Comments on OSV Daily Take Blog: Mixing health precautions and Eucharist

The bishops of Pennsylvania decided that for the p...

2009-10-27T10:22:08.086-04:00

The bishops of Pennsylvania decided that for the present we shouldn't receive the cup, and that the Peace should be passed with a smile and a nod. I think that's a reasonable decision, and don't mind the temporary change.

I can only wonder what the Orthodox are doing, given that they share a spoon.

I don't think we can have it both ways: At fi...

2009-10-26T09:02:47.555-04:00

I don't think we can have it both ways: At first we have said that the Eucharist from the cup is not harmful because there is alcohol in it and we wipe the chalice. Now we are concerned about the health concerns. My protestant freinds are saying "I told you so."

Well, I appreciate that our priest trusts us to ma...

2009-10-22T21:40:11.153-04:00

Well, I appreciate that our priest trusts us to make our own choices. Our parish has not issued any guidelines. Each adult makes choices for themselves and their children.

As a nurse I have to laugh at the suggestion that receiving in the hand is more hygienic! Hands are usually filthy- especially children's. To ask the priest to touch everyone's hands at Mass is not just a risk to parishioners, but to himself.

I think the rule should be that everyone should receive on the tounge or by intinction- Believe me- that's less of a risk than a lot of hand contact.

I could tell you many awful stories of what I'v seen people do with their hands at Mass before stepping up to receive communion, but I'll just say that it ranges from picking noses to picking gum off the bottom of their shoes!!

Are there hand-sanitizer gels in place on buses, t...

2009-10-22T18:57:23.528-04:00

Are there hand-sanitizer gels in place on buses, trains, planes, in nightclubs, bars, movie-theatres, football stadiums, and other place where large crowds are gathering in confined spaces. Are the surfaces in these places regularly wiped clean of any infectious material that a hand might have left there.

Maybe so, but all I seem to hear about is how you're likely to get infected in Church.

I think adults can make choices for themselves: ta...

2009-10-22T14:50:48.006-04:00

I think adults can make choices for themselves: taking precautions for catching the flu, staying home when ill, watching over the children, and all. We don't need bishops or pastors altering liturgical procedures.

That said, I have no problem with people bowing instead of shaking hands. As long as clergy realize that they aren't empowered to omit the Rite of Peace.

Our parish doesn't give us Holy Communion unde...

2009-10-22T10:03:49.518-04:00

Our parish doesn't give us Holy Communion under the species of blood until, I think, March.

However, I wish they'd also go straight to the Lamb Of God and forego the Sign of Peace as well. Some people don't care if they're ill or not, they shake hands anyway as it's their habit to do so.

It just makes for good sense, especially when we're dealing with the H1N1 and in our town we already have several cases, one of which is hospitalized at the hospital where I work.