Drinking out of the same communnal cup of wine or dipping a wafer into
the cup at a Catholic or Episcopal Church Service. How dangerous is this in
regards to catching viruses or bacterial infections? What is an
acceptable alternative?

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 23 Oct 2005 18:17 PDT

Interestingly enough there is no acceptable alternative to the problem
in the eyes of many. There are a number of churches, religions and
denominations who believe that this single cup is a mandate by example
according to Matthew 26:26-29. This portion of the Bible, it is
believed by some, teaches that the church must use only one cup (read
literally: container) when communion is served in the worship service.
In the Bible the scripture says [I shall embellish where relevant]:

?And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it;
and he gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
AND HE TOOK A CUP, AND GAVE THANKS, AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, ALL
OF YOU DRINK OF IT; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is
poured out for many unto remission of sins. But I say unto you, I
shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day
when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.?

So you see, for those who interpret this literally there is
alternative. Each person must drink from the ?communal? cup.

In other churches however, where the communal cup is less of an issue
than the sacrament of communion itself, the fruit of the vine is
served in individual cups rather than a single chalice. For those
churches, this is solution.

Image: http://www.catholicsupply.com/churchs/22d.jpg

Please let me know if this answers your question.

Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga

In most catholic churches I've been too, only the priest drinks the wine.

WHen I was taking confirmation instruction long ago, the Episcopal
minister explained that silver has antiseptic properties.  He also
recommended that anyone who had a cold or other transmittable decease
should consider dipping his/her wafer in the chalice instead of
drinking from it.

http://www.davidicke.net/medicalarchives/conspiracy/silverscam.html

The lip of the chalice is also wiped with a clean cloth and turned
before being offering to the the next person.  Perhaps this also gives
time for many germs to die from cooling or from those antiseptic
properties.

A chalice is also supposed to have no rim  - and most of them don't - 
which also reduces the likelihood germs accumulating and not being
wiped off.