... Wash Me and I Shall Be Clean Indeed!

Thanks to Carol from over at Ways of the World who sent a link of responses to an article regarding Communion and H1N1 protocols. Diocese by diocese ... and denomination to denomination ... are all responding in fairly similar ways, with both local and regional modifications. Perhaps some of these standards are long overdue. There is significant data that even the common cold multiplies its effects when there is hand to hand, etc. contact.

Anyone administering the chalice during the Eucharist is familiar with the lively child chomping at the opportunity to 'slam DUNK' the bread/wafer into the wine- along with a possibly funky fist.

Here are the links to the article from Los Angeles Times by P.J. Huffstutter and Duke Helfand: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-churchflu14-2009oct14,0,2435367.story
AND the response on scopes: http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=52103.

How is your diocese or parish 'handling' the situation? Your comments are invited and encouraged.

p.s. For an essay on the light side of this topic, Hop over to the "A Few Good Writers" section of http://www.geraniumfarm.org/ to read Fr. Tim Schenck's essay 'Touchless Eucharist". Enjoy!

p.p.s. Just as I finished posting this, Rev. Ann Fontaine posted something on Facebook I simply HAD to share. In my 1950's roots, this reminds me of the change do-hickey the Good Humor man used... click here for a link: http://www.puritysolutions.org/index.php.

Charter for Compassion

The United Nations has a Charter of Human Rights. Karen Armstrong, former Roman Catholic nun, prolific theologian and writer (most recently of The Case for God) joined with leaders of other faith traditions to draft a Charter for Compassion which was unveiled in a ceremony 3 days ago. Read about its roots and content in the following linked article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gMy_pmwt7MKtU1RzSn_AfrhUFZJg