BOB ABERNETHY: In this week's cover story, we consider the millions of Americans who struggle to have a life of faith, but who have physical, sensory, or mental disability. Many of them want to do more than just attend religious services; they want to participate actively, even take leadership roles in their places of worship. Judy Valente reports from Chicago.

JUDY VALENTE: A few years ago this would have been an unusual sight, a retarded man attending church. Houses of worship had been for the most part ill prepared to meet the spiritual needs of the physically and mentally challenged.

Ms. GINNY THORNBURGH (National Organization on Disability): The biggest obstacle were people's attitudes about those of us with disability. It was making a decision about us ahead of time that you can't participate, that we can't be a leader in our congregations, that for some reason we're inept or inadequate.

VALENTE: Many houses of worship are finding ways to meet the physical needs of people with disabilities who want to attend services. What's more difficult is to meet the needs of those who want to do more than attend, who want to actively participate.

Ms. ELIZABETH BROWNE: They thought it would be too awkward, that I would make things look clumsy, awkward, whatever.

VALENTE: Elizabeth Browne, who is blind, wanted to be a lector in her neighborhood church, to read biblical passages during the Mass.

Ms. BROWNE: I wouldn't be taking away from people's spirituality by walking up there and maybe somebody having to show me where the podium is. Somehow it's so different that they don't like it.

VALENTE: But Elizabeth was accepted as a lector at the chapel on the campus where she teaches.

Ms. BROWNE: "If the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ye who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to immortal bodies."

I feel I get a chance to proclaim, to read the Word to people. Every time I've read, the words will stay with me for days and days.

"We are not debtors to the flesh."

I want to be an active part, a real part of the community, not just a person sitting in the pew. That's one thing I can do.

The word of the Lord.

Congregation (In Unison): Thank you, God.

Unidentified Priest: The Vatican, too, has called all people, not just the clergy but all people, to have a more proactive position in the life of the Church.

VALENTE: A priest is instructing parishioners who want to learn to be ministers of communion. Among them, Tim Marshall, who has no legs.

Mr. TIM MARSHALL: My parents had always given me one great gift, and that's my faith.

Unidentified Priest: When it comes time for the distribution of communion ...

Mr. MARSHALL: You want to get involved as much as you can with the church and with the community, and I found that being a minister of communion was a way to share in the actual part of the Mass, which is so important to me.

Unidentified Priest: We do have a ramp for the disabled, but our project is, the renovation thing isn't complete.

VALENTE: That means Tim has to remain separate from the other communion ministers because his wheelchair can't navigate up to the altar.

Mr. MARSHALL: I feel a little out of place. I feel a little not with everybody else.

VALENTE: It is four weeks later. Tim is about to act as communion minister for the first time.