Keynoters to include Joncas, Byock, Copeland and González

By Robert Barnes, BCC

Among the highlights of any major conference are the keynote speakers, who serve to both focus and inspire participants around the themes of the conference. Such will also be the case at next year’s NACC national conference March 20-23, 2010, in St. Paul, MN. The four conference keynote speakers will each address different aspects of the conference theme, “Winds of Change, Spirit of Promise.”

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Chaplains well-equipped to join in ethics forums

Case of Catholic monk illustrates weight of wishes of healthcare proxy

By Georgia Gojmerac-Leiner, BCC

The presence of a board certified chaplain is vital on an ethics panel, committee, or a consultation team within the healthcare setting, given that culture, religion and spirituality play key roles in a person’s life. When we consider the formation of a chaplain, we see the rigors of training in the areas of process and interpersonal skills, listening presence, compassion and self-awareness. Nonjudgmental attitudes and openness to belief systems, patience, and being responsive to the other in supportive ways are the ingredients of the chaplain formation. When a chaplain analyzes a verbatim she or he has written, for instance, she pans not only for the gold of theology and spirituality but also looks at the sociological or life-circumstances of the person and the psychological, emotional, spiritual and ethical dimensions of the case. The chaplain also analyzes her or his own self in relation to the case. The chaplain is trained to be aware of personal history and of the assumptions, feelings and prejudices that may be brought to the situation. Also, chaplains, as most people, do not like conflicts so this is another area where they may be helpful.

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Ethics committee strong despite center’s change from diocesan to for-profit

By Sr. Frances Smalkowski, CSFN, BCC

The Catholic identity of the Pope John Paul II Care and Rehabilitation Center in Danbury, CT, remains intact despite the sale of the healthcare center twice in two years after being diocesan for 23 years.

Strong connections with the Bridgeport Diocese have helped the center’s Ethics Committee, which I have chaired or co-chaired since it was begun 23 years ago, to maintain its Catholic focus.

It was 25 years ago when our long-term healthcare center, now with a 141-bed capacity, admitted its first resident -- Sept. 21, 1984, to be exact. As a matter of fact, I was the admitting nurse.

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Could it be that I have doubted?

By Michele Haasl Micklewright, BCC, HTP, D. Min.

Some time ago I listened to the Gospel story about Thomas doubting that Jesus had risen and how he came to believe only after actually placing his finger in the wound, after touching the wound. And I began to question why it was that Jesus returned with fresh wounds; why he didn’t resurrect without wounds or at least with his wounds scarred over? How was it that Thomas could touch his wound; could place his finger in the wound? What was the significance of having these open wounds visible, tangible, touchable -- inextricably bound together with the Resurrection? And what was the significance of having to actually physically touch the wound to experience the Resurrection, to believe?

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