faith and disaster

We have already highlighted concerns about a more intense flu season this fall and how Texas is preparing, but like many issues, flu has additional implications for faith communities. For starters, houses of worship are gathering places for large groups of people, and the breadth of their outreach includes many people belonging to populations like the elderly and poor who are more vulnerable to flu. Therefore, they can and should take note of the measures available to them and their communities. Some congregations are already grappling with practical and even theological issues related to flu.

One resource comes from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which released a set of recommendations for houses of worship and other community organizations to consider (PDF). Some religious leaders have encouraged their followers to refrain from sharing the same cup when taking communion, for example, and to include announcements during services that encourage their members to take basic precautions to avoid spreading flu, such as washing their hands regularly and staying home if they begin to feel ill.  Faith communities can also direct their members to this website or others like it so they can find the nearest medical provider offering flu shots. It is important to note that no authorities have indicated that it may be necessary to cancel services because of flu fears.