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.

---

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

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

Comments

[elmerfude]

There is something fishy going on here. How can eating part of god result in the flu? That would imply that god is somehow contaminated or subject to the laws of nature.

[kwinter]

I was raised Southern Baptist. We didn't do Communion much, but when we did, everyone had their own little individual shot glass of Welch's grape juice. I remember asking my Sunday School teacher once, why we didn't drink wine, like Jesus. She said it was because drinking wine is a sin. I guess Jesus didn't know that.

I don't like Welch's grape juice, so I had no other choice than to become atheist. What else could I do?

[PharmDude]

But....but..... God won't magic the flu away in his own house?

[EdwardEdwards]

God forbid they simply close the Churches altogether, since packing people into pews isn't probably the wisest idea.

[Diogenis]

some idiots still go to movie theatres and stadiums...etc. Can you imagine?

[JohnFromCensornati]

Are you kidding me? With this pandemic raging, surely the demand for indulgences has risen. The p0pe wouldn't want to miss any "opportunities".

[james10092]

Interesting article. Where I'm from people are freaking out about it too, so I created an ebook to help people out. You can download it a www.jamesryanhamilton.com/swineflu

[MissElaineous]

I remember when I was a kid, the priest would put the host in your mouth because you were not holy enough to hold it in your hands. I went up after a senior citizen and the priest's hands were covered with drool. Way to pass pathogens through a whole congregation! After that, I sat in the front and made sure I was the first one up there. Now, I'm a atheist and its a moot point for me. I still cannot believe that priests put their hands in everyone's mouth like the picture shows. Disgusting!

[Diogenis]

You are one sicko !!

[JohnFromCensornati]

Not as ill as that Cannibal&VampireRitual.