TORAH

Question

LICHVOD HARABANIM, IS IT PERMISSIBLE TO TOUCH THE TORAH SCROLL WITH ONES BARE HANDS? I BELIEVE IN THE LAST PAGE OG GEMARA MESECHET MEGILAH IT STATES SEVERE CONSIQUENSES FOR DOING THAT. WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO ? WHY DO YOU THINK MANY RABANIM ARE NOT VERY STRICT ON THIS ISSUE?