AFTER reading The Church is Healing by Dr. Michael Wilson (S.C.M. Press, 9s. 6d.) one is left wondering how it is that, despite all the joint activities which he describes, the Church and the medical professions still continue along their separate paths with. for the most part, scarcely a passing nod for each other.
Of course, his point is that these paths are not really separate; that those who care for the sick, whether they are Christians or not, are performing a Christ-like action; and that the task of the Churches in healing is not solely to pray, but also to provide support for the sick and those who care for them, within the context of modem medicine.
Dr. Wilson describes several schemes, all comparatively new, in which the various Churches have started to cooperate with doctors and other medical workers in the joint care of patients. There is a real need for the members of a parish to accept responsibility for the support and care of their sick until such time as they are restored to purposeful living in society.
By suggesting ways in which this can be done, Dr. Wilson has written a book which will be of help to all who realise that medicine and the Church have complementary parts to play in their care for people.
Rosalind Maskell