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Catholics call for cleaner communions as flu scare spreads
By Jodie Sinnema, Edmonton JournalMay 1, 2009 9:00 PM
EDMONTON ? The leader of Edmonton's Catholic Church is asking parishes to temporarily stop using shared communion cups and worshippers to cease shaking hands in order to protect people from swine flu.
The Anglican bishop issued similar guidelines to churches Friday, the same day Canada recorded its 51st case of the H1N1 virus and Alberta saw its first case of the virus not contracted in Mexico ? a middle-aged Calgary woman who travelled to Tennessee.
"It's telling us that the virus spreads like other influenza viruses," said Dr. Andre Corriveau, medical officer of health for Alberta.
Churches are doing their part to prevent transmission.
"The steps being recommended are precautionary and practical," said Edmonton's Roman Catholic Archbishop Richard Smith in a media statement. "I believe these steps are an appropriate response to the current alert level."
While the guidelines remain optional, Catholic priests are being asked to stop using a common cup during communion, from which parishioners typically sip before the rim is wiped with a cloth. People are also being asked to receive the communion wafer in their hands rather than directly on the tongue, and to not shake each other's hands during mass, but instead bow or nod their heads in greeting. Churches are also being asked to consider having hand sanitizers available.
Anglican churches are taking a slightly different approach, keeping the common communion goblet but asking people not to dip their bread or wafer into the wine, as is sometimes the custom.
Edmonton Anglican Bishop Jane Alexander said studies show that sharing a freshly wiped cup is more sanitary than dipping bread, since people's fingertips sometimes touch the wine's surface. Churches are being asked to not use clay cups and to use fresh wiping cloths for every service.
"If you're not feeling well, it's OK to stay home," Alexander said. "We're looking at extra vigilance."
Corriveau said the churchly advice makes sense.
"Whether you're going to a church service or a party with your friends, if you have a flu-like illness you shouldn't be sharing cups and you should be using etiquette," he said.
Corriveau said this flu strain is quite mild and benign compared to other strains, but didn't offer any opinion on the decision by some school boards to ban air travel and international trips.
Craig Sobat of Edmonton, whose son was set to fly to England with his Grade 9 Westminster Junior High class May 16, said the decision of the local school board to cancel the trip was rash and ill-informed.
"I'm mostly concerned for the kids because they've worked very hard at this," Sobat said, adding each family is also losing more than $3,000 invested in the trip.
Altogether, the trip cost more than $60,000 to send 24 students and three teachers on a Shakespearean tour to Stratford, Sobat said. "We have no chance of getting our money back, either from the travel agency or the school board."
He wants the Edmonton Public school board to reverse its decision before trustees meet to discuss the issue at a regularly scheduled board meeting May 12.
"I think the superintendent of schools has made a big mistake here," Sobat said. "You can catch the flu any time of the year, anywhere in the world."
Jane Farrell, spokeswoman for the schools, said the decision to ban travel was difficult, but involved input from experts, including two nurses in occupational health and safety who have expertise in pandemic planning.
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com
Catholics call for cleaner communions as flu scare spreads
By Jodie Sinnema, Edmonton JournalMay 1, 2009 9:00 PM
EDMONTON ? The leader of Edmonton's Catholic Church is asking parishes to temporarily stop using shared communion cups and worshippers to cease shaking hands in order to protect people from swine flu.
The Anglican bishop issued similar guidelines to churches Friday, the same day Canada recorded its 51st case of the H1N1 virus and Alberta saw its first case of the virus not contracted in Mexico ? a middle-aged Calgary woman who travelled to Tennessee.
"It's telling us that the virus spreads like other influenza viruses," said Dr. Andre Corriveau, medical officer of health for Alberta.
Churches are doing their part to prevent transmission.
"The steps being recommended are precautionary and practical," said Edmonton's Roman Catholic Archbishop Richard Smith in a media statement. "I believe these steps are an appropriate response to the current alert level."
While the guidelines remain optional, Catholic priests are being asked to stop using a common cup during communion, from which parishioners typically sip before the rim is wiped with a cloth. People are also being asked to receive the communion wafer in their hands rather than directly on the tongue, and to not shake each other's hands during mass, but instead bow or nod their heads in greeting. Churches are also being asked to consider having hand sanitizers available.
Anglican churches are taking a slightly different approach, keeping the common communion goblet but asking people not to dip their bread or wafer into the wine, as is sometimes the custom.
Edmonton Anglican Bishop Jane Alexander said studies show that sharing a freshly wiped cup is more sanitary than dipping bread, since people's fingertips sometimes touch the wine's surface. Churches are being asked to not use clay cups and to use fresh wiping cloths for every service.
"If you're not feeling well, it's OK to stay home," Alexander said. "We're looking at extra vigilance."
Corriveau said the churchly advice makes sense.
"Whether you're going to a church service or a party with your friends, if you have a flu-like illness you shouldn't be sharing cups and you should be using etiquette," he said.
Corriveau said this flu strain is quite mild and benign compared to other strains, but didn't offer any opinion on the decision by some school boards to ban air travel and international trips.
Craig Sobat of Edmonton, whose son was set to fly to England with his Grade 9 Westminster Junior High class May 16, said the decision of the local school board to cancel the trip was rash and ill-informed.
"I'm mostly concerned for the kids because they've worked very hard at this," Sobat said, adding each family is also losing more than $3,000 invested in the trip.
Altogether, the trip cost more than $60,000 to send 24 students and three teachers on a Shakespearean tour to Stratford, Sobat said. "We have no chance of getting our money back, either from the travel agency or the school board."
He wants the Edmonton Public school board to reverse its decision before trustees meet to discuss the issue at a regularly scheduled board meeting May 12.
"I think the superintendent of schools has made a big mistake here," Sobat said. "You can catch the flu any time of the year, anywhere in the world."
Jane Farrell, spokeswoman for the schools, said the decision to ban travel was difficult, but involved input from experts, including two nurses in occupational health and safety who have expertise in pandemic planning.
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com