Allow clergy to see patients during pandemic

As an Episcopal priest at St. Aidan's Church in Bolinas, one of my most beloved ministries is visiting parishioners when they are in the hospital.

Recently, I tried to visit a parishioner staying as a patient at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael. She was in much physical pain and emotional distress. When we talked on the phone, I assured her that, as a fully vaccinated priest, they would certainly let me in. Little did I know that the regional group of Kaiser hospitals revived a stricter visitor policy during the ongoing spike in Bay Area COVID-19 contractions. I was barred from seeing her. Everyone was very polite, but I left feeling sad that I could not do my job.

In church communities, relationships between priests and parishioners are very close, providing warmth, counsel and familial support, both in ordinary times and times of crisis. No one is at their best when sick. Since Episcopal priests are all trained in medical ministry, we can help a person in pain ask the right questions and help them to understand the answers given by their medical providers. At other times, our care is nothing more than the reassurance that the patient is not alone in her suffering and that she is loved. It makes a difference.

My request is very simple. I believe that clergy make an important contribution to the health of those who call on us. I support policies requiring that we should be fully vaccinated and boosted, and that we test frequently. But I don't want to have to wait until my parishioner is dying, which was the only condition that would have allowed me to see her.

Since immediate family members are admitted after receiving a COVID-19 test, I respectfully request that clergy be allowed the same consideration. —The Rev. Carol Luther, San Anselmo