What could prevent you from being an organ donor?

The wife and I became organ donors a few years ago, as we thought it would be a great way of helping someone in need with something that we no longer needed in this life.

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While reading up a little about organ donations I found an interesting bit of information that I thought you would enjoy reading about.

Firstly lets answer the initial question. What could prevent one from being an organ donor?

Not much actually. Even if a person is ill, they can still be donors. In fact it is only certain diseases like HIV, active cancer or systemic infections that would stop you from donating.
Age isn't even an issue, as they can still use the healthy parts of the body for anyone in need.Being too young is obviously not an issue either, just ask Planned Parenthood......I'll leave that there.

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There is one very real issue however that will stop you donating your organs, and this may very well affect you.

That is if you became the POPE!

Like say again! Yup, should you become the pope, then your organ donation card would be of no use anymore.
So even should you want to be an organ donor, and happen to become the next Pope, you unfortunately would not be able to donate your organs.

Why?

We know this because of Benedict XVI’s interest in organ donation. He is an avid supporter of it, and carried an organ donation card for a large part of his adult life.
He said “I’m willing to offer my organs to whoever might need them. It’s a profound act of love.”

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But even though he feels this way, there are strict rules when becoming Pope, and one of them is that the body needs to remain intact.

“The body of a Pope belongs to the universal Catholic Church,” said Zygmunt Zimowski, the Vatican’s unofficial health minister.

So this is a little disappointing to him, that he can no longer be an organ donor, and it is sad news too for those aspiring people that read this, that they cannot do both :).

On a side note, I'm not a Catholic, but it is interesting to me.

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Some additional facts that people don't know about people that are of 'the cloth' coming from their own mouths:

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1. They are still normal people. For some reason people think them to be 'special' people that no longer have the same mortal foibles that beset each of us. Perhaps this is why Christ said (Mark 6) "A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." Because the people there knew him growing up, know the silly things he did, and hold judgement on them, and not their callings
2. They often battle to say no. Because it is a service oriented position, their lives are often dictated by other peoples desires on them. A lot of ministers battle with burn out and fatigue
3. Have had some crazy mix ups in their service. Things like starting a wedding with a funeral service he had prepared (granted the poor bloke had a fever at the time). I think this is back to point 1
4. They often went into their service believing they would have so many profound things to share and teach, but in fact the biggest thing they did was sit and listen to other people
5. They have their own doubts and times of strong faith, and other times of less faith. They are tested as much as others
6. That when they are not 'on the clock' people still see them as on the clock. So at a family function they may still be called upon regardless
7. They wear many different hats. Because they are in a position to help others, they often have to be a marriage counselor, a faith promoter, a public speaker, a good administrator, a financial adviser etc etc.
8. Weddings are a stress. Because there is so much expectation from so many parties, this can be a problem. Funerals are a lot easier to deal with....the 'guest of honour' doesn't require much!
9. Most ministers realise how self absorbed people in fact are. They need to see beyond themselves more
10. Most think about quitting often
11. There are often people in the congregations that are tough to love
12. Same principle in the world as in church, 20% of the people do 80% of the work.
13. Often feel burdened and lonely because there are so many things on the mind you cant share with anyone
14. Judged by the actions of other ministers. Whether they are pedophiles, Doom sprayers or money grabbers, the brush paints broadly

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Some interesting things there I tell you.
I can say by my experiences as someone that has been quite involved in my own religion, that many of those make sense to me. Many of them I have felt as an Elder and servant for many years. I don't see it ending, and look forward to the future in it.

I do remember that famous and most apt quotation however, "17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

So for most of us we will be able to happily donate our organs....and carry on serving even after death :).

Sorry if I popped your bubble however for those future Popes.

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Keep well all!