Question
When is the Catholic Church going to stop passing disease and germs from the communion cup?
--Angry in Atlanta
Answer
The Catholic Church has not stopped the practice of receiving communion from the chalice/cup because of the profound symbolism that Jesus instituted at the "Last Supper:" "eat my flesh and drink my blood... do this in remembrance of me." We follow a sacred, symbolic mandate from Christ's time until the present.
Jesus did not seem concerned about the contagions [which were many in his times, too]. Recall that he ate with fishers [not the cleanest people?] and sinners. Christ wanted us to be part of a sacred communion, entering into the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection. We are each invited to participate in this mystery by the eating of his body and the drinking of his blood at Eucharist.