Comments on: Ontario radio show to discuss fragrance-free policy in churches http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/ A blog and social network about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:35:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Susie Collins http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-8397 Susie Collins Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:06:37 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-8397 Aloha Ihab, welcome to The Canary Report. I'm happy you've found us. You'll find a lot of kindred spirits here who understand what you are going through. Aloha Ihab, welcome to The Canary Report. I’m happy you’ve found us. You’ll find a lot of kindred spirits here who understand what you are going through.

]]> By: IhabFarag http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-8363 IhabFarag Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:24:47 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-8363 Thank you all for these comments. I just found this website. I have both Celiac Sprue and MCS. It is great to know there are other people who share my feelings. Both Celiac Sprue and MCS are not well understood by the general public especially MCS. I too often went to church only to find out that I have to stand by the outside door to get fresh air and avoid the strong smell. The situation sometimes get more compounded by the smell of the carpet cleaner that was sprayed on the carpet, or the strong disinfectant used liberally in the bathrooms. One day hopefully we will have chemical-free fragrance-free churches. Thank you all for these comments. I just found this website. I have both Celiac Sprue and MCS. It is great to know there are other people who share my feelings. Both Celiac Sprue and MCS are not well understood by the general public especially MCS. I too often went to church only to find out that I have to stand by the outside door to get fresh air and avoid the strong smell. The situation sometimes get more compounded by the smell of the carpet cleaner that was sprayed on the carpet, or the strong disinfectant used liberally in the bathrooms. One day hopefully we will have chemical-free fragrance-free churches.

]]> By: Susie Collins http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-4208 Susie Collins Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:46:06 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-4208 Amanda, thank you for your very thoughtful and spot-on comment. You make a most important point that gets to the very foundation upon which all public policy should be based: The very weakest members of society should be protected first and foremost. That is indeed nothing less than a manifestation of love, for which all churches should be providing leadership. Amanda, thank you for your very thoughtful and spot-on comment. You make a most important point that gets to the very foundation upon which all public policy should be based: The very weakest members of society should be protected first and foremost. That is indeed nothing less than a manifestation of love, for which all churches should be providing leadership.

]]> By: Amanda Strader http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-4200 Amanda Strader Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:33:07 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-4200 This issue has grieved me for a very, very long time. I'm a committed Christian, who loves the people of God, yet finds church attendance impossible at times. I have had to avoid church altogether during several seasons of my MCS illness. But there have been more times than not, where I have had to get up and leave in the middle of a service once a lovely person has seated herself next to me in all her chemically applied glory. Mostly, I think this issue is due mainly to ignorance in the congregation. What the church should do is respond in a loving way, as would Christ, protecting and caring for it's weakest members. Practically, there ought to at least be a secured, well-ventilated/filtered room for chemically injured people to attend services safely. The ultimate act of love would be for the entire congregation to defer (to their own benefit, as well!) from all chemical cosmetics, toiletries, hair products, scented laundry products, permanent markers and highlighters. (To name a few offending agents present in church, not to mention the burning and extinguishing of petroleum based candles.) Partaking of communion is, especially, an important ordinance that anyone with allergies and sensitivities should not be excluded from. This sacred act of worship should include elements safe for all the people of a particular congregation. Organic rice cracker wafers can be a simple and loving solution provided for the gluten intolerant and the allergic. Sulfite free, organic 100% grape juice is also a thoughtful blessing for the suffering. Loving-kindness and mercy, hallmarks of the church, ought to include thoughtful attention to the needs of it's chemically challenged members- to the benefit of the entire congregation. This issue has grieved me for a very, very long time. I’m a committed Christian, who loves the people of God, yet finds church attendance impossible at times. I have had to avoid church altogether during several seasons of my MCS illness. But there have been more times than not, where I have had to get up and leave in the middle of a service once a lovely person has seated herself next to me in all her chemically applied glory.

Mostly, I think this issue is due mainly to ignorance in the congregation. What the church should do is respond in a loving way, as would Christ, protecting and caring for it’s weakest members.

Practically, there ought to at least be a secured, well-ventilated/filtered room for chemically injured people to attend services safely. The ultimate act of love would be for the entire congregation to defer (to their own benefit, as well!) from all chemical cosmetics, toiletries, hair products, scented laundry products, permanent markers and highlighters. (To name a few offending agents present in church, not to mention the burning and extinguishing of petroleum based candles.)

Partaking of communion is, especially, an important ordinance that anyone with allergies and sensitivities should not be excluded from. This sacred act of worship should include elements safe for all the people of a particular congregation. Organic rice cracker wafers can be a simple and loving solution provided for the gluten intolerant and the allergic. Sulfite free, organic 100% grape juice is also a thoughtful blessing for the suffering.

Loving-kindness and mercy, hallmarks of the church, ought to include thoughtful attention to the needs of it’s chemically challenged members- to the benefit of the entire congregation.

]]> By: Susie Collins http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-4106 Susie Collins Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:42:40 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-4106 Leslie, GADS, I had no idea the Catholic church was that strict about the wafer. It's sad when strict belief systems result in exclusion rather than inclusion. Leslie, GADS, I had no idea the Catholic church was that strict about the wafer. It’s sad when strict belief systems result in exclusion rather than inclusion.

]]> By: Leslie http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-4072 Leslie Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:07:19 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-4072 I dont even want to go to church but I find that there's alot of injustice when it comes to trying to be a church goer, who has disabilities. Church is the most smelly perfumed, shampoo'd , bleached place ever - like being on a airplane... As someone with MCS that part sucks. But also with Celiac Sprue (gluten autoimmune disease), did ya know some churches won't let children get First Communion unless they eat a real wheat waffer like jesus did in the bible story - so peeps with Celiac can't participate in some holy sacarments. Lame-o. I am double doozy out on the church thing. I dont even want to go to church but I find that there’s alot of injustice when it comes to trying to be a church goer, who has disabilities. Church is the most smelly perfumed, shampoo’d , bleached place ever – like being on a airplane…
As someone with MCS that part sucks. But also with Celiac Sprue (gluten autoimmune disease), did ya know some churches won’t let children get First Communion unless they eat a real wheat waffer like jesus did in the bible story – so peeps with Celiac can’t participate in some holy sacarments. Lame-o. I am double doozy out on the church thing.

]]> By: Susie Collins http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-4056 Susie Collins Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:54:15 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-4056 Brava, Bonita! Here are four related posts on the problems of fragrance in churches: http://www.thecanaryreport.org/index.php?s=mormon Brava, Bonita!

Here are four related posts on the problems of fragrance in churches:

http://www.thecanaryreport.org/index.php?s=mormon

]]> By: Jasmine http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-4052 Jasmine Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:32:19 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-4052 Great response! Great response!

]]> By: linda http://www.thecanaryreport.org/2009/07/03/ontario-radio-show-to-discuss-fragrance-free-policy-in-churches/comment-page-1/#comment-4051 linda Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:48:02 +0000 http://www.thecanaryreport.org/?p=6410#comment-4051 Well said, Bonita! Well said, Bonita!

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