communion in hospital?

mayobumblebee

Was in hospital today, had an appointment but while waiting a man wearing a
h.s.e badge and in normal clothes walked around the waiting room asking everyone why they were in and then offered to say a prayer for them. i have heard of patients also receiving communion and you can also request a priest.

do they only cater to the catholic religion ?
anyone find this odd besides me?
is this just some hospitals i am a bit surprised to be honest they say that the religion has nothing to do with state run bodies but this didnt seem the case today

Prodigious

So what you're asking is if people having a problem with the sick being comforted?

jaffacakesyum

Yeah I find it odd. I think a service should certainly be allowed for, and anyone who wishes to receive communion should certainly be accommodated. It's great that a service exists. But I think it's a bit inappropriate because my impression is that the person goes around asking every patient in the room without knowing their religious status. I know this is a Catholic country, but not everyone is Catholic and not everyone is even religious.

kneemos

Operative words here are "he asked"

The Backwards Man

James 5:15:13

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Christians following their own guidebook? Who would have thunk it?

ScumLord

mayobumblebee wrote: »

Was in hospital today, had an appointment but while waiting a man wearing a
h.s.e badge

It could be just an access badge rather than an employee badge.

discus

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

I know this is a Catholic country, but not everyone is Catholic and not everyone is even religious.

And most people of a different religion would simply say no thanks. Although I'm RCC, I would have nothing but admiration for anyone of any religion (or even godless bastards athiest) who took time out to comfort sick or distressed people in a hospital.

MagicMarker

Prodigious wrote: »

So what you're asking is if people having a problem with the sick being comforted?

Who says they're being comforted?

A randomer approaching me in hospital asking me why I'm there and if I want to say a prayer is nothing but an annoyance.

Odysseus

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Yeah I find it odd. I think a service should certainly be allowed for, and anyone who wishes to receive communion should certainly be accommodated. It's great that a service exists. But I think it's a bit inappropriate because my impression is that the person goes around asking every patient in the room without knowing their religious status. I know this is a Catholic country, but not everyone is Catholic and not everyone is even religious.

How is the Chaplin to know what religion a person is without asking?

AFAIK all hospitals have a RC chaplin, but there is a facility to get a representative of all the religions inif a patient requests it.

However, no staff member would be able to comment on a patients religious status as far as I understand it inanyway.

Knasher

mayobumblebee wrote: »

they say that the religion has nothing to do with state run bodies

Anyone who has ever said that in Ireland is very mistaken. Many of us think this should be the case, but we are pretty far from that.

A lot of the hospitals are explicitly run by the catholic church, though generally they seem to hold themselves to the same medical standards as the rest of the hospitals (unlike the catholic hospitals in the US). Most of the hospitals hire chaplains and they are usually catholic, but they usually have contacts with people from other religions who can be called in if the need arises.

Mint Sauce

mayobumblebee wrote: »

Was in hospital today, had an appointment but while waiting a man wearing a
h.s.e badge and in normal clothes walked around the waiting room asking everyone why they were in and then offered to say a prayer for them. i have heard of patients also receiving communion and you can also request a priest.

do they only cater to the catholic religion ?
anyone find this odd besides me?
is this just some hospitals i am a bit surprised to be honest they say that the religion has nothing to do with state run bodies but this didnt seem the case today

Not one bit odd.

Part of a persons care in a health care setting is to be aware of, and cater for the religious beleifs if possible. Most hospitals have at least a Catholic and COI preist/minister/chaplin, a small chapel, or multifaith prayer room.

Its part of what is known as providing holistic care.

mayobumblebee

ya being picked up wrong here i admire the idea and i am so happy that anyone who wants him to say a prayer can have that done he was probably just on a visit pass in his own time providing a nice helpful service to those who want it

i just think its a bit odd i would imagine if i wanted to be provided with a similar service under another religion it would not be so easy maybe i am wrong

Knasher

mayobumblebee wrote: »

he was probably just on a visit pass in his own time

No, they are paid by the HSE. About €56k a year.

Custardpi

Can't see too much of an issue with this. As part of my duties as Satanic High Priest for my area I regularly walk around my local hospital asking patients if they'd like me to sacrifice a virgin on their behalf. No complaints to date so I reckon the mock cannibalism ceremony offered by the Catholics should be ok too.

HondaSami

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Yeah I find it odd. I think a service should certainly be allowed for, and anyone who wishes to receive communion should certainly be accommodated. It's great that a service exists. But I think it's a bit inappropriate because my impression is that the person goes around asking every patient in the room without knowing their religious status. I know this is a Catholic country, but not everyone is Catholic and not everyone is even religious.

So a simple no thanks clears it up.

St.Spodo

We should welcome anything that comforts sick people and is of no harm to anyone else. This shouldn't be a ground for the secularist/atheist fight, because people will rightly tell them to shag off.

carpejugulum

You have to get them when they are desperate and vulnerable is their motto.

jaffacakesyum

discus wrote: »

And most people of a different religion would simply say no thanks. Although I'm RCC, I would have nothing but admiration for anyone of any religion (or even godless bastards athiest) who took time out to comfort sick or distressed people in a hospital.

Absolutely, as would I. They seem like lovely people anyway, I remember one lady in particular, always a smile on her face. I have no issues with people of the Church offering comfort to patients if they deem it to be of comfort. I just think it's a bit odd to offer it to everybody. I wouldn't like somebody walking up to me and offering to say a prayer, as I'm not religious. I'd just say "no thanks" politely, no harm done, but I'd still prefer if people didn't assume I believe in that, or that I'm Catholic. Also, in one ward I worked in the lady asked everybody in the ward every time she was there regardless (probably a bit hard to remember who usually says yes and who doesn't, I'd imagine!) so I wouldn't like to be kept asking to say prayers if I was an inpatient for a while.

Odysseus wrote: »

How is the Chaplin to know what religion a person is without asking?

AFAIK all hospitals have a RC chaplin, but there is a facility to get a representative of all the religions inif a patient requests it.

However, no staff member would be able to comment on a patients religious status as far as I understand it inanyway.

There are a few alternative options off the top of my head, but would result in more admin/staff work, so I wouldn't suggest that.

Again, my view is it's no big deal the way it is, but I just think it's a little inappropriate. You don't see Jewish rabbis going around offering to perform some Hebrew cereominies :pac: Of Muslim prayers! Again, obviously because this is a Catholic country.

Prodigious

carpejugulum wrote: »

You have to get them when they are desperate and vulnerable is their motto.

No, nowhere in any of the countless pieces of Christian literature is it written "You have to get them when they are desperate and vulnerable"

Prodigious

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Again, my view is it's no big deal the way it is, but I just think it's a little inappropriate. You don't see Jewish rabbis going around offering to perform some Hebrew cereominies :pac: Of Muslim prayers! Again, obviously because this is a Catholic country.

They are offering to say a prayer for them in the chapel, not to say mass in the ward.

Chucken

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Again, my view is it's no big deal the way it is, but I just think it's a little inappropriate. You don't see Jewish rabbis going around offering to perform some Hebrew cereominies :pac: Of Muslim prayers! Again, obviously because this is a Catholic country.

Training for Pastoral Ministry for the Healthcare or Parish/Community setting takes places at St. Luke's Home.

http://www.stlukeshome.ie/content/preparing-pastoral-ministry-hospitals-and-other-settings

Churches and Faith Communities:

Church of Ireland
Dioceses of Cork Cloyne and Ross
Cork Baptist Church
Methodist Church Cork
Presbyterian Church Cork
Roman Catholic Dioceses of Cork and Ross
Jewish Community
Society of Friends Cork
Islamic Community Cork

gctest50

Prodigious wrote: »

No, nowhere in any of the countless pieces of Christian literature is it written "You have to get them when they are desperate and vulnerable"

The followers don't follow what is written anyway ?

Odysseus

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

Absolutely, as would I. They seem like lovely people anyway, I remember one lady in particular, always a smile on her face. I have no issues with people of the Church offering comfort to patients if they deem it to be of comfort. I just think it's a bit odd to offer it to everybody. I wouldn't like somebody walking up to me and offering to say a prayer, as I'm not religious. I'd just say "no thanks" politely, no harm done, but I'd still prefer if people didn't assume I believe in that, or that I'm Catholic. Also, in one ward I worked in the lady asked everybody in the ward every time she was there regardless (probably a bit hard to remember who usually says yes and who doesn't, I'd imagine!) so I wouldn't like to be kept asking to say prayers if I was an inpatient for a while.



There are a few alternative options off the top of my head, but would result in more admin/staff work, so I wouldn't suggest that.

Again, my view is it's no big deal the way it is, but I just think it's a little inappropriate. You don't see Jewish rabbis going around offering to perform some Hebrew cereominies :pac: Of Muslim prayers! Again, obviously because this is a Catholic country.

But it is also the chaplins job to to arrange for either of those religious figures are required to perform one of those cereromies.

I would have a bigger issue with staff giving me personal details to non-medical staff, but that just me.

Prodigious

gctest50 wrote: »

The followers don't follow what is written anyway ?

I was referring to :

carpejugulum wrote: »

You have to get them when they are desperate and vulnerable is their motto.

Fox_In_Socks

Custardpi wrote: »

Can't see too much of an issue with this. As part of my duties as Satanic High Priest for my area I regularly walk around my local hospital asking patients if they'd like me to sacrifice a virgin on their behalf. No complaints to date so I reckon the mock cannibalism ceremony offered by the Catholics should be ok too.

What happens if the only virgin you can sacrifice is the sick person you are talking to in hospital?

mayobumblebee

Prodigious wrote: »

They are offering to say a prayer for them in the chapel, not to say mass in the ward.

no he said the prayer in the waiting room with the person while holding their hand, he said 8 or 9 prayers in the waiting room holding the hand of each person while sitting beside them not that this is a problem just letting you know

Feathers

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

I wouldn't like somebody walking up to me and offering to say a prayer, as I'm not religious. I'd just say "no thanks" politely, no harm done, but I'd still prefer if people didn't assume I believe in that, or that I'm Catholic.

If they're offering to say a prayer they're not assuming, they're asking. Assuming would be saying a prayer without asking.

jaffacakesyum

Odysseus wrote: »

But it is also the chaplins job to to arrange for either of those religious figures are required to perform one of those cereromies.

I would have a bigger issue with staff giving me personal details to non-medical staff, but that just me.

To be honest I'd prefer on admission to state my preference that no religious body offer me communion/prayers while I'm lying in bed watching telly :pac: Again, each to their own.

Also to the other poster - forgot to quote - my point was that these people (in the hospitals I've been in anyway) don't go around up to the wards - there are religious services available, and I'm sure somebody may be sent up to the wards by request, but it is only the Catholic workers that go around to each ward to each bed to ask if they'd like to receive communion or say prayers. Just in my experience though. And again, understandable, as if a Muslim minister went around asking everybody he'd probably only find a handful of Muslim patients :pac:

My name is URL

MagicMarker wrote: »

Who says they're being comforted?

A randomer approaching me in hospital asking me why I'm there and if I want to say a prayer is nothing but an annoyance.

They won't approach you randomly and ask you to pray. When you're admitted to hospital you're asked what your religion is and if you'd like to be visited by the Chaplain... so contain your faux-outrage at the idea that people are coerced against their will into saying the Hail Mary.

HondaSami

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

To be honest I'd prefer on admission to state my preference that no religious body offer me communion/prayers while I'm lying in bed watching telly :pac: Again, each to their own.

Also to the other poster - forgot to quote - my point was that these people (in the hospitals I've been in anyway) don't go around up to the wards - there are religious services available, and I'm sure somebody may be sent up to the wards by request, but it is only the Catholic workers that go around to each ward to each bed to ask if they'd like to receive communion or say prayers. Just in my experience though. And again, understandable, as if a Muslim minister went around asking everybody he'd probably only find a handful of Muslim patients :pac:

I thought everyone is asked on admission what their religion is, why do you keep on about Muslims's?

Custardpi

Fox_In_Socks wrote: »

What happens if the only virgin you can sacrifice is the sick person you are talking to in hospital?

Not an issue, I've always had a steady supply. The Catholic chaplains will run short of their zombie flesh before I have any shortages.

mayobumblebee

My name is URL wrote: »

They won't approach you randomly and ask you to pray. When you're admitted to hospital you're asked what your religion is and if you'd like to be visited by the Chaplain... so contain your faux-outrage at the idea that people are coerced against their will into saying the Hail Mary.

i was not admitted to hospital i was in on a day appointment so in for 4 hours max during this time i was sitting in a waiting room and was approached by a complete stranger who said hello i am the chaplin, then he asked why i was in, had i been up before and would i like him to say a prayer it was a bit hard telling him i didn't want to discuss why i was here to a stranger i felt quite rude. i then thanked him and told him i would prefer not to have a prayer said. he did not ask straight away which i actually would have much preferred over been asked personal details first.

i had no idea what a chaplin was so its only when he offered a prayer that i figured it out

kneemos

mayobumblebee wrote: »

i was not admitted to hospital i was in on a day appointment so in for 4 hours max during this time i was sitting in a waiting room and was approached by a complete stranger who said hello i am the chaplin, then he asked why i was in, had i been up before and would i like him to say a prayer it was a bit hard telling him i didn't want to discuss why i was here to a stranger i felt quite rude. i then thanked him and told him i would prefer not to have a prayer said. he did not ask straight away which i actually would have much preferred over been asked personal details first.

i had no idea what a chaplin was so its only when he offered a prayer that i figured it out

I assume he's asking for details so he can say a prayer for said illness or maybe it's just a conversation starter.

My name is URL

mayobumblebee wrote: »

i was not admitted to hospital i was in on a day appointment so in for 4 hours max during this time i was sitting in a waiting room and was approached by a complete stranger who said hello i am the chaplin, then he asked why i was in, had i been up before and would i like him to say a prayer it was a bit hard telling him i didn't want to discuss why i was here to a stranger i felt quite rude. i then thanked him and told him i would prefer not to have a prayer said. he did not ask straight away which i actually would have much preferred over been asked personal details first.

i had no idea what a chaplin was so its only when he offered a prayer that i figured it out

Fair enough. I've worked in different hospitals at certain times over the years and have never seen or heard about that happening before. It definitely shouldn't be happening and you should probably have mentioned it to an administrator if you felt offended or annoyed about it.

gctest50

My name is URL wrote: »

They won't approach you randomly and ask you to pray. .

can happen:
- stuff in eyes etc so told to lie down there, don't move pick a spot on the ceiling and they'd be back soon - happy days
- took a while to zone out from the noises etc
- hear this noise, can't make it out - too indistinct and repetitive to be medical stuff

- decide since I'm hearing things that "have no business being in current surroundings"
either:
a) I'm going b@t**** insane
b) it's something brain related

either way I should tell one of the HCPs when i see one of them

It gets a bit louder, now I can make out 'tis praying, the looper responsible has moved into third gear and is giving it welly now.

I sit up like a little robot and politely inquire wtf are they at.
The response was :" You're awake, you're awake "
Mine was : "Yes, i've been awake now for 22 hours, the novelty is wearing off "

jaffacakesyum

My name is URL wrote: »

They won't approach you randomly and ask you to pray. When you're admitted to hospital you're asked what your religion is and if you'd like to be visited by the Chaplain... so contain your faux-outrage at the idea that people are coerced against their will into saying the Hail Mary.

HondaSami wrote: »

I thought everyone is asked on admission what their religion is, why do you keep on about Muslims's?

It is in their files, yes, which religion they are. My point is (and again I could be wrong, seeing as what My name is URL has stated above), that ideally I think it would be appropriate to ask on admission, rather than have somebody from the Church go around to each patient on a ward, not knowing their religion or status.

Again, I was under the impression on par from the OP's experience but maybe it's different in different hospitals.

And I don't know what you mean, keep going on about Muslims

MagicMarker

My name is URL wrote: »

They won't approach you randomly and ask you to pray. When you're admitted to hospital you're asked what your religion is and if you'd like to be visited by the Chaplain... so contain your faux-outrage at the idea that people are coerced against their will into saying the Hail Mary.

Who said anything about people being coerced into saying prayers?

Anyhow, seems you need to get your facts straight.

mayobumblebee wrote: »

i was not admitted to hospital i was in on a day appointment so in for 4 hours max during this time i was sitting in a waiting room and was approached by a complete stranger who said hello i am the chaplin, then he asked why i was in, had i been up before and would i like him to say a prayer it was a bit hard telling him i didn't want to discuss why i was here to a stranger i felt quite rude. i then thanked him and told him i would prefer not to have a prayer said. he did not ask straight away which i actually would have much preferred over been asked personal details first.

i had no idea what a chaplin was so its only when he offered a prayer that i figured it out

HondaSami

jaffacakesyum wrote: »

It is in their files, yes, which religion they are. My point is (and again I could be wrong, seeing as what My name is URL has stated above), that ideally I think it would be appropriate to ask on admission, rather than have somebody from the Church go around to each patient on a ward, not knowing their religion or status.

Again, I was under the impression on par from the OP's experience but maybe it's different in different hospitals.

And I don't know what you mean, keep going on about Muslims

Are you suggesting it should be written over the bed of every patient what their religion is? The priest cannot read a patients chart/file.
I have never seen a priest go round to patients tbh and i have been in hospitals a fair bit in the last few years.

Pretzill

I've had experience of this a few times - first time I woke up to a rather dour looking man in a dress standing over my bed I thought I was getting the last rites! When I realised I wasn't I just said quite narkily I'm not religious - when he left the other ladies in the ward said I was brave for refusing his blessing - that was abt 15 years ago nowadays they are less intrusive a simple no thanks is no harm

mayobumblebee

My name is URL wrote: »

Fair enough. I've worked in different hospitals at certain times over the years and have never seen or heard about that happening before. It definitely shouldn't be happening and you should probably have mentioned it to an administrator if you felt offended or annoyed about it.

thank you, i was not offended at all i just thought it odd i always assumed that it was a service for patients who are in a ward in the hospital not day only appointments in the outpatients

jaffacakesyum

HondaSami wrote: »

Are you suggesting it should be written over the bed of every patient what their religion is? The priest cannot read a patients chart/file.
I have never seen a priest go round to patients tbh and i have been in hospitals a fair bit in the last few years.

No of course they shouldn't read the medical chart. I've already said there are alternative options but that I wouldn't necessarily suggest them because it would need added staff work and even as small amount of added work is significant to the health systems.

In hospitals there are loads of systems in place to communicate needs of the patient, usually placards are posted above the bed. For example, to do with dietry needs, if they are at risk of falls, if they are dying etc. There could be a similar system for religious reasons but again, it would mean added work of asking patients if they would like to be seen by a religious leader or not and putting up a placard. The other reasons for communication (eg risk of falls) are of course more important. But that is one option.

I've worked in several hospitals and always seem them. They're not priests, it's actually usually women in my experience, I don't know what you'd call them!! Nuns I suppose, but they weren't wearing their usual gear :pac:

kneemos

mayobumblebee wrote: »

thank you, i was not offended at all i just thought it odd i always assumed that it was a service for patients who are in a ward in the hospital not day only appointments in the outpatients

Was it just a dogooder type offering to say a prayer for people?

Rasheed

In the bigger Dublin hospitals that I've worked in there were chaplains from both Catholic and COI on the premises most of the time. They would chat to people if they wanted to chat, regardless of religion and that was that. There was also a pray room for Muslims in nearly every hospital I've been in but they're usually for staff only.

In the smaller regional hospitals, there was always a priest 'on call' and usually a nun or two tipping around. To be honest, some of them were dotes and some were just nosy fûckers that you'd have to shoo away.

A patients religion used to be put over the bed along with their name. This no longer happens AFAIK. The parish priests also used to come in asking who was in from their parish, they're not told any more. Funny how things change and I'm not that many years nursing either.

pragmatic1

Prodigious wrote: »

So what you're asking is if people having a problem with the sick being comforted?

Maybe it doesn't comfort all people that are sick. Maybe things like that freak some people out.

mayobumblebee

kneemos wrote: »

Was it just a dogooder type offering to say a prayer for people?

I have no idea he said "im the chaplin" and he had a h.s.e badge i didn't get a chance to read what it said. he was in normal clothing, he asked some personal questions regarding why you were there and then offered to say a prayer with you. he gave no name or never mentioned if he worked for the hospital or was just doing it off his own steam.

Feathers

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Maybe it doesn't comfort all people that are sick. Maybe things like that freak some people out.

Someone saying 'do you want me to say a prayer for you?'. It's hardly forceably converting them. Maybe the people who are freaked out at a simple question should have a placard above their beds.

nucker

mayobumblebee wrote: »

Was in hospital today, had an appointment but while waiting a man wearing a
h.s.e badge and in normal clothes walked around the waiting room asking everyone why they were in and then offered to say a prayer for them. i have heard of patients also receiving communion and you can also request a priest.

do they only cater to the catholic religion ?
anyone find this odd besides me?
is this just some hospitals i am a bit surprised to be honest they say that the religion has nothing to do with state run bodies but this didnt seem the case today

I would think that is down to the hospital, but I'm sure that most hospitals cater for all religions, they do have a list of different religions and their contact number

Rasheed

mayobumblebee wrote: »

I have no idea he said "im the chaplin" and he had a h.s.e badge i didn't get a chance to read what it said. he was in normal clothing, he asked some personal questions regarding why you were there and then offered to say a prayer with you. he gave no name or never mentioned if he worked for the hospital or was just doing it off his own steam.

He probably meant well but some chaplains can be very annoying and pushy. Then you also get the 'volunteers' that come in under the pretence of patient comfort but basically come for news. I see that a good bit of that in the local hospital, especially the long stay wards.

I have to say though, and this is coming from when I was a patient, talking to someone outside your friends and family can be just what you need, religion aside.

pragmatic1

Feathers wrote: »

Someone saying 'do you want me to say a prayer for you?'. It's hardly forceably converting them. Maybe the people who are freaked out at a simple question should have a placard above their beds.

Well that depends on the situation. My father was close to death a few years back and my mother asked a priest to go over to him and pray. That didn't exactly lift his mood.

I was in a very bad way myself last year, in a room full of people with serious head injuries. Holy Joe's coming in praying didn't do much for us either. The sexy wee Filipino nurse with a smile on here face was way more comforting.

martinedwards

Up here in the heathen North the hospital Chaplians nearly all wear the collar so that they stand out and can be spotted as a cleric.

Interestingly, it seems that the RC church operate on a "Sean's in Hospital 50 miles from home so the local priest (or chaplian) will drop in on him" the protestant folk are much more likely to get a visit from thier OWN priest. I know our Rector regularly visits in Belfast, Antrim and occasionally All the way up to Coleraine which is a 3 hour round trip before you even get to see the poor punter.

and as to Holy Communion, every CofI priest has a travelling HC set and will administer HC at the bedside at the patients request.

looksee

Some 30-odd years ago the priest and a couple of acolytes would come round with communion every day. The nurses would shoo everyone into bed, sitting up if possible, with very tidy bedclothes. Then there would be a kind of minor mass affair going on while the priest came round. I was vaguely miffed that I had to be organised in this manner when I was not one of their lot, but I didn't have the nerve to make a fuss about it. Not that it would have made any difference if I had.

Recently I have often seen a lay server come round the wards offering communion, but they just kind of catch your eye and look enquiring, and you can just shake your head. I have no problem with that.

They are also much more willing to accept 'no religion' at reception now, whereas I can remember one clerk asking me 'Catholic?' and when I said no, she said 'oh well I'll put C of I'.

I think if I were approached by a randomer in Casualty and asked what was wrong with me I would be inclined to tell them to get lost, no matter how well intentioned. If they don't need to know what the Mass is for when you buy a mass card, they certainly don't need to know to say a prayer.