Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=34670&zoneid=3
Catholics Make Plans For Swine Flu
Monday, August 31, 2009
Anne Kramer
Anne Buening with the Archdiocese talks about swine flu preparations
As we enter the fall flu season Catholic leaders in Maryland are putting together an emergency action plan to handle the swine flu.
Anne Buening with the Archdiocese of Baltimore is organizing a seminar on the subject that will involve priests and parish staff. It is planned for later this week.
Buening says one thing that leaders have learned since the swine flu outbreak last spring is that people who are sick should stay home from Mass.
"We are looking at keeping folks safe by talking about what the CDC is telling us, cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough into your arm," says Buening.
And she says if people are concerned about not attending Mass as part of their religious obligation they should remember that they have a responsibility to the community by helping others stay healthy.
Buening says parishioners will likely see more bottles of hand sanitizers in churches as the flu season approaches.
She says leaders are also trying to work up contingency plans when priests may get sick. Buening says some parishes have only one priest and that could pose a problem.
She says they are trying to take the fear out of the swine flu for area Catholics. Another plan will call for open lines of communication between Catholic schools, seminaries and colleges and universities on the swine flu.
Catholics Make Plans For Swine Flu
Monday, August 31, 2009
Anne Kramer
Anne Buening with the Archdiocese talks about swine flu preparations
As we enter the fall flu season Catholic leaders in Maryland are putting together an emergency action plan to handle the swine flu.
Anne Buening with the Archdiocese of Baltimore is organizing a seminar on the subject that will involve priests and parish staff. It is planned for later this week.
Buening says one thing that leaders have learned since the swine flu outbreak last spring is that people who are sick should stay home from Mass.
"We are looking at keeping folks safe by talking about what the CDC is telling us, cover your mouth when you sneeze and cough into your arm," says Buening.
And she says if people are concerned about not attending Mass as part of their religious obligation they should remember that they have a responsibility to the community by helping others stay healthy.
Buening says parishioners will likely see more bottles of hand sanitizers in churches as the flu season approaches.
She says leaders are also trying to work up contingency plans when priests may get sick. Buening says some parishes have only one priest and that could pose a problem.
She says they are trying to take the fear out of the swine flu for area Catholics. Another plan will call for open lines of communication between Catholic schools, seminaries and colleges and universities on the swine flu.