ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles
BY HANNAH DAVIES
Leicester News
June 2, 2005
A leading Christian charity has criticised the possibility of Bibles being removed from Leicester hospital wards.
Bosses at Gideons International said staff had been told that there are concerns the books may offend non-Christians.
Hospital managers have confirmed discussions are taking place, but were still at very early stages. No decisions have yet been made.
Although they are unaware of complaints about Bibles, they want to avoid discriminating against ethnic minorities.
Iain Mair, executive director of Gideons International UK headquarters in Lutterworth, said the charity is saddened. He said: "Hospital bosses have told us our Bibles could offend non-Christians and increase the spread of MRSA.
"However, I've spoken to doctors and they have said that to claim an MRSA risk is nonsense. It is ridiculous that they think having Bibles in lockers discriminates against other religions.
"We have told them we will put a note beside our Testament advising patients who to contact if they wish a book of another faith."
Hospital managers are meeting tomorrow to discuss whether the tradition of placing Bibles at bedsides should continue at the General Hospital, Glenfield and Leicester Royal Infirmary. There are also concerns Bibles could increase the risk of spreading superbug MRSA if they became contaminated with body fluids.
Mr Mair said the charity commissioned a surgeon and microbiologist to carry out a study, which concluded Bibles do not increase infection.
Hospital managers also want to ensure all Gideons volunteers undergo a criminal record check, which the charity has agreed to.
A spokeswoman for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust confirmed discussions are taking place.
Talks involve the hospital chaplaincy, volunteer services, infection control and service equality departments.
She refused to say who had proposed the discussions within the trust, and would not reveal when a decision would be reached. She said: "Discussions are still in the early stages, meaning no proposals have yet been put forward by staff and no final decision has yet been made on this issue.
"Regardless of the outcome of the discussions, patients can be reassured that religious texts will continue to be made available at the trust's three hospitals through the chaplaincy."
A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Leicester, said: "There is a long tradition of Bibles being readily available for those who are in need of spiritual as well as physical help. People need this consolation at hospital and may need to reach for a Bible in the middle of the night for comfort and solace."
Other faith leaders are also keen for the Bibles to stay. Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for Leicestershire's Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "This is a Christian country and it would be sad to see the tradition end."
Sikh chairman of the Council of Faiths, Resham Singh Sandu, said: "I don't think many ethnic minority patients would object to having the Bible in a locker. There is no need to get rid of them."
Tim Jenkin, 53, from Oadby, who has written to the hospitals to express his anger, said: "Denying one sector of the community the opportunity to express its faith is a backward step."
END
| Poster | Thread |
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| BrChip | Posted: 2005/6/3 14:34 Updated: 2005/6/3 14:34 |
Home away from home   Joined: 2004/1/11 From: Anglican Mission to South Dakota Posts: 301 |
 Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital BiblesHow sad to see the 'sins' of the children (USA) return to bite Mother in the rear. Nagdi's comments are the most reasonable listed, and it's a shame that the Christian leadership could not have been more clear (and less PC) in their comments.
A true follower of Islam will defend the rights of other faiths to practice their religion, just not in Islamic areas. The crux of the matter is that the Bibles are NOT required reading, they are there for those who desire them. Plus, scripture for other faiths has been offered. What's the problem. Perhaps we are all too inclined to be politically correct, to not give any sign of offense even in evangelism. . .could it be that this is the reason the conversions and attendance have plummeted? Perhaps the talking heads in purple could answer that. |
| Anonymous | Posted: 2005/6/3 15:17 Updated: 2005/6/3 15:17 |
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Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles BrChip you are right. We have been caught up in the nonsense of being politically correct to the point where we have become politically inane. We have become so afraid of offending anyone that through our exclusions we are offending everyone. The talking heads in purple have sold out to secularism. These are not men who have vocations but merely jobs. Do your time, collect your pension.
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| Anonymous | Posted: 2005/6/3 16:08 Updated: 2005/6/3 16:08 |
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Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles Frankly, I find the Koran offensive with its utter rejection of Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection, not to mention His Divine Sonship. If I find one in a hospital drawer - well, no telling what I might do with it.
England is not a Christian country anymore. Neither are many European countries. Their dead, empty cathedrals attest to the fact that apostasy is the norm and Christianity the exception. |
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| Voyager | Posted: 2005/6/3 16:38 Updated: 2005/6/3 16:38 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/7/30 From: 90 ± 10 Astronomical Units (AU). Posts: 1594 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles These Bibles are from The Gideons..............this hospital has some fool - probably a "Director of Diversity & Equal Access" - these are new posts created by Blair's New Labour regime and part of the 1.000.000 new jobs created on the public payroll to replace the 1000.000 lost in manufacturing since 1997.
http://tinyurl.com/5gu5a http://www.4ni.co.uk/nationalnews.asp?id=34082 The message is simple................the squeaky wheel gets the grease...............so if they attack The Bible or Christianity............shout out loud for reinforcements and hit them hard. |
| Voyager | Posted: 2005/6/4 4:59 Updated: 2005/6/4 5:01 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/7/30 From: 90 ± 10 Astronomical Units (AU). Posts: 1594 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles Row as hospital Bibles linked to bug
John Carvel, social affairs editor Saturday June 4, 2005 The Guardian Leicester hospitals were struggling to escape a public relations disaster last night after the trust's chaplain stalled a request from Gideons International to be allowed to replace patients' bedside Bibles. His decision was interpreted on the front pages of tabloid newspapers yesterday as tantamount to banning the Bible from NHS wards. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust disputed claims that it thought having the Bible on the wards might offend non-Christians. But its spokeswoman was unable to say whether the Gideon Bibles would be allowed to remain in patients' lockers. Anne McGregor, head of communications, said the infection control team was considering whether the Bibles might contribute to the spread of MRSA and other infections, while the equality panel was looking into whether there was equitable provision of religious material suitable for Leicester's multifaith community. The trust might also want to make religious material available in a different way, providing the Bible, Qur'an and other texts on request. "We could control what religious material they had and know which patient had it," Ms McGregor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Appropriate action could then be taken if a patient who was known to be infected came in contact with a holy book. Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary and MP for Leicester West, was steering clear of the controversy yesterday. But Iain Mair, executive director of Gideons International UK headquarters, in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, said: "They are saying there's a potential MRSA risk, and we say that is nonsense ... They also say it's discriminating against people of other faiths. It's political correctness gone mad. We will put notes in the lockers which will say that, if a patient wants a book of another faith, these are the people they should contact." Mr Mair said his organisation had agreed to run its volunteers through criminal records checks before they enter wards to distribute Bibles. The trust said last night: "The chaplaincy team are seeking the views of the trust infection control, service equality and volunteer services departments. Discussions are at an extremely early stage, and the trust is unable to expand further." |
| Voyager | Posted: 2005/6/4 9:26 Updated: 2005/6/4 11:29 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/7/30 From: 90 ± 10 Astronomical Units (AU). Posts: 1594 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles Newham Hospital in London has removed Crucifix and Bibles from the Hospital Chapel and instead it has prayer mats and a water bowl for Muslims to wash their feet................
.............it seems there may have to be separate Christian Hospitals if the centrepiece of Christian Worship is to be removed from the Chapel...........for without an altar and a cross it ceases to be a Christian place of worship http://www.newham-healthcare.org/patientcare.php?m=0&a=0&sp=7 Funny how this hospital at Newham has a "Multifaith Manager" who is: Imam Yunus Dudhwala Multifaith Coordinator, College of Healthcare Chaplains Yunus Dudhwala initially started work at Newham Healthcare NHS Trust (now Newham University Hospital NHS Trust) as a Muslim Chaplain in 1998 on a part-time basis whilst working as an Imam in a local mosque. After a brief shift to Prison Chaplaincy he returned to Newham in February 2003 becoming the first person in the UK from a minority faith to lead a Chaplaincy Department in the NHS. He is a trainer on Multifaith modules and courses organised by various chaplaincy bodies in the UK and helps manage the Islam Resource Group of the College. |
| Anonymous | Posted: 2005/6/5 3:45 Updated: 2005/6/5 3:48 |
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Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles This is a very educational thread. Congratulations to all.
However, it has to be pointed out that Leicester, as a political entity, does not believe in God. They also do not believe in cricket or football (soccer). (there is a rumor that Leicester does believe in Sky TV, but this could be only because it involves the word "TV") It is well known that they have called upon The Lord to save them, and every year they find a way to screw up their season. The council is only (and very understandably) getting even. p  |
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| Jeremy1509 | Posted: 2005/6/5 14:11 Updated: 2005/6/5 14:11 |
Just popping in   Joined: 2005/6/5 From: Tonbridge, Kent - England Posts: 3 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles Here is another attempt to deny the patients their rights and comforts wrapped up in the name of protecting the patient from influences.
The bibles in the lockers are actually New Testament and Psalms, although the norm is for the whole bible to be available on demand within the ward area or at least in the hospital chapel. The reports that we receive locally are that the Testaments are welcomed and appreciated both buy the patients and the Hospital Staff. The Hospital lockers are visited regularly by members of the local branches, any damaged or delapidated stock is replaced. Most hospital trusts welcome Gideons International into the Hospital and the vast majority of chaplaincy teams co-operate and report the need for replacement to the local branch as and when required. Locally in response to a request from the hospital chaplain and medical director, we have made available a small stock of new double bag sealed NT&P for use in the Intensive Care / High Dependancy / Isolation areas where contagious infection may ensue. We expect and have agreed that if these testaments become exposed to contageous patients they will be destroyed. We currently find that about 10-15 percent of NT&P find new homes each years as patients find comfort in continuing to use what may be their first exposure to Scripture after discharge. Jeremy King Local Gideon in Kent  |
| Voyager | Posted: 2005/6/5 15:37 Updated: 2005/6/5 15:37 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/7/30 From: 90 ± 10 Astronomical Units (AU). Posts: 1594 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles Thank you to The Gideons for making my stay in hotels here and abroad more welcoming through the presence of a Gideon Bible..............it is a bond of true friendship !
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| Fiona | Posted: 2005/6/5 22:11 Updated: 2005/6/5 22:11 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2005/1/18 From: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 1071 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles "A true follower of Islam will defend the rights of other faiths to practice their religion, just not in Islamic areas."
BrChip--I am afraid that you will have to study up on the "Religion of Peace" of Islam a bit more. Unfortunately you are sadly mistaken. Fiona |
| Voyager | Posted: 2005/6/6 3:58 Updated: 2005/6/6 3:58 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/7/30 From: 90 ± 10 Astronomical Units (AU). Posts: 1594 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles If we are beset with "Christians" who have only read comic book versions of The Bible and have some weird ideas; it is worth remembering most Muslims have never read the Hadith or Koran and many cannot read............then again it is a distinctly Arab tract from a tribal society in contrast Judaeo-Christianity has transvended to be universal
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| Voyager | Posted: 2005/6/7 11:58 Updated: 2005/6/7 11:59 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/7/30 From: 90 ± 10 Astronomical Units (AU). Posts: 1594 |
Re: ENGLAND: Decision Day on Hospital Bibles Apparently this farce in the Leicester Hospital started because The Gideons asked to replace The Bibles with new ones and replace the old ones...............this caused the dormant Kraaken of Plitical Correctness to rise from the deep and since it was not instantly slain by the Force of Reason it began its usual checklist of "Do you conform to the Zeitgeist ?"
Obviously the answer was "No" and the full panpoly of Gramsci 101, Marxist-Feminist Awareness Among Nomadic Hill Tribes, and Social Oppression Among The Under-5s, came to the fore as the specially-trained HR advisers and chaplaincy zealots swung into action http://www.leicester.anglican.org/chaplains.htm |
