Posts Tagged ‘illness’

Mum said, “I don’t want to die”

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014

When Mum called to tell me she had cancer I didn’t answer. I looked up from my eggs on toast, registered her name flashing on my phone, and decided that whatever Mum wanted could wait. It waited until after I’d showered, watched an episode of Orange is the New Black, painted my nails a lurid green, Read more

A better way of dying

Friday, June 14th, 2013

As Seigan Glassing walked down the sterile, white hospital corridor, he thought of a poem written by well-known Zen master Kozan Ichikyo shortly before his death. Empty handed I entered The world Barefoot I leave it My coming, my going — Two simple happenings That got entangled. Seigan paused outside one of the identical doors Read more

Vatican denies report that Benedict XVI is seriously ill

Friday, April 12th, 2013

The Vatican has denied a Spanish report that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is seriously ill. On the contrary, said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, Benedict XVI “does not have any illness” and “this has been certified by his doctors”. The report in El Mundo quoted Spanish Vaticanista Paloma Gomez-Borrero as saying:
“Benedict XVI has something very Read more

Cardinal apologises for saying paedophilia not criminal

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

Cardinal Wilfred Napier of Durban has apologised for describing paedophilia as a “psychological disorder” and not “a criminal condition” that deserves punishment. The cardinal had told BBC Radio 5 live that people who were abused as children and became paedophiles were not criminally responsible for their actions in the same way as somebody “who chooses Read more