Deal to bring Paganism to hospital bedsides....

FOR some NHS hospital patients it would seem the help of one god is just not enough. Pagan chaplains are, for the first time, to offer counselling and prayers to the sick in Scottish wards.NHS Tayside has agreed with Scotland's 30,000 Pagans a ground-breaking deal that will allow bedside healing rituals, meditation and special prayers.But some of the more exotic aspects of Paganism-not least the carrying of flaming torches-will have to stay outside.Pagan patients will also receive advice on getting well soon, including keeping a "healing goddess" next to their bed.But the move has outraged some Christians, who claim it represents an insult to the nation's religious heritage. One senior member of the Church of the Scotland claimed it proved "the devil had been busy" in Tayside.Modern Paganism is characterised by the worship of gods and goddesses linked to nature and the seasons.Pagans flatly reject claims they are Satan worshippers and insist theirs is a religion of tolerance and harmony with nature.Under the agreement reached between NHS Tayside, which runs Dundees Ninewells Hospital, and the Pagan Federation Scotland, newly trained Pagan chaplains will be officially allowed access to wards to minister to patients.
A Pagan hospital visit will involve meditation, prayers, private counselling and possibly a simple healing ritual, which might include the use of healing stones.However, Pagans have decided to tone down what are seen as the more exotic and striking forms of Pagan worship and ritual, such as carrying flaming torches.Under the agreement, the Pagan chaplains are not allowed to use their time in hospital to attempt to spread their own faith, and they may only minister to patients who have requested a Pagan visit.Tina Stewart, the Hospital Visitor Coordinator for the Pagan Federation Scotland, said:"We have had a very successful meeting to discuss the needs of the Pagan patient. Things are moving forward. There's an understanding that patients of all faiths should be treated equally and that they all have the right to pastoral care while in hospital."John McIntyre, spokesman for the Pagan Federation, added:"There is a lot more recognition of Paganism in Scotland nowadays.There are about 30,000 people in Scotland who would regard themselves as Pagan and many people are very sympathetic to elements of Pagan belief without necessarily calling themselves Pagans. The equality of men and women and caring for the environment are all parts of the Pagan outlook, and most people would agree with these things."However, the move has angered church-goers.Moira Kerr, a Kirk elder who in 2005 campaigned against a move by Tayside to remove a communion table from a hospital chapel in case it offend non-Christians, said:"I'm very saddened to hear about this.Scotland needs to get back its Christian heritage which has done so much for us over the years.There's no doubt the devil is at work in this."
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http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=57&id=1026512007
As in the days of Noah...