GUEST, I have no problem with the handshake of peace; it is a social, not a religious, gesture. But conferring a "blessing" is a different thing. Each one of us can offer only our own blessing, for what it is worth; but the priest (in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches) confers the blessing of Jesus Christ. To equate the priest's gesture with that of the layman is way off.

As for the child abuse that you referred to: You're out of court, this has nothing to do with the power to confer blessing or the raising of hands in church; I think you just needed to say it.