Interesting article in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
The authors conclude that the Communion cup is probably the least dangerous of these. Praise Jeezus!
This review evaluates the medical literature for religious rituals or ceremonies that have been reported to cause infection. These include an ultra-orthodox Jewish circumcision practice known as metzitzah b’peh, the Christian common communion chalice, Islamic ritual ablution, and the Hindu ‘side-roll’. Infections associated with participation in the Islamic Hajj have been extensively reviewed and will not be discussed.
The authors conclude that the Communion cup is probably the least dangerous of these. Praise Jeezus!