Faith Communities and People with Intellectual Disabilities in The Netherlands: A National Survey Among Chaplains

Abstract

This article presents results of a 2021 survey among 49 chaplains in the Netherlands. Chaplains working with people with intellectual disabilities observe that the involvement of faith communities with their clients is declining. Although most of the chaplains have structural contacts with churches or mosques, they signal a need for an increased involvement to the benefit of their clients and to their own advantage, as a support for several aspects of their work (services, projects). Cooperation agreements of chaplains with churches focus on religious activities while clients are in need of buddies.