Agree!
The big problem today is that catholic doesn't mean anything today.
The American catholic Church needs to be brought to heel by Pope Benedict as it is not supposed to be a loose franchise granted by Rome.
As I've stated before, European Roman Catholic Churches allow no communion given in the communicant's hand. There are no lay distributors. There are no lay lectors.
The priest doesn't merely 'preside' he is the representative of Christ. He faces away from the congregation and prays to God, not to the congregants. And further, when the faithful quietly enter the sanctuary one is given the distinct impression that something important happens here. It's not like the Elks.
The priest doesn’t merely ‘preside’ he is the representative of Christ. He faces away from the congregation and prays to God, not to the congregants.
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Thank you. Thank you. That element is, for me, the most irksome among so many irritating practices.