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Dec 29th, 2019
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Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Jennifer Graham tells me something that I hadn’t heard about Boston Marathon bombing. As dozens of victims were sprawled across Boylston Street, many of them in danger of death, Catholic priests came running to the scene—and were turned away.
Doctors and nurses were welcome at the bombing scene. Firefighters and police officers were welcome. But Catholic priests, who might have offered the solace of the sacraments, were not.
”Catholics need not apply.” That slogan was familiar in Boston years ago, before Irish and Italian immigrants took over control of the city. Now, after decades of decline in Catholic influence , the attitude has returned. One priest who was barred from Boylston Street remarked that in the past a priest was admitted anywhere. “That’s changed,” he said. “Priests are no longer considered to be emergency responders.” Why, oh why did society decide that faith and spiritual uplifting does not apply to those looking for aid anymore? It this where this country has come to anymore? Have these guys forgotten how this country was founded upon? *Sigh*... 
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Don't know exactly when this happened, but the "public trust" was betrayed years ago and has been eroding more and more ever since. The churches that used to be wide open every day for prayer are now closed shut. Security cameras are everywhere and suspicion abounds. A serious accident or fire always use to evoke the question, "Where's Father?" No more. The priests at the Marathon Bombings are but victims of that same betrayal of the public trust, and the specter of a terrorist bombing only magnified it. It seems to me we have to slowly build that public trust back up again by boldly showing our Faith.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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This whole article is a red herring. It is standard operating procedure in counter-terrorist operations--particularly bombings--to limit access to the immediate incident site to official first responders: police, fire, EMT and EOD. This is especially the case in bombing attacks, because it is a standard terrorist tactic to set off one or more bombs to create casualties, then to set off additional bombs, either by time delay or remote control, to kill and wound first responders and others who gather to help the injured, or just to gawk.
SOP requires the bombing area to be cordoned and swept for additional bombs; uninjured civilians to be evacuated to holding areas where they can be questioned and processed; the wounded to be triaged, then evacuated to casualty clearing stations or hospitals; the dead to be processed in situ until examined by police and the coroner's office; and the whole area processed as a crime scene.
There just isn't any place amidst the chaos for random clergymen wandering around and getting underfoot. The typical priest, minister or rabbi is not like a military, police or fire department chaplain. The first responders know those guys and have worked with them, and they in turn know the drill. First responders have no idea who the guy in the clerical collar might be--he could, in fact, be another terrorist in disguise--and the typical clergyman, no matter how well intentioned, is more likely to get in the way than to help. They would be better advised to go to the casualty clearing stations and minister to the injured there. Above all, they should obey the instructions of the authorities on the scene, who are trying very hard to do their duty under very trying circumstances.
If any diocese or jurisdiction was offended by the action of the police in Boston, the solution is to establish a closer working liaison with first responders, so that clergy can be properly trained in how to act in the event of terrorist attacks or large-scale accidents and national disasters. Clerics who pass the training could be deputized as auxiliary police, and given proper identification which would allow them to work inside the incident area--but still under the authority of the incident site commander.
People should cease being paranoid, and should try to understand why police act in the manner they do. There is no grand conspiracy going on here, just people responding properly to their training, training which was developed after decades of hard experience--experience bought with the lives of hundreds of first responders.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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The comments section touches on many of the issues I discussed above. A lot of very good, common sense responses by people without chips on their shoulders.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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This whole article is a red herring. It is standard operating procedure in counter-terrorist operations--particularly bombings--to limit access to the immediate incident site to official first responders: police, fire, EMT and EOD. This is especially the case in bombing attacks, because it is a standard terrorist tactic to set off one or more bombs to create casualties, then to set off additional bombs, either by time delay or remote control, to kill and wound first responders and others who gather to help the injured, or just to gawk. You are correct, Stuart. I'm showing my age. I guess I just harken and hanker for simpler times that are, perhaps, gone forever. I think the Fr. Mychal Judge case that is cited at 9/11 is quite different. He was a well-known and official chaplain of NYFD, familiar with emergency procedure, and I'm sure his presence was deemed supportive. The friars at W 31st St. are always a welcome and honored sight in the heart of the city and are viewed as true friends by all.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Fr. Mychal was a hero. The firemen were his flock, he was their shepherd. The good shepherd watches out for his sheep, and will protect them, even to laying down his own life.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Fr. Mychal is a Martyr.
May his Memory be Eternal!
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Stuart and I find common ground on more occasions than might be obvious from some of our exchanges. This is one.
With many years involvement in drafting mass casualty disaster plans, I find myself agreeing fully with him on this matter. Clergy of all faiths who are accredited chaplains to local first responder agencies - fire, police, and EMS - are expected and welcomed at scenes such as these and are knowledgeable about not only their spiritual role but how they can best exercise it in the circumstances - which is sometimes very differently than might be the case in more ordinary circumstances.
As an example, it would be rare in a situation such as this for a priest to consider administering Last Rites individually, unless in a casualty holding area. Conferring General Absolution is a much more practical - often the only practical approach - on Ground Zero or on a Fire Ground.
The BPD and BFD have both historically had official chaplains of various faiths; I presume that both still do.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
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