The Chicago Catholic Archdiocese has given local churches the option of cancelling some potential germ-spreading practices used at mass. St. Ignatius on the city's north side is going for it; no more communal wine or 'sign of peace' handshake.
What do you think? Prudent or Overkill?
*** While the Mass changes may seem unusual, Father Joe, by the way, points out that the Archdiocese did close one Chicago Catholic grade school earlier this school year due to a stomach flu outbreak. Plus, he says we're fortunate, in this day and age, to simply be able to take precautions --and not have to leave town (which is what he says his parents had to do in the early 1900's, when an influenza outbreak crippled the Windy City)!
