Winnipeg Church: No More Handshakes Because of H1N1
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, September 29, 2009
- Viewed 59
- (1) comments so far
The Catholic Archdiocese of Winnipeg has banned handshaking between church-goers over concerns it could lead people to contract the H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu.
In a statement Thursday, Archbishop James Weisgerber said all city Catholic churches and schools are now in "Stage 1" of a three-stage pandemic prevention plan.
That means the archdiocese considers H1N1 to be in the general church population and people with chronic and acute illnesses are at risk.
The diocese said instead of mass participants shaking hands during the Rite of Peace, they'll be told to substitute a bow of the head.
The archdiocese also said public holy-water fonts at church entrances have been drained and hand-sanitizing stations have been placed there.
Church worship spaces will be disinfected after each service, and the archdiocese said that during communion, chalices "will be aggressively wiped after each communicant."
Weisgerber said the plans "were developed as a necessary precaution in response to current concerns about an increased risk of infection from the H1N1 virus."
What do you think? What steps, if any, should churches take in this whole H1N1 situation?
Comments
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Leonard on Tue, September 29, 2009
I guess we will have to go back to the Holy Kiss.
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