Bishop's holy water warning over swine flu

[condoleeza]

Source: telegraph.co.uk

The Right Reverend John Gladwin has advised members of his diocese to spruce up hygiene in churches by removing receptacles for water.
"Some churches have a stoup for holy water near the entrance to the church door, and people are invited to dip a finger in this, and to make the sign of the cross as a reminder of their baptism.

"The water contained in stoups can easily become a source of infection and a means of rapidly spreading the virus. This practice should be suspended."
He said the use of holy water should not be reinstated until the swine flu pandemic is over and added that priests should advise members of their congregation who have flu-like symptoms to stay at home."

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5828101/Bishops-holy-water-warning-over-swine-flu.html

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WTF, I thought the water was holy, like it had been blessed by God himself (or a highly ranked servant) so does somebody just go to the tap and fill up these "vessels"?

What a lunkhead I've been. Don't know how to post the "sarcasm" sign here, this atheist just heard this on NPR this afternoon and I'm sorry if I'm offending Catholics here but I just couldn't resist.

[hlthe2b]

1. the BIshop is being responsible...

Rather than use this as a chance to denigrate religion like the OP, I will say kudos to those who look out for their "flock" rather than clinging to traditions that might be harmful.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Anglicans are a tad pragmatic in these matters. It's blessed by God but God expects humans to use

the free will that came along with the higher cognitive function. BTW,the Right Reverend in question is from the Church of England, not the Roman Catholic church. ;-)

FYI, the sarcasm tag may be found in the Smilies lookup table under Message Options when you're composing a post.

[xchrom]

3. many christian other than catholics use holy water in their churches --

in the narthex or outside.

just to let ya know.

and why would you think it automatic that being a christian would be anti-medical science?

or against common sense public health measures?

something stinks here and it isn't the holy water.

[condoleeza]

13. Well, at least I said I was an atheist

so I stand corrected it wasn't a Catholic Bishop and yes I know what a narthex is and actually had my 2 kids baptized before I became an atheist, as I was married to someone who is now a minister. Forgive me for seizing on an "opportunity" to point out the frailty of religion, I just couldn't resist. I have major reasons to hate religion and the scars to prove them. I know that not everyone has scars, and I do mean ACTUAL scars, some people were raised "social Christian" some "crazy Christian". I was the latter and would love to see religion worldwide obliterated, so for those here who were offended by my comments on the post, I don't hate Christians, I just hate religion.

[Warpy]

4. Water in the RCC is rendered "holy"

by the addition of a drop of "holy oil" blessed by the Vatican. One suspects that drop of oil lasts through quite a few refillings of the font, meaning it's homeopathic holiness if one insists on special substances.

Since the whole idea is to do a remembrance of one's baptism, the supposed holiness of the water should be rendered such more by the intention than by the addition.

Perhaps sacrament could be served by the addition of a little Clorox to kill any viruses riding into the font on parishoners' fingers.

[TexasProgresive]

9. Where did you get your info - Wackypedia

not to be confused with Wikipedia.

No oils are used in the blessing of holy water. Even if oil was used it does not come from the Vatican. Holy oils are blessed during Holy Week (week prior to Easter) by the bishop of the diocese. Holy Water is blessed with a blessing during which some salt may be added - salt from a store not the Vatican. sheesh!

[Warpy]

12. I grew up in the church

and that's what we were told.

We were told a lot of stupid stuff, which is why I left.

However, the people who stayed are welcome to it.

I do suggest a little bleach in flu season.

[hedgehog]

18. Here - you could use a little brush-up:

[ashling]

5. Maybe they could put in

Ozarka Holy water fountains? That way it would be freshly Holied and the holy wouldn't have wholely worn off.

[Mumble]

6. Unholy water

I've used for my entire life without any ill effects. What advantage does "holy" water have over unholy water???

[willing dwarf]

7. When something is held sacred

it has meaning and power for those who hold dear the ritual act of sanctification. The significance is brought into their life by connection with sanctified stuff (whether it's holy water, blessed candles, holy oil, a prayer book, rosary beads, religious metals, religious icons etc)...

Anyway, it's far more about the mindfulness and the sense of what connects you to Spirit than about it having "voodoo power" -- at least that's my sense of it and I'm a regular american catholic.

[Mumble]

8. Water is water.

Saying some magic words or adding a drop of "holy" oil doesn't do anything to the water. This is the 21st century, not an ancient superstitious world from 2000 years ago. Amazes me how so many people cling to the past and can't accept a world based on scientific fact and principals. They would rather believe in magic, and myths about the unknown.

[Tesha]

15. Well, if it's really, really holy (blessed by Bethany, say)...

then it can kill teenage stygian triplet hockey-playing demons. ;-)



Tesha

[knitter4democracy]

19. Holy water is for blessings.

House blessings every year, individual blessings during the year on an as needed basis, and for whenever you feel the need for an extra blessing. You can drink it, but the point isn't to drink an entire glass, just a sip after prayer and fasting.

[Javaman]

10. This just in...

holy water will be replaced with holy dirt.

[Vidar]

11. So now we're bitching because a Bishop had a good idea.

[condoleeza]

14. IMO his best idea would be to tell everyone that religion is BS,

but that's just my opinion. My favorite religion joke is by Richard Jeni: "Religious wars are all about people fighting over who has the best imaginary friend." I knew Richard, he came to comedy because of all the inconsistencies he saw in his religious upbringing. It's debatable whether religion or comedy ultimately caused him to kill himself, but he was a decent man, a giving man who had a true sense of humanitarian issues, but who was really fucked up by religion. When you weight it all, what good has religion EVER done for humanity?

[Holy Moly]

16. Forsake NOT holy water

Thou shalt forsake not My Holy Water lest ye bring down upon thy first born the petty wrath of My only begotten Son, My Holy Ghost, and My avenging angel, SaraSwinePalin...
For thou shalt drinketh of My Holy Water that ye may reap what I have sowed... My latest and greatest creation, Holy Swine PFlu to out-smite My holy bubonic black death plague

The Lord thy God hath spoken... }(
Pray not
For I cannot hear
Because I am not here
On earth
As I am not in Heaven
Amen

[condoleeza]

17. Well now I've seen the light, thank you n/t