Abstract

Pandemic precaution policies—in particular, extreme restrictions on visitors—have caused a failure of spiritual care for hospital patients, especially those not diagnosed with or at high risk of the disease in question. Many hospitals make significant pastoral efforts for patients. But phone conversations with ordained chaplains and visits by lay chaplains cannot substitute for Confession, Communion, and Anointing of the Sick. It is unreasonable to exclude clergy who have taken appropriate precautions to protect themselves and others, and no urgent medical reason exists to justify denying patients access to sacraments; doing so violates civil rights and religious liberty. Crises calls for greater accommodation of believers in danger of death, who may need a priest even more than a doctor. Serious consideration has to be given as to when the costs of a precautionary policy can no longer be ethically justified.