Swine Flu Fears Changing Catholic Communion

CHICAGO (AP) -- Some Roman Catholic pastors in Chicago have stopped distributing communion wine as a precaution against the transmission of swine flu.

Archdiocese of Chicago vicar general Rev. John Canary is advising pastors in a memo to use their own judgment in distributing the wine.

The Rev. Joseph Jackson of St. Ignatius Parish says he'll discourage parishioners from taking communion from a common cup or shaking hands. The church is located in the same Chicago neighborhood as a school that was closed Wednesday after a student was diagnosed with a probable case of swine flu.

The Rev. Donald Nevins of Chicago's St. Agnes of Bohemia Church says he's decided that having children drink from a common cup is a health risk.

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Information from: the Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com

-ASSOCIATED PRESS