Contagion Anxieties and the Common Cup

Ever so often, I encounter folks who are anxious about getting sick from receiving Communion. Nationally, there is a wave of that concern these days related to the swine flu outbreak. Our office is e-mailing a helpful web site on the subject to all our Nevada priests this week. Anyone interested may want to check www.anglican.ca/faith/ministry/69 for a concise, accessible discussion.

Bottom line, the common cup used with wine (preferably with a high alcohol content) wiped appropriately by the chalice bearer after each communicant poses no significant risk. The practice of intinction does not improve hygeine. It may actually decrease hygeine. The riskiest part of worship is walking in the door. The only thing we do in worship that noticeably ups the risk is shaking hands at the peace. (Hugging is healthier.)

That said, I have seen some pastoral relationships crash quite unnecessarily on the rocks of telling people how they should or shoud not recieve communion. And I have not found the laity in Nevada to be at all worked up about it recently. So I recommend calm. As Jesus and numerous angels said, "Fear not" -- aptly paraphrased in The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, "Don't panic." If you want more info on this, google "common cup hygeine." There have been upteen studies and you can find a wealth of reassuring information. But facts don't always assuage anxiety, so if you have someone who is really worried, assure them they don't have to receive the cup to receive the full grace of the sacrament. Reception in one kind is quite sufficient.

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Posted by: Tukiyooo Contagion Anxieties and the Common Cup Updated at : 1:18 PM

Saturday, May 16, 2009