Posted on 04/27/2013 12:35:27 PM PDT by Lonely Bull
The heart-wrenching photographs taken in the moments after the Boston Marathon bombings show the blue-and-yellow jackets of volunteers, police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical technicians, even a three-foot-high blue M&M. Conspicuously absent are any clerical collars or images of pastoral care.
--SNIP--
When the priests at St. Clement's, three blocks away, heard the explosions, they gathered sacramental oils and hurried to the scene in hopes of anointing the injured and, if necessary, administering last rites, the final of seven Catholic sacraments. But the priests, who belong to the order Oblates of the Virgin Mary, weren't allowed at the scene.
The Rev. John Wykes, director of the St. Francis Chapel at Boston's soaring Prudential Center, and the Rev. Tom Carzon, rector of Our Lady of Grace Seminary, were among the priests who were turned away right after the bombings
--SNIP--
In light of the devastation in Boston, the denial of access to clergy is a trifling thing, and it might even have been an individual's error. (The Boston Police Department did not respond to a request for comment on its policy regarding clergy at the scenes of emergencies.)
But it is a poignant irony that Martin Richard, the 8-year-old boy who died on Boylston Street, was a Catholic who had received his first Communion just last year. As Martin lay dying, priests were only yards away, beyond the police tape, unable to reach him to administer last rites—a sacrament that, to Catholics, bears enormous significance.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
That is the point that, while willing to take risks themselves, they would agree that their risk taking should not risk *others*. Again, with the unique situation of a bomb having gone off, with more bombs possibly soon to go off.
I’m seeing this entirely from the perspective of a terrorist bombing response and emergency services. The number one priority is to get every living person away and EOD in there to look for other bombs and defuse them before they can kill and maim even more people. There might even be truck bombs with the intent of taking down high rise buildings.
What muddles the situation are swine like Bloomberg, who intentionally excluded clergy at the memorial to 9-11. That is worlds apart from what I’m talking about.
What a bunch of malarkey!
Thank you.
No. that’s the way I see it. I think DL is quite correct. I’m going to follow this story.
:)
Fr. Rutler is still at the Church of Our Savior. I believe it’s on 4th (Park, below Grand central). Haven’t been home in years, so . . .
But, I wrote him today; wanted to make sure he saw this, I’m sure, but. . . buried in a Saturday WSJ, anyone could miss it.
Where do you two get off questioning the status of these priests’ faith?
I’m appalled !!!
.
You honestly think these priests lack faith because they did not force their way onto police, causing all kinds of problems for them during the middle of a major catastrophe? That is absurd.
A child did not get last rites. Why? What kept the priests form getting in there?
That is very questionable.
The catstrophe was threat of death. The only thing worse than that is the threat of eternal damnation, and by far.
What happened?
Former Pastor at Holy Ghost in Denver. A very devout Priest.
From the article, the Wall Street Journal, a more right leaning NY paper:
“In light of the devastation in Boston, the denial of access to clergy is a trifling thing . .”
Why is ANYONE walking away with THIS notion?
These are trying times. We have the USCCB, including Cardinal Dolan, coming out with statements that make headlines which read “Ardinal Dolan Agrees with Obama, there needs to be Gun Control” and Archbishop Gomez spending Parish money $800,000 to assist illegal Mexicans in this country.
NOT A PEEP{ PEEP about Gosnell Nary a word about abortion not a sound from the pulpit about the scourge on the family that is birth control not a word.
All due respect, of course.
It’s just that there’s no way anyone was going to keep out priests from the twin Towers bombing. They died for it, as did many in the battlefield, which this was.
When I can get my lazy butt out of bed in time, I attend 9 o'clock Mass at Our Saviour. Otherwise, it's 11 o'clock at St. Agnes.
That statement itself shows how naive you are.
The editorial pages of the Journal are conservative. the news pages of the Journal are liberal. I doubt you realize that a past editor of the Journal was none other than Mr. Judy Woodruff, aka Al Hunt.
Oh. IS there a conservative NY paper?
Great.
The NY Post, toots.
Oh, man!
Yes, I do.
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