Catholic bishops today banned potentially infective behaviour at Masses because of swine flu.
In a pastoral letter, the bishops have asked priests to stop distributing communion wafers to the tongues of parishioners, giving communion wine from the chalice and holding anointing Masses for the sick.
The restrictions are to stay in force until bishops' conference president, Bishop Denis Browne of Hamilton, advises otherwise.
The bishops issued restrictions on actions at Masses when the swine flu virus first came to New Zealand in April, but these were lifted in May after advice from the Health Ministry.
On medical advice, the bishops recommended people either take communion hosts in the hand or make a spiritual communion which does not involve consuming the host.
The bishops also asked congregations to avoid bodily contact at liturgies, for example shaking hands at the "sign of peace".
Priests and ministers of communion have been urged to use alcohol-based hand sanitisers before and after distributing communion.
The bishops warned that medical officials may be forced to ban public gatherings if the public health situation deteriorated severely.
"This does not mean, however, that we as Church cease to pray. More than ever, we will need to pray for those who are sick, those who are dying, those who have died, and those who have lost loved ones."
- NZPA
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