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NHS gives its blessing to paganism

Pagan chaplains are, for the first time, to offer counselling and prayers to the sick in Scottish hospitals.

NHS Tayside has agreed with Scotland's 30,000 Pagans a ground-breaking deal that will allow bedside healing rituals, meditation and special prayers. But some of the more exotic aspects of Paganism - not least the carrying of flaming torches - will have to stay outside.

John McIntyre, spokesman for the Pagan Federation, added: "There are about 30,000 people in Scotland who would regard themselves as Pagan and many people are very sympathetic to elements of Pagan belief without necessarily calling themselves Pagans."

Moira Kerr, a Kirk elder who in 2005 campaigned against a move by Tayside to remove a communion table from a hospital chapel in case it offend non-Christians, said: "There's no doubt the devil is at work in this."

Gordon MacDonald, the parliamentary officer for the Christian values charity CARE, said: "Very few people in Scotland identify themselves as being Pagan by faith and I would have thought a health board would have better things to do."

Rev Chris Levison, who advises the NHS in Scotland on provision of chaplaincy services, said: "The fact is that we treat patients of all religions and faiths - and even those of none - equally. If they ask for care and a visit from a particular religion then the duty is to facilitate it, as far as that is possible."

Full story at Scotland on Sunday.