Religious Inclusion and Silent Exclusion: Deaf Congregants’ Experiences in a South African Township Catholic Parish

This article examines the paradox of religious inclusion and silent exclusion experienced by deaf congregants in a South African township Catholic church. Drawing on a qualitative case study involving a hearing priest, a South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreter, and three deaf parishioners, the study analyzes how access to worship is mediated, uneven, and structurally fragile. Whereas the provision of sign language interpretation signals institutional recognition, inconsistent availability, linguistic variation, and the auditory orientation of Catholic liturgy constrain full participation. Deaf congregants employ adaptive strategies—including situational awareness, visual cueing, and mobile technologies—that demonstrate agency but impose unequal cognitive and spiritual labor compared to hearing congregants. Integrating insights from Deaf studies, disability studies, and disability theology, the article argues that genuine religious inclusion requires more than interpretation; it demands the reconfiguration of liturgy in SASL and the promotion of deaf leadership within ecclesial life. The findings highlight the need for institutional transformation beyond accommodation to realize full spiritual belonging.