Tags: Chaplaincy
Can chaplaincy ever be fit for the 21st century?
Posted: Mon, 02 Mar 2020 by Dr Antony Lempert
A report highlighting the institutional bias towards Christianity in NHS chaplaincy services should prompt us to ask whether taxpayers should fund chaplaincy in the health service at all, says Dr Antony Lempert. Read More »
The NHS’s pastoral support shouldn’t be based on religiosity
Posted: Fri, 11 Jan 2019 by Dr Antony Lempert
Moves to introduce humanist chaplaincy services in some NHS hospitals paper over the cracks in a discriminatory service, Dr Antony Lempert argues. Read More »
Universities must commit to free expression – and they should stop hiring religious chaplains
Posted: Thu, 02 Aug 2018 by Chris Sloggett
A chaplain should not have been sacked for criticising Pride off campus, says Chris Sloggett. But universities can strike a blow for free speech and critical enquiry if they stop appointing religious representatives.
It is both impossible and undesirable to... Read More »
NHS pastoral care should be a non-discriminatory service for all
Posted: Thu, 16 Jul 2015 by Stephen Evans
If NHS Trusts want to provide pastoral care for all, then there is no rationale for restricting the role of chaplain to those of faith, argues Stephen Evans.
God forbid – but if you or any your family end up in hospital, and feel the need for some emotional... Read More »
It’s the Church’s Christian duty to support the health service, not leech off it
Posted: Mon, 13 May 2013 by Terry Sanderson
The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, says that hospital chaplaincy services "ought never to be seen as a luxury to be discarded when budgets are tight; or chapels as spaces to be sacrificed to other purposes when needs arise."
Speaking at... Read More »
Hospitals in dire cash crisis, but the chaplains sail merrily on
Posted: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 by Terry Sanderson
By Terry Sanderson
Not a week goes by now without more depressing headlines about the gradual demolition of the NHS. Recent ones include:
Cracks appearing in NHS, but chaplains sail on regardless
Posted: Wed, 28 Nov 2012 by Terry Sanderson
Horror stories about the state of the National Health Service are an almost daily occurrence now. Latest is a report from the Kings Fund issued this week. The think tank warned that "cracks are beginning to appear" as waiting times creep up, and hospitals... Read More »
The Church of England should act now if it wants to save its hospital chaplaincy service
Posted: Tue, 06 Nov 2012 by Terry Sanderson
The following message appeared recently on the social networking site Gransnet:
"Went with a friend for her Chemo session. A chap who was a spiritual healer, wearing a chaplaincy badge, was approaching, one by one, everyone who was having chemo treatment, asking... Read More »
Hospitals axed, wages cut, frontline staff dispensed with – but Chaplains are sitting pretty
Posted: Sat, 15 Sep 2012 by Terry Sanderson
Several alarming headlines over the past few weeks have indicated that hospitals up and down the country are about to close and that those that stay open will have savage staff culls and wage cuts.
We’re all in this together – aren’t we?
As previously reported, the NHS spent around £29M on hospital chaplains in 2009/2010. The National Secular Society argues that churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples should fund these chaplains off their own bats and I couldn't agree more, especially... Read More »
The booming industry of religious chaplaincy
Posted: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 by Stephen Evans
Despite the parlous state of the UK economy, it appears chaplaincy is a boom industry. An ever increasing army of priests, pastors, rabbis, imams and laypeople are attaching themselves to secular institutions, largely funded by the taxpayer, to take the word... Read More »
How did our education system become a playground for theocrats?
Posted: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 by Terry Sanderson
We are seeing the new crop of academy schools beginning to advertise for chaplains
