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PDF versionIf I had $10 billion dollars
by John L Allen Jr on Jul. 24, 2009
Fans of the TV show “West Wing” may recall the series’ next-to-last episode, when Chief of Staff C.J. Cregg finds herself contemplating life after the White House. A wealthy philanthropist wants her to run his foundation, asking what she would do with $10 billion to make the world a better place. Her answer was to build roads in Africa ... hardly sexy, she warned, but key to developing African economies and ending poverty.
In a similar vein, I asked myself this week what I would do if somebody offered me a blank check to spend on some project in American Catholicism. The more I think about it, the more my CJ-esque reply would be, “Hire a nurse for every parish in the country.”
As with African roads, parish nursing may not be the most glamorous idea around. But looking down the line it’s tough to imagine a step of greater practical value -- regardless of whatever Washington does or doesn’t do with health care reform.
First, a demographic reality-check: The two most rapidly swelling components of the American Catholic population today are Hispanics and the elderly, and both face particular challenges with health care.
The Pew Forum projects that by 2030, Hispanics will make up 41 percent of the Catholic population, with whites at 48 percent -- the first time white Catholics will have fallen below a numerical majority. Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum, has called this the “browning” of American Catholicism. Among other things, the transition means the Catholic population of the future will be increasingly uninsured or under-insured. A recent study by the Centers for Disease Prevention found that Hispanics are three times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to lack a regular health care provider.
As for the elderly, the President’s Council on Bioethics stated in 2005 that we are on the brink of becoming a “mass geriatric society.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans aged 14 and under presently outnumber those 65 and above by almost two-to-one, 60.5 million to 34.7. By 2050, that ratio will have swung strongly in the opposite direction. There will be 75.9 million Americans above 65, as opposed to 59.7 million under 14, meaning the elderly will outnumber the youngest in the country by more than 16 million. The population of “old olds,” meaning those above 85, will also increase four-fold.
Applying those trajectories to the church, there should be 13.3 million American Catholics 65 and older by the year 2030, more than doubling the present number of 6.5 million. Since people aged 65 and above are more likely than any other demographic cohort to practice their faith, American parishes are looking at a massive “gray wave” in the years ahead.
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Traditionally the front line of elder care has been the family, but a growing share of elderly can’t count on family support. By 2020, 1.2 million Americans aged 65 or older will have no living children, siblings or spouse. In 1990, for every American over 85 years of age, there were 21 between the ages of 50 and 64. In 2030, for every person over 85, there will be only six between 50 and 64, a massive contraction in the pool of potential care-givers.
The risk of this generational imbalance was illustrated in shocking fashion in France in 2003, when a summer heat wave caused 11,000 deaths. Most victims were elderly people living alone, who couldn’t afford air conditioning and who had no one to check on them to be sure they weren’t in danger.
Under any imaginable future scenario, private health insurance as well as Medicare and Medicaid won’t fully meet the needs of the poor, immigrants, and the elderly. Churches will be pressed to step into the gap as the last line of defense for vulnerable people -- especially the Catholic church, since these will be disproportionately our people.
That’s where the parish nurse enters the picture.
Nobody seems to know exactly how many of America’s 19,000 Catholic parishes presently have a nurse, but the best guess of the St. Louis-based International Parish Nurse Resource Center is “way less than half,” according to Maureen Daniels, who coordinates the center’s international program. For one yardstick, Daniels said the center’s local St. Louis network includes 18 nurses in Catholic parishes, and there may be another dozen or so they don’t know about. There are 192 parishes in the St. Louis Archdiocese, so that’s maybe 30 parishes with a nurse, representing just fifteen percent.
Notably, only about 35 percent of parish nurses are paid, and in most cases, Daniels said, these positions are half-time or less. When parish nurses do draw a salary, it’s typically well below what their peers make elsewhere. The average parish nurse, Daniels said, might get $15 an hour in the St. Louis area, where hospitals usually pay $30 an hour or more.
Forward-thinking parishes ought to be pondering all this right now, because given Catholic demographics in America, most parishes will likely come to think of a nurse the way they presently do of youth ministers, directors of religious education, and even parish secretaries -- as an essential part of the parish team.
Because parish nurses generally do not work directly under a doctor, they can’t perform invasive procedures such as administering injections. Instead, they take blood pressure readings, monitor medications, check general health levels, and answer questions. Many run support groups for parishioners caring for ailing family members, as well as for those who have lost a loved one. The nurse also can act as an advocate for patients as they navigate through health care systems, and organize informal networks of care for people who need various forms of support -- for example, elders who need someone to make sure they’re okay, or to relieve family members struggling to provide in-home care.
Filling that slot is likely to become steadily harder, since nurse shortages are projected to grow in the early 21st century. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 30 states currently face a shortage, and by 2020, 44 states plus the District of Colombia will not be able to field enough nurses to meet demand. The reasons are fairly simple: the increasing complexity of the job, difficult working conditions, insufficient student assistance, and low salaries.
Daniels said that despite those shortages, parishes would be able to attract nurses if resources weren’t an issue. The promise of being able to deliver holistic care, spiritual as well as physical, packs great appeal. Yet, Daniels said, when nurses respond to job openings in parishes, they often walk away because they simply can’t support themselves and their families on what the position pays.
What all this suggests, at least to me, is that the Catholic Church in America should be worrying a bit less about the priest shortage and a bit more about the nurse shortage. Attracting and retaining qualified nurses for parishes -- and for social service centers, schools, and other Catholic institutions -- may not garner headlines or excite the blogs, but it would be an incredibly valuable service to the Catholic future.
Note to Catholic philanthropists: Give me $10 billion, and I’ll see what I can do.
John L. Allen Jr. is NCR senior correspondent. He can be reached at jallen@ncronline.org.
For heaven's sake. The
For heaven's sake. The Catholic Church is, or should be, about the Christ love act and its consequentials, God's creation (us and the universe) and the facilitation of connection between the two. God save me from a parish dominated, dogma and hierarchical dictated nursing care.
If the church had been doing its job we and the politicians would be approaching health care in a humanly reasonable, and Christ-infused humanly charitable manner. Obviously the church has failed its mission on this as well an with the universe. But, yes, stick with it.
Allen states: "...the Catholic Church in America should be worrying a bit less about the priest shortage and a bit more about the nurse shortage." Simplistic and classic avoidance.
The "priest shortage" is as prophetic about Christ's mission on earth as the health care debacle is about human's failure to care properly for its own. Influence and infuse the health care issue yes. But don't side-step our institutional/community responsibility. We need to step out of the box, release ourselves from the sanctimonious presuppositions of the power preoccupied old man in dresses and resolve the priesthood problem.
"For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them." (Matthew 18:20). There is one Christ, one baptism ONE EUCHARIST and therefore one eucharistic event in which we participate - then, before and since. It is just a matter of how we gather around that truth and how we deal with it. The "priest shortage" is a misnomer but more serious because it disguises the real problem in the church
There is NO shortage of
There is NO shortage of candidates for the priesthood. What there is is a shortage of creativity; a failure of openness to hearing what the Spirit is quite possibly saying as opposed to what you want Her to say; a failure of will on the part of bishops to deal with reality; and a willingness to forego Eucharist for the preservation of MANDATORY secular clerical celibacy.
"The problem of clericalism is composed of several problems. It is the problem of a caste that arrogates to itself undue authority, that makes unwarranted claims to wisdom, even to having a monopoly on understanding the mind of God. The consequence is the great weakening of the Church by denigrating or excluding the many gifts of the Spirit present in the people who are the Church. The problem of clericalism arises when 'the church' acts in indifference, or even contempt, toward the people who are the Church."
Richard J. Neuhaus, June 1989.
I think thast the aging of
I think thast the aging of American Catholics and how their needs are met will depend on the availability of senior services to them and how well they are informed about what's available.
Strikes me that deacons, whose numbers seem to be rapidly increasing, should have as one of their pastoral focusues the needs of seniors.
How about encouraging retired nurses to volunter at a Church once a week; have you seen that in your bulletin?
The shortage of priests is a whole other kettle of fish which Church leadershipo doesn't really want to confront
Finally, if i had a billion, I'd invest it in inner city schools for the coming 'browning."
Being most Christlike starts with seving the poorest and weakest.
Another part of the
Another part of the "pipeline" problem is that it is difficult (in some specialties nearly impossible) to recruit enough qualified teaching faculty to prepare all the nurses who will be needed to fill current and emerging shortages. Accreditation standards which emphasize full-time, highly credentialled, experienced professors bump into the practical reality that the nursing shortage also extends to those capable of teaching. This piece of the puzzle no doubt will require some portion of the $10 billion.
Your demographics are all
Your demographics are all projections of course and projections can change. One of the reasons why older people will outnumber the young several generations hence, is because the young are not being encouraged to have children -- quite the opposite in fact.
Among the reasons that the young are not having children is because families require two incomes in order to survive -- and that involves seriously limiting family size or deciding not to have any at all.
There are many people who would gladly have a larger family -- I was one -- but there is almost no support in our society for this. Daycare is almost prohibitive for the average family and imposes a tremendous emotional sacrifice on the mother and the child.
A nurse in every parish? Better still, a daycare center in every parish, staffed by a new religous order dedicated to providing outreach and concrete help to the young family -- an order that would become the 'extended family' so much needed for that husband and wife who must care for their children, and frequently their elder parents too.
This is a fabulous idea John.
This is a fabulous idea John. Although I am a practicing Roman Catholic (obviously - I read your column!), I work at a Presbyterian church in music ministry. This is a church with a tiny congregation by Catholic standards, and THEY have a parish nurse! As a matter of fact, they gave us all - the entire congregation- free flu shots last year! I think you should send your article to the White House.
Why not a doctor in charge so
Why not a doctor in charge so the nurse can give injections or whatever? Why can't doctors volunteer some time to the parish or take a small wage for a little part time work? Why stop at a parish hiring a nurse and go for more. Think big! I'm not talking about getting doctor appointments for everything but to oversee the parish medical office so a nurse or two, or home health aides can function fully. You can get your blood pressure checked but what good does that do if it ends up being high and you have no medicine or a doctor to order some?
Wow--Parish Nurse! I can do
Wow--Parish Nurse! I can do this!
Thanks Holy Spirit for asking:
#1 EVERYBODY PLANT GARDENS IMMEDIATELY. LETTUCE CAN GO IN, AS WE SPEAK, EVERY TWO WEEKS, ALL SUMMER. If you live in the South, provide shade/cover for your tender seedlings. Apartment living? Search for a community garden. I use one.
#2 Read books on alternative medicine now. RUN don't walk, to your nearest library (or go online).
#3 Big Pharma is not pretty. Check out healthy food, as your #1 line of defense.
#4 Eat like Jesus. Jesus ate organic food. Jesus did not eat food grown in soil with YEARS (and more years) of pesticide use. (Pretty please do not put pesticides on/or near your tender garden seedlings.)
#5 If there is alcoholism/drug addiction in your family, RUN don't walk to your nearest Al-Anon meeting. Al-Anon meetings in Spanish are growing; online help and free 1-800 number help,(Spanish/English)is available.
#6 Stress can kill you/hurt you bad. Stop right now and breathe. That's not good enough. Breathe from your diaphragm. *If you are in an abusive relationship get out ASAP. The sooner the better.* Prayer Stress Relief:
#7 One half hour of prayer everyday (using the 3 Lectionary readings, from Sunday's Mass for starters) can work wonders. DO NOT HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR PROBLEMS, LET JESUS HOLD THEM TOO.
My seven Parish Nurse words of Wisdom--like the 7 sacraments. Taa-Daa!
Wow, Azura, I like your seven
Wow, Azura, I like your seven Parish Nurse words of Wisdom. Definitely, hospitals are places of sickness care, usually acute. Away from hospitals, we need to be engaged in wellness activities as you listed.
Pharmaceutical drugs engage in expensive marketing strategies (through various forms of media) to delude people that drugs are to be taken for many sick issues. Unfortunately, there are side effects for many drugs which can even lead to death. People need to be informed by their doctors about the side effects to make informed choices about drug taking. Organic foods and the Slow Food movement are ways for people to enhance their immune systems. People need to become informed about alternative methods to be responsible for their health and well being.
A very thought-provoking
A very thought-provoking proposal by John Allen! I see a great deal of merit to it.
However, getting the support of individual parishes is crucial. For example, in my parish, our AIDS Support Group proposed a couple of years ago that the group's mission be expanded to include the needs of our elderly for practical and emotional support. At a town hall meeting, the majority of our parishioners strongly opposed the idea, expressing fears that the needs of those afflicted with AIDS would not be met and that some other vehicle should be used to address the needs of the elderly. It was obvious that without the financial support and involvement of the parish, the expanded program would fail. A decision was made to put the proposal on hold indefinitely.
Perhaps our parish will change its views over time as the needs of the elderly become more appararent.
John, I served as a volunteer
John,
I served as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician for over 40 years. The time each year varied, since we had medical problems with some of our children, but probably amounted to at least five or six thousand hours. My squad recently became paid, and my use last year became a Medicare expense, helping to drive up the cost of that program.
We had a parish nursing program, but the limits made it useless.
Education, and particularly medical education, should be funded by the Federal government. This should be considered an investment and funded by debt service amortized against higher future earnings. Doctors and nurses would therefore have less personal debt and need less income.
My education in the City of Camden School System has paid no dividends directly to the city, since I've never paid property taxes there. It provided a base for later education including college paid under the GI Bill. Local funding means that wealth segregated communities pay disproportionaltely for education. The Federal income tax system has taken a free ride on the Catholic schools at every level. The 'Indoctrination' label attached by a Supreme Court 'Justice' is anything but true; since the quality of Catholic schools is outstanding.
Budgets for government services are usually referred to as "Spending Plans." This has a negative connotation psychologically. They should be called "Service Plans." Clear priorities of sevices must be established, including education and health care, public safety, defense, etc.
Parish nursing dies not make sense unless the nurses receive more authority, and independence from direct supervision by a physician.
Clean water throughout the
Clean water throughout the world? Or at least as far as $10 bn will go?
I would have to split the $10
I would have to split the $10 billion...most of our Catholics have only learned the rote catechism answers of the official church and their morality doesn't depend on a fully & deeply formed conscience, but on "the Pope says". I would have to spend several billion dollars to finally bring the depths of spirituality and spiritual masters to the fore...I would use part to provide training for spiritual directors/guides so that every parish community would have a minimum of two spiritual guides. Most people know nothing of the documents that come forth from the "official" Catholic church...everyone needs to have encyclicals, messages, apostolic constitutions, dicasterial documents readily available in an every day language so they can mine the depths (or discard the chaff) of such teaching.
I would again bring independence to bishops' conferences and they would become beholden to the people of God not those higher up the hierarchical ladder for their sustenance & spiritual learning.
I would pay church employees a real living wage and give them job security with none of this "well, it was the end of your contract" type firings with no accountability on either side.
I would provide the elderly with transportation to the parishes so they can maintain a physical presence to and for all of us. The accumulated wisdom of our elders is being lost, if not outright discarded.
A good sum should go to the education of bishops so perhaps they can finally understand how their actions hurt real children, real teenagers, real parents with their hopscotching sex offenders around their dioceses & the country...they still don't seem to "get it"; they're more interested in maintaining the wealth of their dioceses than the health of their "flock".
I would make sure that every child receives an age appropriate Bible every 3-5 years...this could be the basis of some good religious education within all parishes...and let's make it inter-generational learning!! We segregate far too many of our parish communities from one another...boys from girls, elders from young adults, teenagers from parents, poor from rich, straight from gay...we're all one family and we should begin behaving as one family!
For Heaven's
For Heaven's sake...The
Submitted by dennism (not verified) on Jul. 24, 2009.
"For heaven's sake. The Catholic Church is, or should be, about the Christ love act and its consequentials, God's creation (us and the universe) and the facilitation of connection between the two. God save me from a parish dominated, dogma and hierarchical dictated nursing care."
Regarding the ..."Christ Love act ????? and its" ..... consequentialness.....""""and the facilitation between the two......"
the following "consequentiality" bears a tad bit of consideration puts some "meat" on the "Christ Love Act, no?
------------------------------------
found on internet...with simple inquiry..."how to gain heaven?"...
The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor, based on Christ’s prophecy of the Last Judgment, that will determine each person’s final destiny:
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
*******Visit the sick******my emphasis
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead
Mt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’”
The corporal works of mercy are oriented toward the body. The spiritual works of mercy are oriented toward the soul.
--------------------------------------------
have a wonderful weekend. Let's go for the parish nursing option!
Dear F.Fedewa: I'm not sure
Dear F.Fedewa: I'm not sure what your point is in replying to my post but it appears that you might just equate employing parish nurses with meeting the criterion of "visit the sick". It doesn't work for me. Challenge me to visit the sick, ok; preach/teach love that we all visit the sick, also ok. Infuse parisheners with the values that challenge society to provide comprehensive and affordable health care, sure, become a "candystriper, maybe. But parish nurses to teach "rhythm method", care for the aged priest, sans equipped clinic; sans referral authority; sans MD oversight; sans sanction by the local health district...commmon....
Surely you jest. Are parishes
Surely you jest. Are parishes teaching parishioners Catholic principles in order that they can deal with the currents of secularism around them? Don't the results of the last election say otherwise? Is our behavior as a group different from the nation as a whole? Are most priests able to put together an instructive, coherent homily most Sundays? Are most music directors able to train their choirs in Gregorian chant and polyphony, as Sacrosanctum Consilium calls for and Pope Benedict has argued for in his writings? Do most parishes have a decent organ? (Go to Church of the Advent in Boston and see what they can do about music with $150,000/yr. That is only $3B for 20,000 parishes!) I'd say the answer to all of these questions is NO, and that the priority of these is a bit higher than nurses who can't even give you an injection. $10B is a lot of money to pay for aspirins and advice. But then, I'm a conservative Catholic and a Republican.
Intriguing idea but what
Intriguing idea but what chance does it have? Our bishops do not like new and unusual ideas, no matter how worthy, and so the a-nurse-in-every-parish ideal will remain a personal fantasy about as likely to come true as Mr. Allen's suddenly coming into $10,000,000,000.00.
John, As a rabid West Wing
John,
As a rabid West Wing fan and a rabid John Allen fan, you made my day!
However, as a long-time hospital chaplain, I like your idea but I think you're tapping the wrong professional.
Please don't get me wrong; I have a lot of respect for the work that parish nurses have done, and many of them do excellent work. But, and please forgive my academic and formative snobbery, their primary training is in nursing with very little additional training in theology. As a long-time member of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, our organization certifies ordained and lay ministers who have earned a Masters degree in Theology or a directly-related discipline and then completed a one-year residency consisting of at least 1600 hours of clinical work, most often in a hospital setting. The goal of this training, called Clinical Pastoral Education, is to prepare ministers to bridge the gap between medicine and ministry, and there is some very promising data that shows how effective chaplains can be in addressing end-of-life issues in a way that is both competent and compassionate.
It's not sexy, but chaplains do a great job day in and day out addressing just the issues you are describing.
P.S. If you get the $10 million, I'm ready to be on your staff!
Chaplain Donovan: Great to
Chaplain Donovan: Great to hear from another colleague in hospital chaplaincy although I am retired from this ministry after serving 25 years full time and part time. Yes, the required Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and now Master's Degree in Theology, Spirituality, Religious Studies, etc., greatly enhance a person's ability to minister effectively within the acute and chronic sickness environment of medicine. With certification recognized by the Catholic Bishops, chaplains bring many opportunities for the healing ministry of Jesus to be revealed in today's world.
Actually, CPE (four units or 1,600 hours) should be required of all seminarians and priests in the Catholic Church as they get feedback about their counseling encounters and relationships with peers in ministry. Both men and women participate in CPE programs as well as individuals from a variety of faith traditions. Many lay people recognize the value of CPE. I really grew a lot within the adult learning environment of CPE. (By the way, I no longer use the term "non-Catholic" - preferring to use the language of "faith tradition" when acknowledging others who are not Catholic.)
CPE is an opportunity to move from the safe, sheltered academic environment to real-life situations, often filled with intense emotions and life/death struggles within medicine. One gains much awareness of dynamics within personal relationships with self, peers and patients and their families.
It takes courage to successfully journey through CPE. The rewards, though, are many in assisting those who are in need of an advocate within the medical environment and even beyond.
In our parish in Folkestone
In our parish in Folkestone West in UK we have groups of volunteer people dedicated to different functions. We have the church cleaners, the flower arrangers, the meeters and greeters, as well as the extra-ordinary ministers of the Eucharists and the readers. The Visitors group visit the elderly and the sick in their homes and the nursing homes, and provide them with material as well as spiritual support all year round. What would a paid nurse do in addition to this?
It is the people of the parish who manage the parish and it is their duty to look after their flock. The priest is there to support them and provide the sacraments.
If I was asked to manage the money of the world, I would concentrate on building schools to educate the people, but more importantly they need the roads and the means of public transport to reach the schools, and hospitals to treat the sick for free, and the clean water to drink, and electricity to enable the homes to be lit and warm in winter and cool in the summer.
Can I count on your vote?
Gehad Homsey
Thank you for this truly
Thank you for this truly thought provoking and prayer provoking piece... May it now provoke actual conversation and action. In general nurses are my heroes, parish nurses are among them!
I believe that the idea of
I believe that the idea of retired nurses makes a lot of sense. I know of at least two in my tiny parish. As for the priest shortage, you have let in married former Anglicans and Lutherans, why not at least consider an open dialogue on former priests? At the very least, don't keep shutting the door by resricting widowed deacons from a second marriage. And, John, I hope that your wealthy philanthropist comes along...
How about ordaining women to
How about ordaining women to the diaconate? I know some fine outstanding nurses who would make great deacons.
I know quite a number of
I know quite a number of nurses who are married to deacons...since these couples (the wives lockstepped through all the years of training with their husbands) are consistently referred to as "deacon couples", perhaps it's not too far to consider that women finally be ordained to the diaconate!
Ironic. Touting retired
Ironic. Touting retired nurses to be "parish nurses", especially women who can "serve" the parish elders, sick and weak, from some amorphous parish clinic base but not serve the spiritual, religious needs of the very raison d'etre of the church. John Allen Jr. has either lost it or is an agent provocateur. I think Rachel unmasked the trouble maker.
Thank you Allen for the
Thank you Allen for the beautiful initiative. But there is always problem when priorities are not clear, or when solutions are proposed that do not address the root of issues. Having parish nurses is a good initiative, but to see that as the solution to caring for the aged in the Church, who may become the majority in future for me smacks simplistic. I would prefer that you invest the 10 billion dollars into building homes and families, seeking how to promote a pro-life culture, so that there will always be children and family members who recognize that the only commandment with a specific blessing is the one that promotes care for parents/elderly. The Church can aid, but cannot take over (and it would lose its focus if it tries to do so) the responsibilities of government and families.
I would used the $10 billion
I would used the $10 billion to advance the causes of abstinence for Catholic singles and Natural Family Planning for married couples. The initiative would be grounded in Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae and the Theology of the Body.
This would enable us to begin the process of rebuilding Catholic family life, of stabilizing and preserving Catholic marriages and reversing the social dysfunctions that are so widespread in our society.
By the way, last week was National Natural Family Planning Week.
For NFP information and resources, check here:
http://allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/2009/07/natural-family-planning-awar...
To learn about the benefits of NFP check here:
http://allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/2009/07/benefits-of-natural-family-p...
To learn more about Humanae Vitae as an antidote to our societal ills, check here:
http://allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/2009/07/41st-anniversary-of-humanae-...
Mr. H
MrH wrote: "I would used the
MrH wrote: "I would used the $10 billion to advance the causes of abstinence for Catholic singles and Natural Family Planning for married couples". The Church has had decades, centuries in which to inculcate your proposals and wealth to invest in it many times over the $10b.
Without learning how to "teach" rather than "preach" love and reason for that which makes sense rather than elevating flawed intelligence to the level of "theology" and dictate it is like "pouring candy down a rat hole".
Right on - Rachel and "anon"
Right on - Rachel and "anon" re: ordained women to the diaconate!
Our daughter is now a deacon (as was our son-in-law) both of whom graduated from a Catholic college - but today they belong to a congregation that welcomes women at all levels - and are teaching our grandsons that God's love has no bias among most Christian faiths !
It is obviously sad that the
It is obviously sad that the divisions among 'Catholics' continue to increase even in the United States with Hispanic 'Catholics', elderly 'Catholics', white 'Catholics', brown 'Catholics', rich 'Catholics' and the growing majority of poor 'Catholics'. If all these 'Catholics' were to take the teaching of the New Testament seriously and become true Christians within a relatively short period of time none of their members would ever be in want (fr. Acts 4:34) since all the billions of dollars would be generously distributed to those in need. Utopia, some would say forgetting, however, that Jesus was, and is, an idealistic reformer!
Wow--Part II of Parish Nurse
Wow--Part II of Parish Nurse I can do this!
A. Elder issues/Grief issues/Everybody issues: A powerful far-reaching ministry a Parish Nurse could be invaluable in is Grief Ministry. Many Catholics and other denominationed people might not see that Grief applies not only to elderly issues and Hospice issues, but also to divorce issues, domestic violence divorce issues (doubly), and immigration issues (Hispanic and other cultures).
An educated understanding of Grief issues and Grief Recovery touches everybody. (Don't forget the numerous children of divorce, and than the piece de resistance: the sexual abuse victims of whatever source.)
B. Scripture help for Grief: Scripture Studies and a Parish Nurse type Minister grounded in the Scriptures, can be invaluable in helping Catholics and other denominationed people deal with this all these facets of grief.
C. Putting it all together, that does make a Parish Nurse sound a lot like a well-educated Deacon. As long as they promote the best NATURAL health possible.
Thanks, Mr. Allen! As a
Thanks, Mr. Allen! As a retired parish nurse I couldn't agree more with what you have said. Parish nursing is much more than "a nice thing to do." I believe that a healing ministry is an integral part of any truly alive parish because of Jesus' commitment to healing. Scriptures are filled with stories of healing; in the Acts of the Apostles this ministry continues. Somehow through centuries this changed until ministry to the sick became almost the sole responsibility of the parish priest, or to chaplains and members of religious communities who minister in hospitals and other institutions. However, I believe that as Christians we are all called and challenged to continue this healing ministry in our faith communities.
Parish health ministry in collaboration with the professional (either paid or volunteer)services of a parish nurse promotes healing of body, mind and spirit. Nurses who have completed a Parish Nurse Preparation program are given the resources,information and formation to minister in this capacity. Although the role of parish nurse varies from parish to parish in essence they can serve in a variety of ways, such as health educators, coordinators of ministry to the sick, advocates for those in need of health care or other community services, facilitators of support groups and last but certainly not least, they are available to pray and be present to those in need.
I'm hoping some philanthropist will come forward to give Mr. Allen that $10 billion dollars...parish nurses in collaboration with other parish staff and parishioners could do so much to support or perhaps in some instances,revive the healing ministry of Jesus in our churches today!
Thanks, Mr. Allen! As a
Thanks, Mr. Allen! As a retired parish nurse I couldn't agree more with what you have said. Parish nursing is much more than "a nice thing to do." I believe that a healing ministry is an integral part of any truly alive parish because of Jesus' commitment to healing. Scriptures are filled with stories of healing; in the Acts of the Apostles this ministry continues. Somehow through centuries this changed until ministry to the sick became almost the sole responsibility of the parish priest, or to chaplains and members of religious communities who minister in hospitals and other institutions. However, I believe that as Christians we are all called and challenged to continue this healing ministry in our faith communities.
Parish health ministry in collaboration with the professional (either paid or volunteer)services of a parish nurse promotes healing of body, mind and spirit. Nurses who have completed a Parish Nurse Preparation program are given the resources,information and formation to minister in this capacity. Although the role of parish nurse varies from parish to parish in essence they can serve in a variety of ways, such as health educators, coordinators of ministry to the sick, advocates for those in need of health care or other community services, facilitators of support groups and last but certainly not least, they are available to pray and be present to those in need.
I'm hoping some philanthropist will come forward to give Mr. Allen that $10 billion dollars...parish nurses in collaboration with other parish staff and parishioners could do so much to support or perhaps in some instances,revive the healing ministry of Jesus in our churches today!
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