WASHINGTON — The White House and federal health officials have released guidelines recommending that participants in religious ceremonies take precautions against spreading germs to reduce the risks of contracting swine flu.
Marilyn Meyers, a 67-year-old member of Washington National Cathedral, already had thought about the health risks involved in her church’s services. On Sunday, as she has for the past several months, she rubbed sanitizer on her hands before getting in line for Holy Communion.
“You shake hands, you touch the prayer books we all share, you break off a piece of the same bread — who knows what might be on it?” she said.
Washington National Cathedral parishioners gather to eat and chat after mass. A new federal guide urges religious communities to exercise caution in crowded situations such as these to avoid spreading swine flu. (Michelle Minkoff/MNS)
At Sunday’s service, the parishioners continued to exchange the Sign of Peace, shaking hands with those around them while saying “Peace be with you.” Most also waited in line to receive Holy Communion, the Christian ritual of eating bread and drinking wine, often from a communal cup — symbols of the body and blood of Christ.
“I’m not concerned about the wine yet,” said Meyers. “But if I were, you’re allowed to dunk the wafer in, so you aren’t sipping from the same cup. I think I’m okay for now, though.”
The White House’s Office for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Department of Health and Human Services guide, released Friday, advises faith-based groups to take precautions to help prevent the spread of swine flu.
The guide suggests that religious organizations encourage congregants to wash their hands often, use hand sanitizer, avoid crowded situations and interact without physical contact when possible. It also urges religious leaders to keep in contact with local health organizations and closely adhere to their recommendations.
Joshua DuBois, the White House office’s director, said in a news release that faith leaders have significant power to help spread the word on how to stay healthy.
The National Association of Evangelicals sent an e-mail to its congregations Monday reminding churches to prepare for flu season by following the White House guide, which can be found at flu.gov.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends that clergy remind parishioners not to drink from the Communion cup if they are feeling ill. The conference also said bishops are free to make decisions for their specific region.
One leader who did so is Bishop John F. Kinney of the diocese of St. Cloud, Minn. Kinney wrote a letter last week asking churches to stop offering a common Communion cup and discourage hand contact during Mass as of Sept. 28.
In the Washington area, Catholic leaders said they were taking their cues from the Archdiocese of Washington and the bishops’ conference.
The Archdiocese is distributing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reminding parishioners that they can nod rather than shake hands for the Sign of Peace, according to Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Gibbs.
The federal guidelines also are relevant to Islam. Muslims often cleanse themselves using the same bowl of water before they are called to daily prayer.
And in the Jewish tradition, congregants close the service shaking hands and wishing each other a good Sabbath, or “Shabbat shalom.”
The Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, dean of the Washington National Cathedral, said he was in close communication with local health authorities, and would take action as needed. But he thought it wasn’t up to the Episcopal Church as a whole to dictate how to practice rituals.
“We are prepared to take action if there is a concern, but in the end, people should make their own decisions,” he said.
Meyers agreed that precautions aren’t up to the government, or the clergy.
“I think it’s something that’s up to the individual,” she said, “No one can make the decision for you or tell you how to practice your faith.”