota, which advocates for the disabled said, “In most cases, families and churches do find a solution that works for them. And in this case, unfortunately, that didn't happen.”
 
Race was set to appear in court Monday after receiving a citation for breaking the restraining order after bringing Adam to St. Joseph.