Flu concerns don't impact Ga. church services

ATLANTA - Congregants in Georgia churches will continue sipping from communion cups and shaking hands with pewmates, even as religious leaders in other states seek to curb those traditions due to flu fears.

Roman Catholic church leaders in several states, including the nation's fourth-largest diocese in Boston, have issued guidelines urging some parishioners to forgo communion and other close contact with fellow churchgoers.

Spokespeople for the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta and the Diocese of Savannah said flu has not been a noticeable problem in their congregations and that they've taken no special measures.

Other denominations also said they've seen no need to curb practices because of flu.

"The majority of the Baptist churches all serve in little individual plastic cups," said Diane Reasoner, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Baptist Convention. "I don't see where that would be an issue, where it might be with the Catholic or other churches."

In Vermont, Bishop Kenneth Angell has told worshippers in the state's largest religion they should abstain from the Mass customs of sharing a chalice and shaking hands for the next six months.

The Rev. Richard G. Lennon of the Boston archdiocese wrote a memo this month saying parishioners can exchange "a suitable gesture" other than the handshakes and hugs typically given as a "sign of peace." Regarding communion, he wrote, "common sense should reign supreme."

The nation is facing a shortage of flu vaccine because the bulk of this year's supply was found to be contaminated with bacteria.