Posted on 10/06/2009 6:57:32 AM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON (RNS) The White House and federal health officials have released guidelines recommending that worshippers take precautions against spreading germs to reduce the risk of contracting swine flu.
Marilyn Meyers, a 67-year-old member of Washington National Cathedral, already had thought about the health risks involved in her church’s services. On Sunday (Oct. 4), as she has for the past several months, she rubbed sanitizer on her hands before getting in line for Holy Communion.
“You shake hands, you touch the prayer books we all share, you break off a piece of the same bread—who knows what might be on it?” she said.
At Sunday’s service, parishioners continued to exchange the Sign of Peace, shaking hands with those around them. Most also waited in line to receive Communion, often sipping from a communal chalice.
“I’m not concerned about the wine yet,” said Meyers. “But if I were, you’re allowed to dunk the wafer in, so you aren’t sipping from the same cup. I think I’m OK for now, though.”
The guide, which was released Friday by the White House Office for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Department of Health and Human Services, advises religious groups to take precautions to help prevent the spread of swine flu.
The guide suggests that houses of worship encourage congregants to wash their hands often, use hand sanitizer, avoid crowded situations and interact without physical contact when possible. It also urges religious leaders to keep in contact with local health organizations and closely adhere to their recommendations.
Joshua DuBois, the director of the faith-based office, said in a news release that faith leaders have significant power to help spread the word on how to stay healthy.
The National Association of Evangelicals, too, e-mailed its member congregations on Monday to suggest preparations for flu season by following the White House guide, which can be found online at http://www.flu.gov.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends that clergy remind parishioners not to drink from the Communion cup if they are feeling ill. The conference also said bishops are free to make decisions for their specific dioceses.
Already, Bishop John F. Kinney of St. Cloud, Minn., directed churches in his diocese to stop offering a common Communion cup and to discourage hand contact during Mass.
In the Washington area, Catholic leaders said they were taking their cues from the Archdiocese of Washington and the bishops’ conference.
The archdiocese is distributing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and reminding parishioners that they can nod rather than shake hands for the Sign of Peace, according to archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Gibbs.
The federal guidelines also are relevant to Islam. Some Muslims ritually cleanse themselves using the same bowl of water before they are called to prayer. And in the Jewish tradition, congregants close the service by shaking hands and wishing each other a good Sabbath, or “Shabbat shalom.”
The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, dean of the Washington National Cathedral, said he was in close communication with local health authorities, and would take action as needed. But he thought it wasn’t up to the Episcopal Church as a whole to dictate how to practice rituals.
“We are prepared to take action if there is a concern, but in the end, people should make their own decisions,” he said.
Meyers agreed that precautions aren’t up to the government, or the clergy.
“I think it’s something that’s up to the individual,” she said, “No one can make the decision for you or tell you how to practice your faith.”
HOW ABOUT THE %^&*ING GOVERNMENT GET OUT OF OUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Catholic Ping
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Uhhhmmmm....i don’t like where this is going....
that’s right, the gubmint telling us what to do in our churches/s
Better close the churches, it’s for our own good!
Why are thy even involved in this?
They should be more concerned about government schools.
Why would they care? I thought they hated Christians.
Ah hell, this is easy. Just pass a law and close down all the churches. Those guys don’t go to them anyway, what do they care?
Bingo! And government-subsidized daycare centers, the WORST disease-transmission environment outside prison.
Fixed it...
Hear, hear.
So, all the separation of church and state supporters have suddenly had a change of heart?
That is what I was thinking. What about places of work? There is a lot more risk involved going to work, as the hours spent there are much greater. Church is minimal for most people. Maybe the government will mandate we all stay at home?
Pathetic!!
I’ll trust in God, not gov’t.
How about closing Washington there are lots of people in all of those buildings there..Give us a rest from your spending sprees..Also put the white house on shut down since these fools travel to different countries and states they could bring anything back with them..
At my church we have those hand sanitizer dispensers attached to walls in several locations. I see a lot of people using them, including myself.
this sure sets off a few warning bells
I hear you can spread flu germs through communal handling of explosives.
Yeah, they got no right being concerned for our health.
slippery slope
I agree. I doubt God would let anyone get sick in church.
Soap is against their religion!
How about Wright spreading Hate?
anything to knock a persons right to attend services Government warning about spreading something in church. Well all these Godless libruls think spreading anything from a church is always bad. What about in Congress I think its bad for them to attend sessions in congress that enclosed space and all of those SICK politicians spreading their filth amongst each other...
“only hate-mongering, white, heterosexual, gun-worshipping Christians are”
a threat to 0bama & the left’s “father”.
EXACTAMUNDO!
What better excuse to shut down houses of worship (THE #1 places where you find people who don't agree with Zero's policies) than a "flu pandemic"??
"We need to keep these places closed until we are ABSOLUTELY SURE that the flu won't try to make a comeback."
...Which of course will be never. Now, I do NOT include mosques and 'Islamic Centers' as "houses of worship" (except of satan), although THEY might be shut down for a short time, but will be allowed to re-open since the Islamic prayer time is done "individually" and the adherents don't touch each other...or some such nonsense like that.
This is Catholic specific as they attack the Eucharist.
Is the whitehouse worried about the flu being spread in the mosques?
Oh great they might use this “flu” to order the shut down of churches. wonderful
Instead of shaking hands when we exit, why don’t we fist-bump instead...
We no longer shake hands in church, I am so glad, shaking hands is one tradition that has outlived it’s usefulness.
I remain baffled and concerned by this year-long swine flu obsession from the government and health organizations. i can only assume either they have information that is not public that influences this or otherwise have ulterior motives.
Congress and the UN are the two sites I worry about the most when it comes to being point sources of harmful infections.
NOW we know why he hasn't selected one.
Too many communicable diseases festering in the crowded lumpen masses in the pews.
Leni
I’m sure, as you appear to be, that those in power in the government only have our best interests in mind, on every issue.
/sarc
or Rahm is just playing out his stated mode of operation of never letting a real (or created) crisis go to waste.
mmmmmmm mmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm
Stay home And worship Obama.
What I was thinking. This is Catholic specific. I’m guessing that the “lesson” 0 taught us in the ND scandal is fading a bit too much. Want to rile us up some more.
Catholics: This is hard, but pray for Obama, he really really needs it.
oh good grief. if you can’t see the legitimate concern about encroaching governmental intrusiveness in this,it’s because you are being blinded by your distaste for the religious.
Does anyone else get the impression that they REEEEALLY want us to be afraid of this flu? There is something weird about the whole “campaign”. Hmmmmm, distraction maybe? Something more sinister?
I wonder what kind of warning they’re putting out about bath houses and certain public restrooms?
Never waste a crisis.....
Good thing Obama hasn’t figured out the “stroke of the pen, law of the land” thing...
but, schools are run by the gov’t, they’re perfectly managed, right?
I presume they have offered similar guidance to gay bath houses?
Excellent observation!!! You realize, of course, that such a warning would be political suicide.
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