Callers
The callers to THE UPPER ROOM CRISIS HOTLINE will be any priest, Religious brother or deacon who needs to talk to an anonymous, compassionate person to discuss or explore life issues or concerns. All calls will be anonymous; no name or other identifying information will be asked or required except in a life-threatening emergency.
All volunteers will go by code-names so they are never personally identified. The trained volunteers will be available to those who care to call. The caller will not be judged regardless of the content of the call, and all responses will be non-directive, i.e., the volunteer will assist the caller to respond to his concern or crisis in a manner best suiting his current situation and life’s goals.
THE UPPER ROOM will network with services and agencies to serve the person in need. All referrals will either be free of charge or on a sliding scale whenever possible.
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention services will make every effort to save the lives of priests, brothers and deacons who are desperate in their life situation and feel self-destruction is their last resort. THE UPPER ROOM will go to any length to offer support and to assist them in whatever way possible to enable them to carry out the mission of the priesthood and religious life. Appropriate referrals will be given for assistance that cannot be offered over the telephone.
Often, the caller will have a problem or concern that cannot be resolved in only one call. Follow-up calls are invited by either the caller returning a call to the Line, or the volunteer, with permission of the caller, will return a call to ascertain that the caller has been helped. If, for some reason, the caller has not received the assistance needed, the volunteer will work with the caller to find another resource.
One of the most helpful services of THE UPPER ROOM CRISIS HOTLINE is to befriend the elderly priests, brothers and deacons who either live alone or in small groups. A daily call is made, 365 days a year, to check on their safety and well being, but also to be a listening, caring friend to brighten their day. The Line will have on hand the names of their doctors, their superiors or closest religious contact, and the names of family members to contact in case of an emergency. This service has saved lives in the past and has sent medical assistance necessary to help the person who has fallen or become ill and could not reach out for help.
TO LISTEN IS NOT NECESSARILY TO APPROVE,
TO REPORT IS NOT NECESSARILY TO ENDORSE
AND
TO STUDY IS NOT NECESSARILY TO CHANGE
BUT
NOT TO CONSULT IS TO FAIL !
Bishop Warren Boudreaux
Beaumont, TX 12/14/75