A Question for You:
Physicians aren't the only people in hospitals that round on patients. Most hospitals have clergy that visit the patients, too. They even write notes in the patient charts. So, here's the question:
Which is the scarier image:
A group of people in white coats standing around your bed going 'Hmmmmmmm....'
Which is the scarier image:
A group of people in white coats standing around your bed going 'Hmmmmmmm....'
or
A priest walking into your room saying 'Hey, whassup? Uhhhh, hey - do you believe in God?'
posted by Mikey at 6:46 AM
7 Comments:
Everytime I post, now, someone posts comments trying to hawk their stoopid products, such as bird-feeders or get-rich-quick books. So, I've had to turn on word verification to make sure that only humans can comment here, not any of those spambots.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
well, honestly? I don't believe that a priest would approach the patient like that. If you've heard of someone doing that? then that's really out of how they are trained - but whatever. Priests always get a bad wrap, and so the catholic church.
anyway, I find that highly unrealistic, but if it did happen then, it's just very ... inhumane in putting their agenda before actually seeing the person first. That sounds more mormon or missionary Baptist than not-numbers oriented faiths.
I must've misread that or misunderstood it - but that would be my opinion on the matter in the context that I read it. Hope things rae going well for you - made it to Arizona. I'm so at peace and content. Thanks for supporting me in going after it.
kat
Well, I was kinda being flippant. Didn't mean to slight the clergy - they also carry about them a very professional demeanor around the hospital.
But you're right, there's a right way to do things, and the medical team are usually the ones to deliver bad news - the patient would never hear it like that.
Also, the patient's religion (if applicable) is listed in their patient chart, so I believe that the services are offered or requested to the patient - I don't think the priest would just walk in uninvited.
From what I've heard (could be wrong, this isn't something I know much about), it used to be that doing hospital work was kind of on the low end of priest jobs. I mean, it was starter-stuff, until they got up to getting a church to work in. But now there's such a shortage of priests to even cover the churches, that I'd be amazed if they've got people with time to spare for people who aren't parishoners needing near-the-end counselling.
If you do run into them doing their jobs, I'd be curious to see what they say to you.
Not that the rectal exam stuff isn't fascinating, of course. I've thought of over three witty one-liners to finish this, but I'll spare you....
Interesting. I suppose that having one's own parish would be more lucrative, but my thinking is that even having a shortage of priests doesn't necessarily lead to an increased hiring rate. Finding the right match between priest and parish is can be quite complicated and can take years.
And my impression is that the hospital clergy don't just visit the terminally ill - they'll speak to anyone. Which is good - patient's love talking most of the time - it's either that or lie in bed and watch daytime TV.
actually, matching of priests to parishs doesn't really happen - they get assigned by their diocesan bishop to whichever parish is deemed a fair match to their skill level, particular set of those skills. and then four years later - up to twelve - all diocesan priests are shuffled around to the different parishes within the diocese. Integrating, of course, those newly ordained as pastoral vicars(assistant managers if you will).
Having a parish still puts you in the hospital making hospital visits, especially to those who are in your parish - as well, all area priests (those within a certain area of two or three hospitals) take rotating call. Whomever needs a priest will get one. Doesn't matter if that person is from your parish or not, if he's on call after hours then he's going to go.
Anyway, that's my area of expertise for ya lol
just in case anyone was curious-
kat
Thanks for clarifying. I should have known that the Catholic church had a more formal way of doing things, in contrast to my parents' church back home which gets to hire their own pastor.
Anyway, I do see several priests walking the hospital corridors, and they do tend to just walk into the rooms randomly - not in a totally invasive way, mind you, and they're carrying quite a bit of literature.
I like their notes: "Spoke with patient, prayed for him, with 'Sacrament of the Sick' (formerly missnamed as 'Last Rites')" or something like that.
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