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"No" to Bedside Bibles at Hospitals
NewsFromRussia.Com ^ | 16:27 2005-06-04

Posted on 06/05/2005 6:26:34 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay

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, tells the Guardians Unlimited.

The hospital managers also claimed that Bibles could have some kind of role in spreading the MRSA superbug. This has been refuted by medical studies. But the managers have also refused an offer from Gideons International, the evangelical group that provides the Bibles, to make copies of the Koran and other holy scriptures. It supplies 900,000 Bibles a year to hotels, libraries and hospitals in Britain.

Iqbal Sacranie, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the idea (to ban) was " ridiculous and extreme" and warned that respect for other faiths could not be achieved at the expense of Christianity. Prof Harminder Singh of the Sikh Divine fellowship also said, " In 30 years working with inter-faith groups this has never been an issue."

A director of Gideons said he had as yet to receive a single letter or email or phone call from any member of another faith to say they were offended by a hospital Bible. But the hospital Trust maintained that was committed to religious diversity and equality and that there was a possibility that Bibles could give offence, publishes Hundistan Times.


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Russia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: bibles; europeanchristians; gideons; god; hospitals; jesuschrist; leicester; purge; religion
Iain Mair, executive director of Gideons International United Kingdom, dismissed the infection fear as "nonsense", saying the organisation has commissioned its own medical reports, which have found no potential risk.

"They also say it's discriminating against people of other faiths. It's outrageous -- political correctness gone mad," Mair said.

Canada has been removing Bibles from hospitals for years citing the "best interest in good hygiene". . However, "If the Bible is a threat in a drawer, where does it stop?" said the pastor of Fredericton's (N.B.) Skyline Acres Baptist Church. "Is it possible for these germs to reside and live on lampshades, curtains? You see what I'm saying."

1 posted on 06/05/2005 6:26:34 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay
They must figure that if no one has them, no one can desecrate them..... /sarcasm
2 posted on 06/05/2005 6:37:19 AM PDT by b4its2late (I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it. So I said "Implants?" She hit me.)
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"We have disinfection processes to disinfect other surfaces, but we don't have anything to disinfect books," said Jane Stafford, a spokeswoman for the River Valley Health Authority, which operates the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. "The influenza virus, when you cough or sneeze, can live on hard surfaces for 48 hours."
3 posted on 06/05/2005 6:41:49 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay (Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.)
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To: fight_truth_decay
A man from Gideons came to our church. He stated that it was far easier to distribute bibles in the former Soviet union than the US.

"We are barred from US schools, and we can't keep up with the demand for bibles in the soviet schools."

4 posted on 06/05/2005 6:55:17 AM PDT by Bear_Slayer (DOC - 81 MM Mortars, Wpns Co. 2/3 KMCAS 86-89)
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To: fight_truth_decay

We do not need to be overly alarmed or discouraged. rather, we can have joy because we can know the outcome.
We've read the last chapter, the last page.
We know the outcome and we know who wins!We win!

The Bible is relevant to all of life and for those who read it and heed it, it changes their lives. Could this be the reason they do not want Bibles in hospitals?

Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. [Matthew 24:4-14]


5 posted on 06/05/2005 6:56:42 AM PDT by Beth528
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To: fight_truth_decay
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust disputed claims that it thought having the Bible on the wards might offend non-Christians.

Somehow it never matters if the pro-homosexual propaganda, mandatory "sensitivity" training or Gay Celebration weeks in the schools can offend believing Christians.

6 posted on 06/05/2005 6:57:09 AM PDT by A. Pole (M. Boskin: "It doesn't make any difference whether a country makes potato chips or computer chips!")
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To: A. Pole

We had a big whoop-up in Canada about this recently, and the people who had started it backed down. The Bibles are back.


7 posted on 06/05/2005 7:00:06 AM PDT by KateatRFM
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To: fight_truth_decay

Just redesignate hospitals as American prisons and the religious books will flow.


8 posted on 06/05/2005 7:13:36 AM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (NO PRISONERS!!)
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To: fight_truth_decay

Microwaves work fine. If that's an issue they should try it. They could also santize brochures, prescriptions and notes.


9 posted on 06/05/2005 7:19:51 AM PDT by muawiyah (q)
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To: Bear_Slayer

"A man from Gideons came to our church. He stated that it was far easier to distribute bibles in the former Soviet union than the US."

God have mercy on the USA! Please Lord don't take away Your Holy Spirit, Your blessings and Your awesome hand of protection covering the USA! Forgive us Lord!


10 posted on 06/05/2005 7:27:31 AM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: A. Pole

It is almost getting to the point where more about this PC America offends me than makes me proud.


11 posted on 06/05/2005 7:34:18 AM PDT by B4Ranch ( Report every illegal alien that you meet. Call 866-347-2423, Employers use 888-464-4218)
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To: RoseofTexas
Sometimes I long for the 1970s. Even though they were turbulent times, they were more peaceful and free than today.

I doubt we can ever return to more peaceful times, until we as a nation go through more difficult times. Until we, as a nation recognize our mistakes as socialists and God hating people, and see the consequences of our Godless decisions.

Until then - I hope for His mercy and long suffering

12 posted on 06/05/2005 7:35:46 AM PDT by Bear_Slayer (DOC - 81 MM Mortars, Wpns Co. 2/3 KMCAS 86-89)
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To: Bear_Slayer

Me too, I find myself listening more and more to music form the 60's and 70's and remembering the good old days. My hubby had a 67 GTO, we had fun! And God was still welcomed in our homeland...big time!! I fear for my children and grandkids...the fight must continue, we must win!! Spare nothing, we must fight the good fight, no matter the price to recapture America's soul!!


13 posted on 06/05/2005 7:48:09 AM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: fight_truth_decay

"The hospital managers also claimed that Bibles could have some kind of role in spreading the MRSA superbug."

I'd think there'd be lots of other items in the room that would be bigger spreaders...phones, doorknobs, furniture, lightswitches, call buttons, bedrails, tray tables. Also, protocol for MRSA requires everyone to wash before entering and upon leaving the patient's room and wear gloves while inside, and some places are now designating rooms for MRSA use only. I don't think it's germs that these folks are afraid of...but if Bibles are so risky, we should certainly make all our doctors get rid of their racks of prescription/health info brochures, the magazines in the waiting room and their sign-in clipboards & pens.


14 posted on 06/05/2005 11:10:23 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
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To: fight_truth_decay

Everybody always seems to make fun of Arkansas, but let me tell you something ... it's one of the greatest places in the world. In every doctor's office I've been in in Cental Arkansas (Little Rock, Conway, Russelville, Clinton), there have been Bibles in the waiting rooms. Not only that, but the doctors and the other medical professionals are all CHRISTIANS! You can't believe how good that feels.


15 posted on 06/06/2005 10:25:36 PM PDT by JudyB1938 ("A paranoid schizophrenic is somebody who just found out what's going on." - Wm S. Burroughs, Jr.)
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