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Carole Hercun writes: > having this disease. They will talk about his intestinal polyp but not > his Parkinson's. Perhaps because PD is a BRAIN disease and there is > still a stigma attached to a "mental" illness? I say this also from the > prospective of a psychiatric nurse. What do you think? Carole, since you asked......... Over the history of his Papacy, almost any time the Pope has had to be hospitalized for anything or is obviously in treatment for something, a press release is always given vaguely reporting something benign and unimportant that has been totally "rectified" (no pun intended on the colon polyps!) Obviously, this man has been in much poor health on many fronts but has chosen not to take the focus off his leadership and message. Most world leaders do the same when it comes to their health specifics. This is why rumors from good sources have persisted that he has actually been treated for complications from his gunshots, bouts with serious cancer and heart disease, and Parkinson's. Using the rationale that he must speak out in public advocacy for any illness or injury that he has incurred, wouldn't he have to support special advocacy for victims of violent crime, heart disease, cancer, the elderly, and PD? By the very nature of his role as Pope (which, right or wrong, HE sees as a universal role for ALL people), he must advocate for every illness and injury that befalls anyone -- not just those with which he has personally suffered. To my knowledge, specialized advocacies outside of the social issues of such as hunger, human rights, religious freedom, and peace have never been an official part of any Papacy in the modern world. Taking all of this into consideration, I honestly don't think we can assume that PD has been singled out for "silence" because of the stigma of brain disease. It may also be important to consider that the Vatican no longer denies the Pope's PD. But, like every other obvious and serious health issue he has, they just don't confirm it for the reasons I have discussed above. Though I don't personally support the Pope, I am having a hard time figuring out where all this special criticism from the usually compassionate List regarding his PD role is coming from. I would just hate to see personal biases detract from our recognition AND USE of this man's important and courageous role as a PWP -- announced or not. I know you are Catholic and I hope I haven't stepped on any toes here. Thanks again, glenna coplin