Receiving Communion in the Hospital

[quiet52]

We had a situation where a friend was dying and on his last days. He requested that his wife call a priest, which she called the new pastor who was assigned to their parish. The pastor came to the man’s bed side and asked how long it had been since he had been to confession. The man said, ten years. The priest responded, “ten years?” He patted the man on the shoulder and said, “good luck,” and walked out without hearing his confession or giving him the last rights.

The man died.

Jim

Jim, what a painful story to read. I’m so sorry for your friend. But God knows his heart.

*Eternal rest grant onto Jim’s friend, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
*
What you’ve shared shows the need for the diocese to provide a hospital ministry – so that trained priests and lay people can properly respond to the needs of the hospitalized.

I hope someone spoke to the bishop about that parish priest btw.

 

[supersweetie]

Jim, your story is certainly very sad. Where is this priest’s pastoral training!? My goodness. I am sorry for your friend and you. What does something like that say to you as parishoners of this parish?

Priests should seek training in clinical pastoral education. Its the best training for such work, and provides them with the opportunity to reflect upon what is appropriate in such a situation.

The last poster was right about HIPPA-the privacy laws in hospitals. Volunteer EMC’s can be cleared, but can only be given the minimal amount of information (name and room number) and at our hospital Catholic patients are asked by the chaplains if they want communion, and if so, are put on that list that the volunteer EMC’s get. Thank God for the volunteers too, because we have so many Catholic patients, their help is greatly needed.

 

[rwoehmke]

HIPPA more or less requires the patient to contact their clergy person of choice.

I’m aware of one hospital that requires:

• Clergy must check in and check out;
• Clergy must list all patients they are to see;
• The patient must have previously written that they are willing to see that specific cleric;
  If those three conditions are not met, the cleric won’t see the patient.

Rules like that make it very difficult for a hospital ministry. They also explains why some patients can be in hospital for a very long time, without getting the spiritual nourishment that they requested.

Until there have been several lawsuits that have gone to the Appellate Level, knowing where to draw the line is going to be difficult. From a strictly economic POV, such caution is fully justified.

That’s how it is in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I hate HIPPA.

 

[Timothysis]

I think that only those who go to confession every week should have an “OK” stamped on their forehead with the confession date written in by the priest…that way, we’ll know who should and shouldn’t receive.

Really, people. When a person is admitted to a hospital with a serious condition and in fear of their soul, who is to say that their own contrition hasn’t cleansed them? Ideally, a priest should be available for confession and communion but sudden situations can change everything. The Church is bound by Christ, but Christ is not bound by the Church. I’m sure that Jesus is more generous than we think.

 

[supersweetie]

Amen to that Tim!!!