New Age Therapies and Spiritual Values

Patients have a right to expect that their spiritual values will be protected when they enter a healthcare center according to the Joint Commission of the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).(1) Spiritual beliefs affect patients’ consent regarding certain treatment modalities (Jehovah Witness and blood transfusions).(2) Are nurses offering therapies which conflict with Catholic patients’ spirituality?

Reiki, therapeutic touch (energy medicine) and yoga ( mind-body medicine) are types of Complementary/Alternative Medicines (CAM) which nurses administer.(3) The Pontifical Council for Culture and Inter religious Dialogue (2003) identified concerns regarding these therapies and their connection with “New Age” beliefs in Jesus Christ the Bearer of the water of life.(4) Reiki is the only CAM therapy that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) specifically has identified as inappropriate for Catholic institutions to offer as a therapy. According to Guidelines for evaluating Reiki as an alternative therapy (2009, March) “…it is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence…”(5) The National Center for Complementary/Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)identified that “…there are key questions that are yet to be answered through well – designed scientific studies…such as whether the therapies are safe…”(6)

Catholic nurses who offer Reiki to Catholic patients are disregarding the USCCB declaration as well as warnings from the Vatican. Jesus said “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching” (John 14:23 – 24). Practitioners of Reiki believe that Reiki is the same as “laying on of hands”, but they are mistaken. They believe that the “energy” within them brings healing and they are a conduit for that energy.(7)

Jesus taught us “...in My Name…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:16-19). Catholic nurses have a beautiful gift to offer their patients to be healed in Jesus Name using the gifts of healing that God has given us.

References:

    1. La Pierre, L.L. (2003, July/August). JCAHO safeguards spiritual care. Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/JournalArticle.asp?Article_ID=417476
    2. Ursu, D. (2010). Jehovah’s Witnesses and blood transfusions: Medical ethics concerning the Jehovah’s Witness. Retrieved from http://www.bioethics.suite101.com/article.cfm/jehovah
    3. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (2011, July). What is CAM? Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam#types
    4. Pontifical Council for Culture and Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. (2003, February). Jesus Christ the Bearer of the water of life: A Christian reflection on the “New Age”. Retrieved from http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical
    5. Committee on Doctrine United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2009, March). Guidelines for evaluating reiki as an alternative therapy. Retrieved from http://old.usccb.org/doctrine/Evaluation_Guidelines_finaltext_2009-03.pdf
    6. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). (2011, November). Are you considering complementary medicine? Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/decisions/consideringcam.htm
    7. The International Center for Reiki Training. (n.d.) What is reiki?. Retrieved from http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html