FrenchieGirl
Senior Moderator
Masses may be suspended if flu spread worsens ? CBCP
06/28/2009 | 12:58 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Church is condering suspending Masses should the spread of the A(H1N1) flu virus become worse in the Philippines ? as a "last resort."
But the Department of Health, along with some priests and parishioners, think the proposal unnecessary, according to Mariz Umali in her GMA Weekend Report aired on Sunday, shortly after midnight.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made the announcement through Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Enriquez.
Last May, the Church modified services, disallowing hand-to-mouth communion and holding hands while singing the Our Father. But these traditional practices have returned in some churches, according to the Weekend Report.
Earlier on Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to organize quick reaction teams and mobile testing facilities for deployment to areas affected by the A(H1N1) virus.
Excerpts the directive were read by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is with Arroyo in Hong Kong, on government-run dzRB radio Saturday.
For the quick response teams, the President ordered the DOH tap from the pool of "still-to-be-employed" nurses, and organize information and education teams about A(H1N1).
She also asked the department to prepare "well-equipped isolation wards in state-run hospitals and health facilities."
The DOH was also ordered to place the A(H1N1) alert level in the country at the alert level of the World Health Organization ?for increased alertness and preparedness."
Arroyo issued the directives as three more schools added to the list of educational institutions confirmed to have cases of the A(H1N1) virus in the country, upping the previous tally to 43 Philippine schools with at least 154 swine flu cases. - GMANews.TV
06/28/2009 | 12:58 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Church is condering suspending Masses should the spread of the A(H1N1) flu virus become worse in the Philippines ? as a "last resort."
But the Department of Health, along with some priests and parishioners, think the proposal unnecessary, according to Mariz Umali in her GMA Weekend Report aired on Sunday, shortly after midnight.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made the announcement through Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Enriquez.
Last May, the Church modified services, disallowing hand-to-mouth communion and holding hands while singing the Our Father. But these traditional practices have returned in some churches, according to the Weekend Report.
Earlier on Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to organize quick reaction teams and mobile testing facilities for deployment to areas affected by the A(H1N1) virus.
Excerpts the directive were read by Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who is with Arroyo in Hong Kong, on government-run dzRB radio Saturday.
For the quick response teams, the President ordered the DOH tap from the pool of "still-to-be-employed" nurses, and organize information and education teams about A(H1N1).
She also asked the department to prepare "well-equipped isolation wards in state-run hospitals and health facilities."
The DOH was also ordered to place the A(H1N1) alert level in the country at the alert level of the World Health Organization ?for increased alertness and preparedness."
Arroyo issued the directives as three more schools added to the list of educational institutions confirmed to have cases of the A(H1N1) virus in the country, upping the previous tally to 43 Philippine schools with at least 154 swine flu cases. - GMANews.TV