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NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates and Katie Zezima of The New York Times report on Catholic Bishop Kenneth A. Angell after he officially issued a request to the priests that serve the 148,000 Burlington Vermont Catholic Diocese to follow the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington guidelines to refrain from using the communion chalice and parishioners to avoid the usual handshake, hug or kiss when they make the sign of peace during Mass until the end of flu season in late October, after Vermont officials said that the state was short 50,000 doses of flu vaccine.

Officials of the diocese said a few parishioners called its headquarters, concerned that contact during Mass would make them susceptible to the flu. After discussing it with diocesan officials, Bishop Angell, 74, issued the edict. The ban began Oct. 31 and will end on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005. There are 130 churches and about 148,000 parishioners in the diocese.

Listen to NPR's Karen Grigsby Bates report. Requires Windows Media Player.

Read the New York Times Katie Zezima article published November 28, 2004.

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