Posted on 11/12/2009 4:40:50 PM PST by Libloather
Swine Flu Forces Changes In Church Traditions
Nov 11, 2009 11:26 pm US/Eastern
SACRAMENTO (CBS) - The swine flu outbreak has forced local Catholic churches to revamp some rituals in hopes of slowing the spread of the disease, CBS station KOVR-TV reported.
The bishop of Sacramento ordered Catholic churches to make changes during mass, so parishioners will no longer drink from the cup, hold hands during the Lord's Prayer or shake hands as a sign of peace.
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is also changing the holy water regularly and wiping down the bowl, and is asking sick church members to stay home for Sunday service.
"All of this is designed to promote a situation where people's health will be safeguarded," said Rev. Michael Kiernan of the Sacramento Diocese.
Parishioners weren't altogether surprised by the news, but there was disappointment.
"I think when you are in church, it's a wonderful thing to touch another human being and I think I'm going to miss it," said Martha Warner.
The diocese says the changes are temporary, but they are not sure how long they will be in place.
An Italian inventor has combined faith and ingenuity to come up with a way to keep church traditions alive for the faithful without the fear of contracting the H1N1 flu -- an electronic holy water dispenser.
The terracotta dispenser functions like an automatic soap dispenser in public washrooms -- a churchgoer waves his or her hand under a sensor and the machine spurts out holy water.
"It's great," said worshipper Marta Caimm as she entered the church. "Thanks to this we are not worried about catching swine flu. It is the right thing for the times," she said.
http://www.nfreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2171990
When a Church shuns the sick it has lost it’s way, however our Lutheran Church is doing the same thing except ask the sick to stay home...
VIVA ITALIA!
The handshakes gotta go too.
Check this out
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