hedgehog
hedgehog's Journal"An important piece of jewelry" "a statement piece"
What makes a piece of jewelry important? What is it saying?
About those underemployed millennials -
there is a matching flip side to this problem - in real terms, too many of their parents are making the same as or less than they were paid 30 years ago!
My husband makes good money compared to most. He's gotten raises every year he's worked. But, looking back - those raises were equal to or less than inflation rates - so he's really right where he started! We're still ahead of most because so many have had to take lower paying jobs!
This isn't a competition - it breaks my heart that I can't be of more assistance to my millennial children!
Anyone ever have a suspicious mole checked out?
What I'm afraid of is being told it looks odd, then being told to come back in two weeks for a biopsy, then being told to come back again to have it removed. This is a small mole that I think has taken an odd turn. What are the chances that it will simply be removed and biopsied if the doctor agrees with me?
Catholic hospitals - some background and a modest proposal -
First - often times there is a difference between actual Catholic teachings and practices at Catholic Hospitals in the US. Going back to the early 20th century, the movement to make birth control easily obtainable was entwined with the eugenics movement; some backers felt birth control was the only way to protect the proper Anglo-Saxons from the extreme fertility of the immigrants from Southern and eastern Europe, as well as from the poor whites. Oftentimes, poor mothers delivered at hospitals only when hours of at-home labor were futile. It is possible that often the only way to save the mother's life and deliver the baby was to crush the baby's skull. However, when Harvard trained doctors had no trouble delivering healthy babies to upper class women, and tended to deliver a dead child to poor women, it should be easy to see how suspicions would arise. At the other end of life - there was a suspicion that wealthy doctors didn't allowed poor patients to die unnecessarily because they couldn't pay for treatment. As a result, the custom in many Catholic hospitals is to go beyond actual Church teachings in terms of protecting an unborn fetus and offering end-of-life care.
(Sidebar: I have heard my poor white, rural, Protestant in-laws express the same suspicions - that doctors save the best care for wealthier patients. At the other end of life, there is often a suspicion that some people are being allowed to die. As a result, families often are unwilling to let go and to demand extreme measures to ensure that their loved one is properly cared for. )
Second -where did Catholic hospitals come from? Originally, they were founded and staffed by women who voluntarily chose a life of poverty and service. These women followed the immigrant Catholic communities to build hospitals to take care of the poor at no charge. At times changed, these hospitals have evolved into institutions run by very well paid lay people. They charge as much or more as any other hospital. Across America, local hospitals are being absorbed into large health care groups, oftentimes one that is ostensibly "Catholic", meaning that all local hospitals may follow the dictates of the local Catholic bishop (regardless of whether he actually understands Catholic ethics!)
That said - abortion and contraception are forbidden by Church teachings. But - as Pope Francis is reminding people, there is more to Church teachings than abortion and birth control -
So - a modest proposal -
Any hospital may call itself a Catholic Hospital and follow Catholic Church teachings regarding patient care
provided
that such institution also follow Church teachings on economic matters - and prove that by capping all salaries at the median salary of local general practitioners. Further, no patient should ever be driven into bankruptcy and/or poverty because of a hospital bill!
Sign of the times: My grandson was baptized in the Episcopal church yesterday:
In attendance:
Mother: raised Roman Catholic, studying to be an Episcopal priest
Father: Inactive roman Catholic
Grandparents: Roaming catholics, attending an Episcopal parish
Grandparents: Roman Catholic
Godfather: Uncle/ RC
Godmother: Aunt/ Very active RC
Great-great aunt : Methodist
Great-grandfather & two great uncles: UCC
Great grandfather: Very active RC
Aunt and Uncle: Lutheran (on her church board) and RC husband who is now going to her church
Aunt and Uncle: Inactive RC
Aunt: Declared atheist, living a life of poverty and good works; think 21st century sister.
Smiles and laughter:tons
Wailing and gnashing of teeth: none.
God bless John XXIII!
Profile Information
Gender: FemaleHometown: Oswego County, New York
Home country: USA
Current location: Lake Ontario Snow Belt
Member since: Fri Apr 23, 2004, 11:56 PM
Number of posts: 36,286
