Seems that in reaction to the spread of the (A)H1N1 flu strain--formerly known as the swine flu--several Catholic dioceses have decided not to offer their communicants wine as part of the communion ritual, fearing the risk of transmission. As discussed on Beliefnet, the central Church authorities think "the need for the introduction of widespread liturgical adaptations for the prevention of the transmission of influenza in the dioceses of the (U.S.) is not evident at this time" Nonetheless, folks in Texas and Tampa and elsewhere are gonna have to swallow those wafers with a dry throat.
This reaction strikes Blind Muscat, himself a former Papist, as odd on at least two counts. First, it's somewhat remarkable that a substance said to contain the "essence" of the blood of Christ can't fight off a motley viral strain. Second and more important, altar wine contains another substance, by no means imaginary, that will likely do the trick -- alcohol. Ethanol levels in table wine pretty much neutralize any known human pathogen; Chardonnay, for example, makes an excellent disinfectant for swabbing down your kitchen counters. So the chances are that bringing cup t lip would reduce the spread of the flu, not encourage it.
Blind Muscat thinks taking the juice out of Communion shares a logical paradigm with the Egyptian slaughter of innocent pigs. Better to drop the transubstantiation thing--but that's another topic.
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