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It's interesting. Certainly the "default" (in the sense that it's what you do in the absence of reasons to do otherwise) is to communicate those who present themselves. That's got to make the clergy in San Francisco feel under the gun at every Mass. "Oh Lord, puhLEEZE don't let somebody do something weird today. I just want to make it to bedtime without messing up, okay?"

Come to think of it, that's pretty much what I pray every morning, if not in those exact words.

Last Spring some studentesses of the local U came to daily PM Mass with T-shirts supporting homosexuality. Something like "Gay? Okay with me." Though I was there, They were over on the starboard side and I was on the port side, and I've sort of gotten the impression that checking out the chicks is not only creepy when you're 59, but it's also not exactly good preparation for the Sacrament, so I didn't even know they were there. (No. Really! I especially didn't notice the blonde. Wow, did I ever not notice her!)

Anyway, the priest, a buddy of mine, was visibly percolating with wrath after the service. While he communicated them, he also summoned them for a dressing down -- um, let me rephrase that -- a stern lecture the next day.

Clearly the abp. didn't have that option. I think he flinched under fire. Not the end of the world. Live and learn, sez me.

"Oh Lord, puhLEEZE don't let somebody do something weird today. I just want to make it to bedtime without messing up, okay?"

Thanks for your post, Mad Dawg! It's nice to hear the perspective of someone who's actually been in the position of offering (or refusing) the Eucharist to the laity.

That's got to make the clergy in San Francisco feel under the gun at every Mass.

You said it!

Problem is, the general population in SF is so darned odd, it makes the South look sane! (remember what Florence King said, "Put a fence around the South and you'd have one big madhouse!")

Add to that that the loonies in SF, unlike the loonies in the South, have absolutely nothing invested in "not making a scene" . . . quite contrariwise.

So I can understand how the clergy may either (1) be in some doubt as to whether a particularly bizarre-looking prospective communicant is persisting in grave sin, or is just your garden variety weirdo; or (2) just be so case-hardened by the infinite variety of weirdness in SF, they don't notice a couple of over-made-up guys in habits . . . .

I really think the Abp was on autopilot, with the long lines and everything. Probably already thinking about the closing prayers and coordinating the altar servers and deacons.

re the T-shirts. A judge I know had a defendant show up for a probation revocation with a "BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND" T-shirt on. He made him go home and change. I think he revoked his probation, too.

That's got to make the clergy in San Francisco feel under the gun at every Mass. "Oh Lord, puhLEEZE don't let somebody do something weird today. I just want to make it to bedtime without messing up, okay?"

I think you over-estimate the clergy of san francisco. When the Mother Church (at least in the form of AmChurch) begins to crumple under the weight of powers and principalities, weird things can be expected to happen.