mgpcpastor's blog

Here are a couple of links.
The first is to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Melboune. Denis Hart makes a statement about pastoral practice in the swine flu capital of the western world. (Sorry Melbourne friends, it just slipped out.) His message is headed: ‘Statement by Archbishop Hart regarding human swine flu.’
The statement was reported by The Sunday Age newspaper under the more evocative title: ‘Swine flu spreads fears of poisoned chalice.’
For anyone who can’t bring themselves to register a visit to a Roman Catholic website, the advice includes the following:
‘I remind priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to practice good hygiene. Ministers of Holy Communion should be encouraged to wash their hands before Mass begins or to use an alcohol-based antibacterial solution before and after distributing Holy Communion.
During the Sign of Peace instead of shaking hands, kissing or embracing, as is practised in some parishes, it would be best to simply nod your head and avoid bodily contact.
When praying the Our Father do not hold hands, as may be practised in some parishes, but simply extend hands toward heaven or fold your hands.
Holy Communion should only be distributed under the species of the Consecrated Host and not the Chalice to limit the spread of germs during the H1N1 epidemic.’
The last paragraph means no cup, only bread for communion, by the way.

The whole tenor of the message could see a stampede of Aussie men returning to church.
Imagine: no hugging, no kissing, no holding hands.
Simply nod at each other during the passing of the peace and fold your hands during the prayers.
Hmm. Come to think of it, that sounds just like the Presbyterian Church.
So now, whenever we’re cruelly accused of being the frozen chosen, we can humbly point out that we’re simply pandemic proof.
(And we can even keep offering both elements for communion since we use little individual cups, but only with grape juice, *sigh*)