Nun tells of healing after praying to John Paul II

[avaistheone1]

Source: Associated Press

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (AP) - A French nun says she felt new inner strength and vitality as her Parkinson's disease suddenly disappeared in 2005 - a recovery the Vatican attributes to the miraculous intercession of Pope John Paul II.

Sister Marie Simon-Pierre, who works at a Paris maternity clinic, told reporters in a rare appearance Monday that she felt "reborn" on waking June 3, 2005 after she had prayed for healing to John Paul.

"There was a new strength inside me, and my body was rediscovering its vitality and fluidity," Simon-Pierre, appearing in good health, told reporters in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence.


Read more: http://www.katu.com/news/national/114043669.html?ref=morestories

[Submariner]

1. Benny Hinn does the same thing lady....get over it

delusional.

[physioex]

2. She would have had the same luck....

With the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

[avaistheone1]

21. That's impossible.

There is no medical investigation into Hinn's supposedly healings.

[Richard Steele]

40. Benny HILL granted my prayers....where's his sainthood?

When I was 12 years old, I was praying to get a glimpse
of some large firm BREASTS, and that happened
about once a month because the local PBS station
didn't actually REVIEW the episodes of the Benny Hill Show
they ran at 2:00AM Sunday morning....

I suspect that sick nuns RECOVER from serious illnesses
a lot more often than I ever saw British boobs
on non-cable TV back in 1984.

So which is the greater miracle?

[Matariki]

3. Parkinson's disease suddenly disappearing is WONDERFUL

Who cares who or what she prayed to. Good for her.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DrDan]

7. have to agree with you - good for her

[Goblinmonger]

19. Parkinson's disease suddenly disappearing is IMPOSSIBLE

The fact that the medical community is not studying her for having had an incurable disease cured should probably clue us in to something regarding this story.

[trotsky]

23. Here's the key bit:

Last year, there were some questions about whether the nun's original diagnosis was correct. But in a statement Friday, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints said Vatican-appointed doctors had "scrupulously" studied the case and determined that her cure had no scientific explanation.

Go figure - you pick your own jury, and you get a verdict that's favorable!

On edit, let me add the second (and MORE key bit):

Visitors are expected to visit the Vatican in droves on May 1, and the beatification is seen as a morale boost for a church reeling from the clerical sex abuse scandal.

'Nuff said.

[avaistheone1]

24. The medical community does study the nun

in order for the Canonization to proceed.

If one verified miracle has occurred since the death of the person, then he or she can be beatified (and then called "Blessed"). If two postmortem miracles occurred, then they can be canonized (and called "Saint"). The miracle usually is an immediate, complete and spontaneous cure of a serious and pathological disease or condition which medical science cannot explain or refute.

Read more: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-canonization-process-for-sainthood.html#ixzz1BOvfhmva

[Goblinmonger]

26. I'll give you one guess as to who the doctors are.

In case you don't know, look at trotsky's post.

I'll believe them when hell freezes over. Or when the case gets published in JAMA.

[Matariki]

27. Nothing is impossible.

Finding out that your incurable disease turned out to be a 'mis-diagnosis' is a type of miracle.

I'm sure if it were you, you wouldn't complain.

[Goblinmonger]

37. I wouldn't complain

I wouldn't also claim sainthood.

[Lucian]

44. A misdiagnosis isn't a miracle.

It means her doctor was an idiot.

[cleanhippie]

54. Absurd!

A misdiagnosis is NOT a miracle, its a misdiagnosis.

[rug]

28. That's why it's being called a miracle.

As to the medical doubt,

"New questions were raised in recent weeks, after a Polish newspaper reported that doubts had been cast about whether Simon-Pierre had Parkinson's to begin with. The Rzeczpospolita daily, one of Poland's most respected and widely read newspapers, suggested that Simon-Pierre instead may have suffered from another neurological disease which has similar symptoms as Parkinson's but which can be cured.

"Without citing sources, it said the Vatican had called in new experts to examine the case.

"Responding to the report, the emeritus head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, suggested that what may have happened was that a doctor, who is asked in a preliminary phase by the Congregation to advise whether it's worth sending the case onto the fuller Vatican-appointed medical board, may have expressed some doubts.

" 'It could be that one of the two medical consultants perhaps had some doubts," he told reporters last week. "And this, unfortunately, leaked out. But we cannot confuse one thing with another.' "

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/29/world/main6343263.shtml

Feel free to read the original Polish.

http://www.rp.pl/artykul/442043.html

[Goblinmonger]

38. Ooooh, I'm all a quiver waiting to see

how the "Vatican-appointed medical board" decides this one. This, of course, being a medical board that believes praying to a rotting corpse of a former church leader can bring about "miracles." I don't think I'll hold my breath. The RCC seems intent on makes this guy a saint.

[rug]

41. Keep your mind closed then.

No skin off my nose.

[Goblinmonger]

48. Do you think that praying to JPII cured this woman of Parkinson's?

Do you believe that is possible?

[rug]

50. You know better than that. Prayer is not a magic incantation.

But if there is a God, that God is able to do the healing.

As to this woman specifically, I don't know the particulars any more than you do.

[Goblinmonger]

52. So you believe in a god that

intervenes and changes the physical world (cures an incurable disease)?

This is usually the thing that most people deny when having discussions about religion.

[rug]

53. A God that can is not necessarily a God that does,

at least not nearly as often as people claim.

As to the study of medical miracles as a phenomenon, this book seems to be thorough.

http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/ReligionTheology/HistoryofChristianity/Modern/?view=usa&ci=9780195336504

[darkstar3]

55. Now THERE'S a weaselly manufactured middle ground.

[rug]

56. And there's another thoughtful comment.

Sorry it doesn't comport to your straw outlook.

[trotsky]

61. What a nasty, petty god you must worship.

It will "cure" a nun who asks for it via the rotting flesh of a former church leader, but it ignores the pleas from dying children (and their parents) around the world?

Seriously, how can you believe this stuff? I really want to know. It sounds so horrible and twisted.

[rug]

62. Really? How do you know prayers are ignored?

That's a pretty simplistic position you take.

Speaking of nasty and petty, try to temper your posts.

[darkstar3]

63. Oh, yes, lest we forget, sometimes the answer is "no" so it fits with "God's plan".

MWC in action.

[rug]

65. More simplicity.

[darkstar3]

66. More dodging,

and in this case more worthless than usual given the fact that simplicity in this case is neither good nor bad. Why did you even bother to respond if that was all you were going to write?

[rug]

67. That's all it deserved.

[trotsky]

68. Well then, why don't you enlighten us all...

with the reason why your god ignores the cries of children suffering and dying, and grants the wish of a nun praying to the corpse of your dead pope? Please educate us heathens.

[Lucian]

47. "Vatican-appointed medical board" is an oxymoron.

[Dappleganger]

32. I'm sure the scientific community would ask for documentation.

Of her health condition before and after the 'healing.'

[HankyDubs]

4. nuns lie

They lie and lie and lie. How do you bribe a nun?

[babydollhead]

9. I was going to write...

she's lying...I don't know why.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

58. I think that very unlikely indeed. I think it almost certain she believes what she is saying is true

Becoming a nun involves a hell of a lot of dedication; suddenly throwing all that away and lying about something like this would be remarkable.

On the other hand, becoming a nun is also proof positive of not being very good at telling the difference between what is real and what isn't; being wrong about something like this would not be remarkable at all.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Good for the nun, if it's true.

Or, is this a Vatican advertisement for a new saint? :shrug:

[Bragi]

8. And the Vatican never lies about this stuff

Good to see the JP2 Saintliness Project moving along nicely.

Does it have a theme song yet?

I was thinking maybe "Money For Nothing" since it's been in the news lately anyway.

[Mz Pip]

29. "...and chicks for free."

Put the whole show on MTV. ;-)

[mmonk]

10. There, you have it.

No more high premium payments for health insurance. We have our answer.

[Stevenmarc]

11. I might have an easier time buying it if it was Michael J. Fox instead of some random nun

[Matt_in_STL]

12. Why is it that when it comes to religion...

People are so willing to suspend disbelief and take everything at face value? We question everything and everyone else when a story comes out but with religion immediate credibility is given to anyone who claims "Miracle!". With the current push to fast track John Paul to sainthood I bet any Catholic would jump at the chance to be the "miracle" that pushes him along.

You know what would have been a good trick? Curing his own Parkinson's.

[Joe Fields]

13. I thought you were only supposed to pray to God.

But hey, if George Carlin could pray to Joe Pesci, then what the hell...

[Goblinmonger]

20. Major splitting point for a lot of religions

Though the language often reflects it, Catholics don't believe that they are praying to the Saint, per se, but that the saint is an intermediary and can help them receive grace from God.

[TroglodyteScholar]

31. Sounds like a contrived, technicality-type situation to me.

A rationalization for indulging in idol worship.

Of course, all Christianity practices idol worship if we're being honest about what idol worship is.

[CBGLuthier]

14. Why pray to a dead pope? Were all the real saints busy?

Such a pagan influenced religion. Creepy.

[Goblinmonger]

15. If this woman said that she prayed to her toaster and it cured her

Would we believe her? Why do we now just because it was a corpse and not a toaster?

[KittyWampus]

16. Either way, wouldn't you rejoice if she truly is now free of the disease?

[Goblinmonger]

17. I don't believe for a second

that she had the disease and is now cured. Not for a second.

[Javaman]

18. However, if my toaster "cured" me, I would charge admission for others to be healed. LOL nt

[Stevenmarc]

22. I trust my toaster more, but then it's a Dualit

[Donald Ian Rankin]

59. Because more people claim to have been cured by popes than toasters.

I don't for a minute believe her, but an answer to your question about why more people do is obvious, I think.

[Zoeisright]

25. Anecdotal evidence is complete bullshit.

Especially when there's an agenda.

[TroglodyteScholar]

30. Give me a fucking break. n/t

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Atticus]

34. So, since JP is not yet even "beatified", let alone a full-fledged card-carrying "saint", this nun

was praying to a mere deceased fellow human being.

Did they delete that part about "Thou shalt have no gods before me" or is the good sister going to hell for this?

[brooklynite]

35. sort of like the company discount...

Apparently God couldn't find a worthy civilian to cure?

[HEyHEY]

36. Jeez, does that guy EVER retire?

[Blue-Jay]

39. Help me out Catholics: Are you supposed to pray TO a pope?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

60. Look up "dulia" and "latria".

Then, if you understand them, try to explain it to me.

[Silent3]

64. And don't forget "hyperdulia" too!

Isn't ecclesiastical vocabulary fun? :)

[RagAss]

42. We have a Religion Forum here.

[Lucian]

43. Parkinson's Disease just doesn't go away.

Once you get it, it's a death sentence. There's no cure.

So the only way it "went away" is if she was misdiagnosed or if she was lying about it to begin with. Everybody lies. Even nuns.

[darkstar3]

45. Where's the objective 3rd party?

I see a dedicated member of the church claiming something that the church would really like to see (postmortem intercessory activity), and that information is only being verified by "in-house" sources.

Whatever happened to verification?

[Mariana]

49. They'd need all that if they were trying to convince YOU

that it happened the way they said. But they're not really interested in convincing you. The people this story is aimed at are the ones who don't require such things as objective 3rd party verification in order to believe stuff like this.

[darkstar3]

51. More's the pity. n/t

[laconicsax]

46. Will Pope John Jr. be performing any miraculous intercession on behalf of Irish child rape victims?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[dimbear]

57. You're more likely to receive a miraculous cure if your disease

can be imitated by other curable diseases. Nothing to do with any medical errors, of course. E.g., leprosy.
That's one with some history to it.

You rarely read about miraculous regrowth of severed arms, on the other 'hand.'

And of course there's a perfectly good reason for the discrepancy. If severed arms began regrowing, even skeptics would begin to believe. You know that's not what is wanted.

[olegramps]

69. I will believe in miracles when I see a hand or what ever instantly regenerated.

It shouldn't be much of a trick for God to pull off since believers attest that He/She/It can do anything. What utter nonsense.