Half of Americans age 65 and older report attending religious services at least once a week.
That has put increased pressure on faith communities because seniors are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus.
Around Bloomington churches are grappling with how to prevent the spread of coronavirus among their congregations.
“For us, it’s pretty much business as usual,” says Father Dennis Woerter, associate pastor of the St. Paul Catholic Center. “But with the added precaution, ‘Ok, be careful, be safe.’”
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis sent a directive out last week with recommended guidelines for catholic churches, including not receiving bread and wine during communion.
“People are not obligated to receive communion from the cup,” Woerter says, “And if people are sick, they are not obligated to attend mass. So they can stay home as an act of charity to protect the health of others.”
He says the Archdiocese has essentially left it up to individual parishes, and they will act as they deem necessary.
Some other churches have stopped passing out bread and wine, and have replaced handshakes with elbow bumps.
