The National Catholic Partnership on Disability sets forth the following framework as a guide to the Church’s ministry for and with people with mental illness:

• HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED. EVERY PERSON IS CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE
• SINCE ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, THEIR DIGNITY AND WORTH CANNOT BE DIMINISHED BY ANY CONDITION INCLUDING MENTAL ILLNESS.
• SUFFERING IS REDEMPTIVE WHEN UNITED TO CHRIST.
• WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST.
• THE WORD OF GOD AFFIRMS THE DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE. INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS.