Don't Take Me To a Roman Catholic Hospital!

From FireDogLake:

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops released an “Ethical and Religious Directive” this month that would ban any Catholic hospital, nursing home or hospice program from removing feeding tubes or ending palliative procedures of any kind, even when the individual has an advance directive to guide their end-of-life care. The Bishops’ directive even notes that patient suffering is redemptive and brings the individual closer to Christ.

The bit about redemptive suffering FOR OTHER PEOPLE infuriates me. Jesus asks each of us to take up the cross, but he never told us to lay crosses on the shoulders of others. You powers in the RCC, do your own redemptive suffering, but stop laying heavy burdens on others. What you teach strays from the Gospel message.

The “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services” put out by the Catholic bishops would build upon a Papal allocution given in the wake of the controversial Terri Schiavo case, where the US Congress stepped in to keep Schiavo alive despite her persistent vegetative state and the wishes of her husband to end care. The papal elocution did state that the permanently unconscious should always have access to a feeding tube, but it did not have the force of doctrinal law behind it. “There was always some wiggle room” for Catholic care facilities, said Coombs Lee. Catholics were allowed to use something called a “benefit/burden balance” to determine the ethical, moral and compassionate result in any individual case.

Now, that wiggle room is gone. In the new directive, the bishops state that it is unethical and immoral to withhold or withdraw a feeding tube from patients, whether in cases of permanent unconsciousness, comas, or even cases of advanced dementia when the patient is unable to feed themselves.

If you or a loved one is in a critical or end of life state, and you want compassionate care, then don't go to a RC hospital.

This substitutes the wishes of the bishops for the stated wishes of families and the patients themselves, said Coombs Lee.
....

Coombs Lee believes that this could create “300,000 Terri Schiavo cases,” the number being equal to the number of feeding tubes inserted in the United States each year.

When I attended Loyola University 50 years ago and in the intervening years until the Terry Schiavo case, this was not position of the RCC. The church seems determined to continue its backward movement toward the halcyon days of the past. How far back will their journey take them?

Thanks to Ann at Facebook for the link.

The Rev. Grant M. Gallup, R. I. P

From Louie Crew at his Natter blog and the House of Bishops/Deputies Listserv:

A friend just called to say that Grant Gallup+ died last night. No details are known yet. He was a charter member of Integrity's first chapter, in Chicago, and served as chaplain to that chapter. For several years in the 70s and 80s he edited Integrity Forum. For many years he was vicar of St. Andrew's on the near Westside of Chicago, and since about 1988 he has been a missioner in Managua, Nicaragua, where he founded Casa Maria.

Grant wrote frequently for The Witness and other progressive journals.

In 1976 he was president of the Episcopal liturgists association.
His liturgical reflections -- at Homily Grits (2000-2007) remains very popular.

He was known affectionately by his close friends as Sister Mary Rattle Beads, and rattle them he did. He was one of the first out priests in the USA, speaking on the Studs Terkel radio program.

I remember asking Grant how those at St. Andrew's were dealing with his openness. "The same way I deal with theirs." When someone's son was arrested for using crack, Grant was there to help the family cope. When someone needed groceries to make it to the end of the month, Grant was there for them. His larder was never empty. On some days half the block seemed to show up in his dining room for a meal. He had the gift of endless, joyful hospitality. He kept polished the silverware

Few people have influenced me as much as Grant. I loved him dearly. He taught me much about justice and about courage. He was a strong friend when I had few. He constantly pointed me to gospel imperatives. He eschewed pettiness.

For example; When we lived in Fort Valley, Georgia, Ernest was a hairdresser, and in our tiny apartment did the hair of some of the poorest women in Peach County. One of them called me down from my study to tell me that Dr. XXXXX, senior warden at my parish, was about to become a father again by his mistress. A couple of years before, Dr. XXXXX had collected vestry signatures for a petition asking me to "find some other place of worship more in sympathy with your concerns about gay people."

I called Mary Rattlebeads. "Shall I send Dr. XXXXX a Father's Day card?" I asked.

"You will do no such thing! A new life is coming into the world. If you say anything at all, you might call the mother and offer to sponsor the child at baptism, but only if you are prepared to meet the obligations of doing so. This is no time for pettiness!"

In the winter of 1978 when I was visiting him in Chicago, Grant was summoned to a shelter to comfort a wino whose Native American lover had committed suicide by drowning himself in the Chicago River. I went with him. The deacon who ran the shelter had a huge sign in gold gothic script: "Love your neighbor today: leave him alone".

After brief introductions, in a tiny office made into a parlor, Grant and I sat in silence with the grief stricken man for at least ten minutes. The man broke the silence: "It's a tough world for a girl these days."

"We two girls say Amen to that!" Grant said.

That passed the man's test. Then he trusted us and poured out his heart.

Pray for those of us who now pour out our hearts.

Louie, Quean Lutibelle

I never knew or even knew of Fr Grant Gallup, but he sounds like a lovely man. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. May God give comfort, consolation, and the peace that passes understanding to all who love Grant.

Thanks to Ann.

Portrait of Grant by Dan Polley.

Black Friday

What are you doing on Black Friday?

Photo from Time.

My Secret Is Out

Poor Lindy. She fled to China, and she still cannot get away from me. And now everyone will know the secret of my world-wide franchise of Mimi Shops. Running the business takes a backseat to blogging, of course, but the shops bring in a tidy sum.

Photo by Lindy

Vatican Humor

After getting all of Pope Benedict's luggage loaded into the limo, (and he doesn't travel light), the driver notices the Pope is still standing on the curb.

'Excuse me, Your Holiness,' says the driver, 'Would you please take your seat so we can leave?'

'Well, to tell you the truth,' says the Pope, 'they never let me drive at the Vatican when I was a cardinal, and I'd really like to drive today.'

'I'm sorry, Your Holiness, but I cannot let you do that. I'd lose my job! What if something should happen?' protests the driver, wishing he'd never gone to work that morning..

'Who's going to tell?' says the Pope with a smile.

Reluctantly, the driver gets in the back as the Pope climbs in behind the wheel. The driver quickly regrets his decision when, after exiting the airport, the Pontiff floors it, accelerating the limo to 205 kph.. (Remember, the Pope is German..)

'Please slow down, Your Holiness!' pleads the worried driver, but the Pope keeps the pedal to the metal until they hear sirens.

'Oh, dear God, I'm going to lose my license -- and my job!' moans the driver.

The Pope pulls over and rolls down the window as the cop approaches, but the cop takes one look at him, goes back to his motorcycle, and gets on the radio.

'I need to talk to the Chief,' he says to the dispatcher.

The Chief gets on the radio and the cop tells him that he's stopped a limo going 205 kph.

'So bust him,' says the Chief.

'I don't think we want to do that, he's really important,' said the cop.

The Chief exclaimed,' All the more reason!'

'No, I mean really important,' said the cop with a bit of persistence.

The Chief then asked, 'Who do you have there, the mayor?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'A senator?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

Chief: 'The Prime Minister?'
Cop: 'Bigger.'

'Well,' said the Chief, 'who is it?'
Cop: 'I think it's God!'

The Chief is even more puzzled and curious, 'What makes you think it's God?'
Cop: 'His chauffeur is the Pope!'

Thanks to Erika.

Autumn Leaves, Grandchildren, and Diana

Action-packed photo



At rest photo



One doggy eye on the camera

The Good News

From the Advocate.com:

A church-turned-shelter for homeless youth in Queens, New York is a far cry from sleeping on the streets after a $200,000 renovation and a partnership with the Ali Forney Center for LGBT youth.

A converted church in Queens, N.Y., may look like a pleasant youth hostel, but many of its residents made a tough journey to find this new place to call home.

The Ali Forney Center, New York City's top service organization for homeless youth, found a partner in the local Episcopal diocese, which also took interest in the hardships that many LGBT homeless youths face. The partnership resulted in a $200,000 renovation of St. Andrew's Church in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, where 16 young people can now sleep soundly.

May God bless all involved in this effort. Young gay teens are too often driven from their homes by their own families when their sexual orientation becomes known. Unfortunately, once the teens are on the street, a good many turn to drugs and prostitution. Places like the Ali Forney Center offer the youngsters an opportunity to chart a new course in a place where they are accepted and affirmed.

Thanks to John for the link.

The Bad News

From the UPI:

A review of U.S. land mine policy has not produced changes needed to join an international effort to ban the weapons, a State Department spokesman says.
....

"This administration undertook a policy review and we decided our land mine policy remains in effect," [Ian] Kelly said. "We made our policy review and we determined that we would not be able to meet our national defense needs nor our security commitments to our friends and allies if we sign this convention."

The decision disappointed and surprised pro-land mine ban advocates, who said they had believed President Barack Obama backed their cause.

Disappointed and surprised hardly describes my thoughts. Disbelief, shock, outrage about covers my reaction. The Obama administration is against banning landmines? Why? I am once again ashamed of my government.

I read the article in the newspaper this morning, and Paul the BB reminded me that I wanted take note, as he already has.

You're Never Too Old For A Camaro!

From the New York Times:

Eight months older than General Motors, Virgil Coffman clearly is not whom Chevrolet had in mind when it decided to bring back the Camaro.

But a bright yellow, 426-horsepower Camaro SS is exactly what Mr. Coffman, who turns 102 in January, wanted when he went to a Chevy dealership near his home in Decatur, Ill., in September. He ordered a “Transformers” special edition model, which is adorned with black stripes to resemble the character Bumblebee from the blockbuster movie.
....

Bob Lamb, a nephew who accompanied Mr. Coffman on his visit, said the sales staff at Miles Chevrolet was a bit skeptical of a 101-year-old man who came in looking for the $38,000 Camaro but more than happy to make the deal when they realized he was serious. “He told me, ‘If I keep that 10 or 12 years, it will be worth about $100,000,’” Mr. Lamb said. “He’s very optimistic.”
....

“Once in a while I like to kick it up,” he said. “But I’m afraid to drive too fast and get a ticket, and then they might take my license away.”

What a grand story. Go Virgil! But not TOO fast.

Please Remember Kathy And Gary Today

From a friend of Roseann's at Facebook:

As I was leaving the church yesterday, I stopped at her grave to say "goodbye" and discovered that someone had placed a brownie with a dollop of whipped cream on top of her "urn." I know she loved that -- "Thank You" whoever you are.


Kathy's twenty something and teen stayed up all night watching the Godfather series and were still up at 5:00 AM, when Kathy got up to put the turkey in the oven. She thinks there's no hurry to get the turkey cooked, because they will sleep all day. I agree.

Both Kathy Jensen and Gary Mathews lost their beloveds very recently. Please keep Gary and Kathy and her family in your thoughts and prayers today.


For the Church

Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to reconcile the world to yourself: We praise and bless you for those whom you have sent in the power of the Spirit to preach the Gospel to all nations. We thank you that in all parts of the earth a community of love has been gathered together by their prayers and labors, and that in every place your servants call upon your Name; for the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours for ever. Amen.


For the Saints and Faithful Departed

We give thanks to you, O Lord our God, for all your servants and witnesses of time past: for Abraham, the father of believers, and Sarah his wife; for Moses, the lawgiver, and Aaron, the priest; for Miriam and Joshua, Deborah and Gideon, and Samuel with Hannah his mother; for Isaiah and all the prophets; for Mary, the mother of our Lord; for Peter and Paul and all the apostles; for Mary and Martha, and Mary Magdalene; for Stephen, the first martyr, and all the martyrs and saints in every age and in every land. In your mercy, O Lord our God, give us, as you gave to them, and to Roseann, and to Jim, the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the first-born of many from the dead. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer, p. 838)