In today’s edition of The Mercury (November 16, 2009) , Revd Eric Cave submitted a letter for the “Your Voice” section in reponse to the current hot topic of Voluntary Euthanasia. Thank you Eric for your faithful witness in writing this letter.

This is what Eric wrote:

Prayer power

 PETER Ford (Letters, November 11), I see myself as one rational person who believes that prayer can have a positive effect upon the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of patients, their family and staff in hospital. To say I have observed this to be the case might suggest that I am deluded, however independent qualitative and quantitative research in Australia and America supports this view. If this were not so, I have spent the last 22 years fruitlessly and the letters and cards of thanks received by members of the chaplaincy team are written by people who do not mean what they say. This I cannot believe.

 Eric Cave

Anglican Chaplaincy Tasmania