DOCTORS ' LOUNGE
( continued from page 31 ) this power is recognized by a scrutinizing public , explaining the headline-grabbing stories of medical and clerical abuse scandals in the recent past . However , the power dynamic is best understood not as absolute , but as the ability to lead , coach and persuade patients and parishioners along their path . In medicine , we don ’ t actually put the pill directly into the mouths of the patient . Nor do we , say , put coke in the nose of an addict when the patient traverses a dubious path . Christian clerics lead and guide their parishioners in much the same way , though along a path for their soul . They don ’ t actually put the love and faith in Christ into the hearts of parishioners ; that is a job for the individual and God . Nor , too , do they remove the faith in Christ from parishioners when they are let down , be it by the church or a leader ’ s lexical shortcomings .
Truly can a baptism of a willing individual , and their subsequent sacraments , be invalidated by another man ? Frankly , just who the hell do they think they are ? After all , only the patient and their god know if they swallow a prescribed pill in the same way only the parishioner and their god truly know if they drank the Kool-Aid .
Common law or canonical , the threat of litigiousness is shared , be it mistake or overt transgression , across professions . As the legal community so often remind physicians : “ If it isn ’ t documented , it didn ’ t happen .” Apparently , though , priests aren ’ t given the same level of clarity , for even if a baptism is recorded and the sacrament is genuinely undertaken that we all witness , it still , apparently , may not actually have happened . The Diocese of Phoenix reassured its parishioners on their website , noting that “ God has bound Himself to the sacraments , but He is not bound by the sacraments .” Further , “ We can be assured that all who approached God , our Father , in good faith to receive the sacraments did not walk away empty handed .” The threat of invalidation of all of one ’ s sacraments , confirmation and marriage included , over a single word spoken in error along one ’ s walk to eternal salvation might reasonably leave one feeling more than just empty handed . Can I get an “ Amen ”?
Oh ! The mere assertion that one may be placed on a ceremonial path to Hell by the alteration of one word by a fellow human is archaic . Oh , No . If those affected by Father Arangos ’ canonical misdeed are even able to retain their faith after this slight , could it be possible they demonstrate more commitment now than before to the sacraments which were undertaken ?
Trevor Noah , for his wisdom honed on the streets of apartheid South Africa where unequal power dynamics were codified into law , noted with some element of levity on the topic :
“ Since we were young , many of us have been taught the same story , right ? Be good , pray every day and you ’ ll get into heaven . What your grandmother probably didn ’ t mention is that a paperwork issue could send you to hell .”
The theological construct of a monotheistic religion represented by a triumphant triumvirate is one that will satiate spiritual philosophers to the end of the ages . However , the story of Father Arangos ’ slip of the tongue in the plural and the diocesan response is far less philosophic , it is just disheartening . Medicine offers a cautionary tale of power to our clerical brothers . Exerting power just because you can doesn ’ t necessarily end well . Once masters of our domain , one may simply glance at the current landscape of medicine to see that the power has been divvied up among the litigators , the underwriters , the bureaucrats and the concierge desk . Just because a big stick can be wielded , does not mean it should . A big stick can hit arbitrarily and run roughshod over the details . The risk , here , for the religious is division among the spiritual , the dogmatic , the political and the alienated who are left to bicker over the details . And we all know , the devil is in the details . Dr . Kolter is a practicing internist with Baptist Health .