Following the panic created by the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Catholic Church Sunday urged its members to desist from shaking hands during the sign of peace session, terminating part of the eucharistic rites of mass and church service.


Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, John Cardinal Onaiyekan told THISDAY that "the church is taking precautionary steps to avoid the spread of the disease."


Onaiyekan denied that the church had banned handshaking during mass, a prominent ritual that replicates Jesus Christ Last Super with his twelve disciples in the Bible.


"No, we have not banned shaking of hands" Onaiyekan said, "we are only discouraging it and it is going to be temporary until it is clear that Nigeria is no longer under Ebola threat," he stressed.


The Cardinal informed THISDAY that the church adopted the suspension of hand shaking as "a possible means to avoid the spread of Ebola virus and also prayers to keep the country safe."


He added that "many people are not comfortable with shaking people they don't know during this period of Ebola, so there is need to take such steps," Onaiyekan said.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ebola-catholic-church-discourages-handshaking-in-church/185940/

Way to go! In a country where many revere their religious leaders more than God, the religious authorities should all start to educate their followers on this disease, to minimise the spread to the barest minimum.

Nice, but with the way ebola spread, u can hardly get it by handshaking...but if its a patient in its critical condition, ur being in d same room alone makes u vulnerable...
Btw, who in such critical condition goes out... #signofpeaceforever

Nawa ooo,d fear of ebola......well shaa,nobody wen die,i wonder hw dy wen take go heaven.....