How dioceses are tackling 2019 Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19)

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Not all diocese’s permit intinction!
i.e. The Archdiocese of Boston does not permit it!
 
The Seattle Archdiocese has cancelled all Masses, as the Seattle area has been hard hit. At a retirement facility in Kirkland just north of Seattle, 15 people have died and 6 more are down with the flu. It was noted that some of the 15 went from no signs to dead within hours. Of 180 workers in that facility, 70 have the flu.

In the rest of the State (Washington), 3 others have died.

The Archdiocese of Portland has granted a general dispensation from Mass; the Governor has required any gathering larger than 250 people to be discontinued (no idea if they intend to go around to parishes and do anything).
 
HomeschoolDad said:
How would CITH work in the Byzantine Rite? Administering the Body only?
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Probably… still maintaining use of leavened bread at that.

Liturgy of St. James (Byzantine Rite) has such communion in a way where people first receive Body of Christ (on the tongue) and then Precious Blood (separately). It would probably be done in this way but distribution of Body of Christ would be in the hand while skipping distribution of Precious Blood.
 
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I am so tempted to just answer the title with

rugby tackle , smash it head on, grab the ball and run through to the goal.

A good question also is how are religious communities tackling it too. Mine just cancelled all meetings and get togethers to protect our elderly.
 
Herculees said:
Not all diocese’s permit intinction!
i.e. The Archdiocese of Boston does not permit it!
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Page 4 would indicate otherwise?


(The document title might indicate May 2009 and the text indicates March 2019, but from the URL I infer it was still in effect as recently as October of last year??)

NB: Self-intinction, which is tantamount to self-communication is forbidden to the laity. But to my knowledge intinction by an appropriate minister remains always and everywhere permissible (pandemic response policies aside).
 
I love our Church!

Not a diocesan response, but my parish had already added a 0700 daily Mass during Lent. Today is the first time I remembered to attend (mea culpa) and Father said he was offering a “Votive Mass for the World in Time of Danger”, which if I understood that correctly is just cool 😎 that such a Mass is just sitting at the ready in the back of the missal!
 
OraLabora said:
This can totally overwhelm even the best health care system. Cold hard, heartless math.
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Not the same thing, but the last sentence reminded me of one of my all-time favorite SF short stories. “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin.
 
This is interesting. From the newsletter of the Bournemouth Oratory:
In response to many questions and concerns from Parishioners: world experts in immunology state that the risk of contagion is certainly no greater receiving Holy Communion on the tongue than in the hand.

Contrary to some opinion, scientific, medical, and practical experience demonstrate that Communion on the tongue is safer, and more hygienic, than receiving in the hand (which has touched multiple surfaces, and caries much bacteria). It is almost unavoidable to touch the Communicant’s hand when putting the Host into a hand, whereas, properly ministered, there is no contact between the tongue and a Priest’s finger when giving Communion on the tongue.

The Church’s Canon Law is specific that Communion on the tongue is the universal norm, and that Communicants can never be denied their choice to receive kneeling and on the tongue, which is the most hygienic and safest means of receiving Our Lord.
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peter26 said:
You can find the newsletter here dated 15th March.
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They don’t cite specific “world experts”. The fact is that one of the main vectors for transmission is aerosolized particles which originate in the mouth and nose. This would suggest that in fact saliva is especially risky.

The priest at the abbey I’m associated with who is the main communion minister (and whom I work with in the library) told me that yes, properly administered and properly received there is no contact with saliva, but that frequently the recipient does not properly position their head or moves their head away too quickly, and the result is contact with saliva, not a good situation in these times. I would not put too much trust in a vague “world experts in immunology” statements without proper references to these so-called “world experts”.

I would also not put too much trust in communicants getting it right 100% of the time.

A moot point in my part of the world, all Sunday Masses cancelled until further notice. That’s the safest route I would think. The abbey, which is of pontifical right, is following the diocesan advice as many monks are elderly (may over 80 and 3 over 90), and with underlying health concerns. It makes sense for the community to isolate itself from the outside world.
 
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There is really no evidence that Communion on the Tongue is more dangerous. Father Z explains it here.

And the Diocease of Portland asked two doctors, one an immunologist, who also said there is no difference. Let’s face it, COTT bans are not a rational but rather a reactionary measure.
 
peter26 said:
There is really no evidence that Communion on the Tongue is more dangerous. Father Z explains it here.

And the Diocease of Portland asked two doctors, one an immunologist, who also said there is no difference. Let’s face it, COTT bans are not a rational but rather a reactionary measure.
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All I can say is, in over thirty years of being an EMHC, I have received saliva or warm breath on my fingers when distributing on the tongue several times but I have never received it when distributing in the hand.
 
And people’s hands are generally rather dirty unless they have just washed them. By Communion time, even if they washed their hands just before Mass (unlikely), a person would have touched the pew, missal/hymn book, money for the collection…
 
peter26 said:
And people’s hands are generally rather dirty unless they have just washed them. By Communion time, even if they washed their hands just before Mass (unlikely), a person would have touched the pew, missal/hymn book, money for the collection…
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Yes but the principle vector for spread of the virus is through aerosolized particles coming from the nose and mouth. Why do you think people are wearing face masks?

It’s hard to say which is more risky, given that someone may wipe their runny nose with their hand or put their hand in their mouth, but the source remains the mouth just the same.

And yes I generally do wash my hands before Mass, it takes me 35 minutes to drive to Mass which lasts close to an hour and a half, so invariably I use the restroom before Mass and wash my hands afterwards like my Mom taught me 😉

Really I’m beginning to think the Quebec bishops were correct to suspend Mass altogether. That is the safest.
 
You are right to say there is probably nothing in it one way or the other. Hands touch many things.

(And I didn’t mean to imply you don’t wash your hands, I meant the average parishioner not EMHCs in particular).
 
The Melbourne Archdiocese has: “Consider alternative options for thanksgiving collections that do not require passing of containers (e.g. leaving collection).”

and “Implement cleaning measures before, during and after gatherings with a focus to the cleaning of commonly touched surfaces (i.e. door handles, light switches, musical instruments, desks, keyboards etc.);” From https://www.cam.org.au/Guidance-for-Parishes-COVID-19

A 13 March 2020 Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Victoria includes:

“If you feel you are vulnerable to COVID-19, or are generally unwell; are caring for those who are unwell; or think you might be at risk; you are dispensed from your Sunday obligation from this time.”

The full letter is at https://www.cam.org.au/Portals/0/LE...A 13 MARCH 2020.pdf?ver=2020-03-13-183607-400
 
Just out from the Diocese of Birmingham AL:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
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