SARS epidemic leads to general absolution to Catholics

[yxboom]

SARS Forces Catholics to Halt Confessions
Reuters
Wed April 9, 2003 08:56 AM ET (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2534915)


"The Archbishop of Singapore has issued a directive to the priests that there will be no individual confessions and that they are to issue general forgiveness," said a spokeswoman for the Catholic News, which represents Singapore's Catholic church.

[Rubia Warren]

:nc:

[Woman]

Good GRIEF!

Just this week the World Health Organization announced that the mortality rate from SARS is about 4%. It's hardly Armageddon.

Unless of course it's caused by demons!

[kiwimac]

Today @ 12:52 PM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=62271#post62271)
Woman:

Good GRIEF!

Just this week the World Health Organization announced that the mortality rate from SARS is about 4%. It's hardly Armageddon.

Unless of course it's caused by demons!


SHHHH! Freak'll hear you!!

Kiwimac

[GrayPilgrim]

:rofl:

[NSMinistries]

Today @ 12:07 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=62663#post62663)
kiwimac:




SHHHH! Freak'll hear you!!

Kiwimac

[Woman]

My stylish SARS mask!












* available in hot pink and sage...deluxe model will protect against demons and wayward exorcists

[kiwimac]

oooooeeeeeeerrrrr

Kiwimac

[Ric]

I'm not the least bit worried, for I place my trust in God and not mere men!

[Ryokan]

When you get in a car wreck, I hope you put your faith in the guy who made your seat belt, Ric.

[jmccully]

I was in China in September as a student from St Marys College. I was to interview average Chinese people in Beijing and Shanghai and compare to Americans on 3 subjects: patriotism, ability or willingness to criticize their government and level of optimism for the future. I spoke with a 24 year old woman who was very ill at the peak of the SARS crisis in Beijing. Her parents had to decide whether to take her to the hospital or to treat her at home. It was a tough decision because if she did have SARS she might die without hospitalization. But if she did not have SARS she would likely contract it at the hospital. In the end they decided to care for her at home and they "prayed" for her recovery. I asked her if they prayed to Buddha. She replied, "Of course not, most Chinese are not Buddhists." I apologized for my ignorance and asked who, then, did they pray to? She stated that they really "wished" for her recovery. She said that she knows that many Americans believe there is a Creator (her tone was 'silly Westerner') but most Chinese do not. They have faith in their government and they ask "favors of the universe." I asked her who is driving the universe? Who decides if you get your favor granted? She said "no one".

On a different note this young woman defended her government who tried "really hard" to protect its population from SARS and "felt really" bad that some got sick. When I told her that much of the world judged that China did a poor job in handling the situations was not forthcoming about the problem in order to mitigate risk to its people and peoples around the world. She completely disagreed and said Americans are "too critical."

So, although I am a silly Westerner who "foolishly" believes in a Creator and am too critical, I am glad I went to China and am glad to be home, more appreciative of my country and my beliefs.

[spl_cadet]

.

[bar Jonah]

Ryokan:
When you get in a car wreck, I hope you put your faith in the guy who made your seat belt, Ric.
Trust someone who screws up? Trust material things that inevitably break down?

Thanks but I trust my Lord and God -- Jesus Christ -- whether the belt breaks or not. I have a promise, and I have "No Fear." Not of Satan, not of men, not of death.