D
In the last few of months hospital chaplains show up in John's room. For the first eight weeks, unless I was there, they really had no one to respond to them. John was out of it. A few weeks ago, a priest stopped by and ended up asking John how it happened that he is Polish but left the Catholic Church. John was delirious then, so no telling how he really answered, (although he is polite to strangers), but he told me he was thinking, "I read the bible?"
Truthfully, I find the entire occupation of hospital chaplain bizarre. You have to play PC for any belief system. You have to be supportive and accepting of whatever the patient believes, even if she thinks Rocky the Squirrel is God and Bullwinkle is Vice God. I get it's their job to pray and comfort patients, but how comforting is it when they promise to pray to god when you're not even sure they know him?
And, so far, I met one reverend that wasn't Catholic but still wore a dark-colored priest shirt, so I'm guessing maybe he was episcopalian? (I didn't ask.) I've seen the priest in the corridors but haven't talked to him. And, we had one powerhouse of a woman who was about 4'8" but I got the distinct impression she was sweet and kind, but no one wants to mess with her. (You know the type. She usually is "Mom" to every kid in the neighborhood, right down to always having fresh homemade cookies, but moonlights as a drill sergeant. lol)
We were polite, but really didn't use their help, since what help could they provide anyway?
So, have you ever used one? Would you? And why?
Truthfully, I find the entire occupation of hospital chaplain bizarre. You have to play PC for any belief system. You have to be supportive and accepting of whatever the patient believes, even if she thinks Rocky the Squirrel is God and Bullwinkle is Vice God. I get it's their job to pray and comfort patients, but how comforting is it when they promise to pray to god when you're not even sure they know him?
And, so far, I met one reverend that wasn't Catholic but still wore a dark-colored priest shirt, so I'm guessing maybe he was episcopalian? (I didn't ask.) I've seen the priest in the corridors but haven't talked to him. And, we had one powerhouse of a woman who was about 4'8" but I got the distinct impression she was sweet and kind, but no one wants to mess with her. (You know the type. She usually is "Mom" to every kid in the neighborhood, right down to always having fresh homemade cookies, but moonlights as a drill sergeant. lol)
We were polite, but really didn't use their help, since what help could they provide anyway?
So, have you ever used one? Would you? And why?