I read through all these comments again and was flabbergasted at how many people have a problem with holding someone else's hand.  But these are the same regular posters who pontificate about sacrificial virtue, self-gift, hardiness, sturdiness and other "manly" virtues.  Yet when faced with the prospect of catching a sniffle germ or having to touch a sweaty hand, you people wilt in horror and justify your own willingness to snub a sister or brother in Christ by believing somehow they are offending you.  And why do you all keep saying you don't want to hold a "stranger's" hand?  Why are the people in the pews strangers?  Don't you know the people in your own parish?