Fear of SARS alters meetings, rituals

Christian Century, May 3, 2003

The deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has forced some Protestant groups to postpone meetings in the Far East. And some liturgical churches in Canada urged communion caution even before it became known that a charismatic Catholic group in Toronto had been asked to quarantine themselves.

The genetic makeup of the previously unknown SARS virus was fully decoded by scientists in record time, but effective treatment is expected to be years away. SARS arose in China last fall and had led to more than 150 deaths by April.

The Baptist World Alliance, whose 14th annual Baptist Youth World Conference was scheduled for July 16-20 in Hong Kong, postponed the gathering for one year. The alliance also said its annual July meeting was moved from Seoul to Rio de Janeiro this year.

Likewise, Calvin College, which has several study programs in China, canceled a May-June trip there and scrubbed seven summer internships because of SARS.

A Toronto charismatic Catholic group was asked by Canadian health authorities to quarantine themselves from Easter celebrations and other activities after dozens of the 500 members were suspected of being afflicted by the virus. Two physicians treating members of the BLD Covenant Community, a movement based in the Philippines, also became ill, reported the Washington Post.

Meanwhile, some Canadian Catholic and Anglican leaders advised church members that although attending liturgies does not put them at risk, they may take only the bread of communion and avoid shaking hands in the exchange of peace if they wished to be cautious.