Ethical and Religious Directives - Part Two
In flipping around TV channels late at night, have you ever caught an old "B" movie with a scene something like this: the setting is sinister—somewhere in eastern Europe. The heroine, ill and unconscious, is brought by her unsuspecting family to a place that’s supposed to restore her to health. The facility and grounds are sanitarium-like and lie far out in the country. One sees no patients anywhere; every wall is stark white; and a weird little be-spectacled director, with his sour-faced, imposing nurse assistant, assures the anxious family that "Ve vill take care ov eeevery ting. Dun’t vorry!"
When I try to imagine what the antithesis of a Catholic health care facility might be like, that’s the image that comes to mind.
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And there’s more. When I think of a patient in such a setting talking to a nurse, I imagine this:
"Nurse, I’m tense. I’m worried and scared."
"Dar is nuting to be afraid ov, darlink."
"But I’m scared. My spirit is frightened. I want to see my minister. I want the comfort of the sacraments."
"Dun’t vorry, darlink. Ze doctor vill fix eeevery ting."
"But I need someone to be near, to pray with me. I’m spiritually dry and need someone to bring God’s presence and comfort close so I can feel it!"
"Darlink, you are just making tings diffeecult. Ze doctor vill have eeevery ting phine in a leeettle vhile. Let me geeve you dis shot. It vill help you relaaax."
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A scene from the Twilight Zone, right? Of course, but who’s to say such places don’t exist? Certainly it depicts a health care environment we never want to be responsible for.
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Chapter Two of the Ethical and Religious Directives is an effort by Catholic Church leaders to provide some direction so that Catholic health care facilities are the opposite of that scenario. The Directives recognize that pastoral care is an integral part of Catholic health care and encompasses the full range of spiritual services, including a listening presence, help in dealing with powerlessness, pain and alienation, and assistance in recognizing and responding to God’s will with greater peace. It directs that appropriate pastoral services and/or referrals should be available to all in keeping with their religious beliefs or affiliation. It gives direction for the provision of various sacraments. And, in general, it helps us create an environment that is spiritually rich and meets the needs of those who are sick, in pain and/or facing death.
Of course the Directives are helpful, but they can only do so much. It’s those "in the trenches" who are the key to developing the environment of care that’s needed, that is healing of the whole person. To help those of you who are so engaged to think about this topic, the following questions might be helpful:
• In our facility, on our unit, do we take the spiritual dimension of people’s lives seriously, or is it an after-thought for most of us?
• Is the spiritual care people receive as good as it should be?
• What are the key structures and processes we have in place to support good spiritual care for people?
• How could we as staff provide additional help or training to assist our chaplains in being more effective teammates?
• What expertise could our chaplains share with us to help us be more effective teammates?
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Finally, may I make a suggestion? Get a couple of colleagues and arrange to have lunch with the chaplain who covers your facility or unit. Then pose some questions such as these to generate mutual dialogue and learning:
• What are some of the key principles that guide you in going about your ministry?
• When you sit down with a patient or employee, what do you hope to do for that person; what are your goals?
• To what extent do you feel you are a part of our health care team and to what extent do you feel you’re regarded as an afterthought?
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Next time you’re flipping channels late at night, keep an eye out for one of those "B" movies with a sinister sanitarium scene. And if you suddenly find one flickering before you, think to yourself, "The antidote for you is the people I work with and Chapter Two of the Ethical and Religious Directives!"