Waving goodbye to the handshake
We need to think about the handshake, not only at times of pandemic. There are other Signs of Peace which, I am told, are in common use during Mass elsewhere. People should consider using one of these alternatives. One of my family has poor immunity. Twice he was hospitalised when a common community-acquired infection developed into pneumonia and endangered his life. Once he was hospitalised with influenza, which also endangered his life. I have seen people cough into a hand or use it to blow their nose before using it to give a Sign of Peace; and people who are well can unwittingly touch surfaces which have bacteria or viruses, and communicate them to others. Some do not know that they are vulnerable until it is too late. Relatively common infections kill people every year. I know of one epidemiologist who says that she never shakes hands because she knows what is on them. I saw a homeless man, with dirty hands, ignored by every person around him at the Sign of Peace during Mass. What could have been a sign of welcome and inclusion became a sign of isolation and exclusion. I am sure that people would not have been so unkind if a non-contact Sign of Peace were in common use. There are other issues to consider too. It is reasonable and charitable to consider introducing an alternative to the handshake for permanent use. P Whitney Doncaster, South Yorkshire
