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PaperclipPerfector  7d ago (text post)   2992 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for October 19, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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On call before cell phones worked off of pagers. I don’t know how it worked before then. Rushing to fetch a priest was an old timey trope, though.

Hospitals have Catholic chaplains, but even if those chaplains are priests they’re not on duty 24/7. Usually those chaplains are actually deacons who do not have the full range of sacramental powers. Priests who get a call to the hospital are expected to drop meetings, classes, etc to just go; they probably don’t have their phones on for mass or hearing confessions. Catholics are expected to receive unrepeatable sacraments(confirmation and anointing of the sick are the relevant ones here- sometimes baptisms in the NICU) from their parish priest, although during Covid this was changed a bit to have priests nearest the hospitals complying with whatever protocols.

Usually those chaplains are actually deacons who do not have the full range of sacramental powers.

Makes sense, in a hospital there's less reason to care if they don't have the full suite of healing spells. Do your part yourself if you're so great, science.

Thanks. I still have lots of questions, but I appreciate the response :)

I didn't know that deacons would work in hospitals; I've only ever met priests there before.

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