General Thoughts over Recent Revelations

As it is no doubt well known, the Catholic Church has been dealing with a scandal. Decades of sexual abuse (overwhelmingly of teenage boys) and its systematic cover-up. Now, the current state within much of the Church has often been disheartening for anyone drawn to Catholicism by the beauty of its tradition. Nevertheless, that a criminal element was shielded, protected and in some cases, elevated to the highest ranks within the hierarchy has been devastating. The credibility of the Catholic Church is in the gutter because of a corrupt, criminal minority and the failure of the institution as a whole to face the problem and truly deal with it.

Of course, there are many good priests, religious and hierarchs who will be tarred by association for decades to come. Men and women (in the case of nuns) who have done nothing wrong and my heart goes out to them. But perhaps this will have to be the price to pay if it forces the Church to take real substantive action. (Which as always with the Church is never something that occurs overnight).

Now as sad as the current state of affairs is, it would be a mistake to allow such to break my faith. Christ may have promised to never abandon the Church, but He never promised exemption from battle. Ephesians 6:12. Evidently, some in the Church have sided with said powers and principalities and that is unfortunate. Nevertheless, it is futile to preoccupy myself unnecessarily over that which I have little power to affect. Instead it is better to focus on my own spiritual house and to get that in order before contemplating the Church. If I can’t reform myself what business have I to talk of reforming the Church?

So, while my own sins don’t come close to sexual assault, that there are men who have done far worse than I have is not something I think would fly were I suddenly summoned before God’s judgment seat. If anything, the constant bad news is actually a call trust God all the more and make greater strides towards living a proper Christian life. A nation gets the leaders it deserves. Why should the Church be any different?

It is my hope that the pressure on the Church is maintained. The criminals within and their abettors cannot be allowed to get away with this yet again. But that the faith itself has been dragged though the mud because of the actions of a now conspicuous few is a hard thing to watch for a Catholic. The Catholic faith has so much to offer. But that fact has been obscured. It has been obscured for one, by a deliberate watering down of tradition that is now decades long. And it has been obscured even more so by the criminal actions of some who were charged to be shepherds. You cannot preach against sexual sin while abetting some of the worse forms of it within your own ranks.

My 5 years of catechism school are a precious memory and I've met wonderful priests.
Priests who sounded like they already lived in a superior dimension...
So I will never allow people to tar all Catholic priests with the same brush...just because of some rotten apples here and there.

Musing Bassist said:

It has been obscured for one, by a deliberate watering down of tradition that is now decades long.

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Are you referring to tradition or Tradition?

Musing Bassist said:

As it is no doubt well known, the Catholic Church has been dealing with a scandal. Decades of sexual abuse (overwhelmingly of teenage boys) and its systematic cover-up. Now, the current state within much of the Church has often been disheartening for anyone drawn to Catholicism by the beauty of its tradition. Nevertheless, that a criminal element was shielded, protected and in some cases, elevated to the highest ranks within the hierarchy has been devastating. The credibility of the Catholic Church is in the gutter because of a corrupt, criminal minority and the failure of the institution as a whole to face the problem and truly deal with it.

Of course, there are many good priests, religious and hierarchs who will be tarred by association for decades to come. Men and women (in the case of nuns) who have done nothing wrong and my heart goes out to them. But perhaps this will have to be the price to pay if it forces the Church to take real substantive action. (Which as always with the Church is never something that occurs overnight).

Now as sad as the current state of affairs is, it would be a mistake to allow such to break my faith. Christ may have promised to never abandon the Church, but He never promised exemption from battle. Ephesians 6:12. Evidently, some in the Church have sided with said powers and principalities and that is unfortunate. Nevertheless, it is futile to preoccupy myself unnecessarily over that which I have little power to affect. Instead it is better to focus on my own spiritual house and to get that in order before contemplating the Church. If I can’t reform myself what business have I to talk of reforming the Church?

So, while my own sins don’t come close to sexual assault, that there are men who have done far worse than I have is not something I think would fly were I suddenly summoned before God’s judgment seat. If anything, the constant bad news is actually a call trust God all the more and make greater strides towards living a proper Christian life. A nation gets the leaders it deserves. Why should the Church be any different?

It is my hope that the pressure on the Church is maintained. The criminals within and their abettors cannot be allowed to get away with this yet again. But that the faith itself has been dragged though the mud because of the actions of a now conspicuous few is a hard thing to watch for a Catholic. The Catholic faith has so much to offer. But that fact has been obscured. It has been obscured for one, by a deliberate watering down of tradition that is now decades long. And it has been obscured even more so by the criminal actions of some who were charged to be shepherds. You cannot preach against sexual sin while abetting some of the worse forms of it within your own ranks.

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Really?

Although I don't have much sympathy for RCC at the moment, I agree that it's never wise to paint with the broad brush. Those at the top have made terrible mistakes, if such aren't prevented despite decades of revelations we all know that it will end some day. It's not my job to say clear the house though, just saying that the pests multiple when given more chances.

Estro Felino said:

My 5 years of catechism school are a precious memory and I've met wonderful priests.
Priests who sounded like they already lived in a superior dimension...
So I will never allow people to tar all Catholic priests with the same brush...just because of some rotten apples here and there.

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I knew several Catholic priests when I worked for the Catholic Health System who were excellent trustworthy people.

I don't paint all priests like that either.

Jumi said:

Although I don't have much sympathy for RCC at the moment, I agree that it's never wise to paint with the broad brush. Those at the top have made terrible mistakes, if such aren't prevented despite decades of revelations we all know that it will end some day. It's not my job to say clear the house though, just saying that the pests multiple when given more chances.

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I think what makes things so bad and gives such a stigma to the Catholic Church would be the cover-ups and protectionism among their ranks.

You would think a man of God would own up to his responsibilities and take the consequences conducent with his vocation.

Musing Bassist said:

As it is no doubt well known, the Catholic Church has been dealing with a scandal. Decades of sexual abuse (overwhelmingly of teenage boys) and its systematic cover-up. Now, the current state within much of the Church has often been disheartening for anyone drawn to Catholicism by the beauty of its tradition. Nevertheless, that a criminal element was shielded, protected and in some cases, elevated to the highest ranks within the hierarchy has been devastating. The credibility of the Catholic Church is in the gutter because of a corrupt, criminal minority and the failure of the institution as a whole to face the problem and truly deal with it.

Of course, there are many good priests, religious and hierarchs who will be tarred by association for decades to come. Men and women (in the case of nuns) who have done nothing wrong and my heart goes out to them. But perhaps this will have to be the price to pay if it forces the Church to take real substantive action. (Which as always with the Church is never something that occurs overnight).

Now as sad as the current state of affairs is, it would be a mistake to allow such to break my faith. Christ may have promised to never abandon the Church, but He never promised exemption from battle. Ephesians 6:12. Evidently, some in the Church have sided with said powers and principalities and that is unfortunate. Nevertheless, it is futile to preoccupy myself unnecessarily over that which I have little power to affect. Instead it is better to focus on my own spiritual house and to get that in order before contemplating the Church. If I can’t reform myself what business have I to talk of reforming the Church?

So, while my own sins don’t come close to sexual assault, that there are men who have done far worse than I have is not something I think would fly were I suddenly summoned before God’s judgment seat. If anything, the constant bad news is actually a call trust God all the more and make greater strides towards living a proper Christian life. A nation gets the leaders it deserves. Why should the Church be any different?

It is my hope that the pressure on the Church is maintained. The criminals within and their abettors cannot be allowed to get away with this yet again. But that the faith itself has been dragged though the mud because of the actions of a now conspicuous few is a hard thing to watch for a Catholic. The Catholic faith has so much to offer. But that fact has been obscured. It has been obscured for one, by a deliberate watering down of tradition that is now decades long. And it has been obscured even more so by the criminal actions of some who were charged to be shepherds. You cannot preach against sexual sin while abetting some of the worse forms of it within your own ranks.

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I was raised in the Roman Church and considered becoming a priest when completing high school, and have known that there are many problems with the Roman Church covered up in history, and not just recent decades, and because of numerous other issues my conclusion was the Roman Church was not Catholic in the remote sense. There has been a long contentious dialogue with my family over these issues for over fifty years. I was blunt as to the egregious pragmatism of facing the reality of Roman Church. I witnessed this and other severe problems in Latin America and the USA.

In Latin America I witnessed sad efforts of employing exorcism on the mentally ill.

While living in Latin America I was overwhelmingly impressed by the compassion and understanding of the Baha'is, Unitarians and the Society of the Friends.

Nowhere Man said:

I knew several Catholic priests when I worked for the Catholic Health System who were excellent trustworthy people.

I don't paint all priests like that either.

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Since I was raised in the Roman Church I would not generalize the problem to ALL priest, but I am far less tolerant of the Roman Church for this and other problems that have persisted over the history of the church. It is a historical institutional problem with the Roman Church. This is virtually the tip of the ice berg

pcarl said:

Are you referring to tradition or Tradition?

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Latin, vestments, traditional architecture, high altars, incense, communion rails, ad orientem worship, Gregorian chant, fasting, ect. All the trappings which have traditionally been associated with Roman Catholicism. At least as far as has been my experience growing up Catholic in Australia, you would be lucky to see even a hint of any of it in your typical Roman rite parish. A great liturgical heritage was basically destroyed to satisfy the shortsighted aesthetic minimalism of the 1970's. It was iconoclasm (sometimes with literal jackhammers) masquerading as "relevance".

As the central act of Catholic worship has been undeniably watered down, attempts to water down Catholic moral teaching have also ensured. Thankfully they haven't been as successful. No doubt the Holy Spirit is at work in that regard.

Musing Bassist said:

As the central act of Catholic worship

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The central act of Catholic worship is the Eucharist. It has not been watered down but elevated.

Musing Bassist said:

A great liturgical heritage

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Our 'liturgical heritage' is exactly what has been rediscovered. There were not always altar rails, the priest did not always have his back to the people, etc.
The Liturgy has always undergone modifications throughout the centuries, there is only one unchangeable text and that is the text of sacred Scripture. The Church has undertaken in every age to cloth the liturgy in words and rites which speak the ageless mysteries to their different time.
In her prayer as in her teaching, the Church fulfills her responsibility as teacher to guard things old, that is, the deposit of tradition; at the same time it fulfills another duty, that of examining and bringing forth things new (see Matthew 13:52).

pcarl said:

The central act of Catholic worship is the Eucharist. It has not been watered down but elevated.

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And the Eucharist is consecrated during...

Look, in an era wherein communion rails have all been pulled out, wherein one is discouraged from knelling, wherein "extraordinary ministers" (what an ironic joke) are in fact ordinary, and wherein the very incarnate body of Christ is handed as crackers to unconsecrated hands... I find your claims that the Eucharist has been elevated to be laughable. Heck, most Catholics no longer even believe in the real presence. And who can blame them considering the levity with which the Eucharist is treated these days?

Our 'liturgical heritage' is exactly what has been rediscovered. There were not always altar rails, the priest did not always have his back to the people, etc.

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The notion that one can reestablish some simple, purer past is the same fallacious fantasy of the Protestant low church. All of Catholic tradition in all of its history is important. I do not buy for a second that such iconoclasm had anything to do with restoring an imagined past. The agenda was to water down Catholic worship in the hopes of rending it "relevant". The effect has been the opposite and the only ones who refuse to see that are the aging liberals responsible for the whole mess.

When the best the Catholicism has to offer includes liturgical dancing, effeminate priests and old hippies with guitars and tambourines then people are either going to stop bothering or find another religion that actually takes itself seriously.

The Liturgy has always undergone modifications throughout the centuries, there is only one unchangeable text and that is the text of sacred Scripture. The Church has undertaken in every age to cloth the liturgy in words and rites which speak the ageless mysteries to their different time.

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They clothed nothing. They stripped it naked and gutted the churches and cathedrals with power tools, berating the feelings of anyone who objected. Had they simply offered the Novus Ordo as an alternative to those who wanted it, that would have been one thing. But of course not, they had to systemically suppress the tried and tested form of worship passed down the generations and enforce their agenda upon the entire Roman rite.

No one denies that the Tridentine Mass was itself a product of gradual development. Gradual development in concert with already established tradition. Not a wholesale rejection and tearing down to the absolute bare minimum.

In her prayer as in her teaching, the Church fulfills her responsibility as teacher to guard things old, that is, the deposit of tradition; at the same time it fulfills another duty, that of examining and bringing forth things new

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They guarded stuff all. They rejected the old and enforced their rejection upon everyone else. It is thanks to a brave few that the Tridentine Mass hasn't been completely consigned to history.

I'm sorry, but no. I see the agenda and I reject it. I grew up under the Ordinary Form and it was always a banal chore. And I'm tempted to think that this was by design. Predators and iconoclasts have infested the Church for far too long and they will, in the end, lose.

Musing Bassist said:

The notion that one can reestablish some simple, purer past is the same fallacious fantasy of the Protestant low church. All of Catholic tradition in all of its history is important. I do not buy for a second that such iconoclasm had anything to do with restoring an imagined past.

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And you won't unless you become familiar with the Church's liturgical history. At the beginning the Church operated within the form of the Jewish synagogue service, she joined this to the celebration of the Eucharist, the basic structure of which was equally Jewish, namely, the great prayer of thanksgiving. At the core of this thanksgiving, was placed the account of the institution of the Eucharist, the prayer also mediates the idea of sacrifice as it is attuned to the prayer of Jesus Christ. These elements have constituted the basic structure of every Christian Eucharist up to the present day.
The distinction between 'the old belief' and 'the new' must be denied. The Council has not created any new matter for belief. It is but a new expression of the one faith, not a change in faith.

Musing Bassist said:

When the best the Catholicism has to offer includes liturgical dancing, effeminate priests and old hippies with guitars and tambourines then people are either going to stop bothering or find another religion that actually takes itself seriously.

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Yes there were innovations that for the most part have been corrected. The cultural implementation is up to the bishops, (female altar servers etc.)

Musing Bassist said:

No one denies that the Tridentine Mass was itself a product of gradual development.

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Actually, there was no Tridentine liturgy and "those who cling to the "Tridentine Missal" have a faulty view of the historical facts."

Musing Bassist said:

Had they simply offered the Novus Ordo as an alternative to those who wanted it, that would have been one thing. But of course not, they had to systemically suppress the tried and tested form of worship passed down the generations and enforce their agenda upon the entire Roman rite.

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An Ecumenical Council together with the Pope is the highest authority. Those who refused to accept the Novus Ordo refused this authority and was exemplified by the continuous use of Latin.

Musing Bassist said:

They rejected the old and enforced their rejection upon everyone else.

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How can you say they rejected the old, when there are elements in the Eucharistic Liturgy that go back to the late 2nd early 3rd cent?

pcarl said:

And you won't unless you become familiar with the Church's liturgical history.

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I can tell you that history doesn't involve guitars and tambourines, singing a new church into being, dancing women, felt banners and laymen handling the Eucharist. (Heck, if you actually want to go back then there was a time when catechumens weren't even permitted to be present during the consecration). It certainly did not involve ripping up altars nor banishing tabernacles to side rooms.

The distinction between 'the old belief' and 'the new' must be denied. The Council has not created any new matter for belief. It is but a new expression of the one faith, not a change in faith.

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I'm not saying the Ordinary Form or "Novus Ordo" is invalid. I am saying that it represents a watering down of Catholic worship. And that this trend goes beyond the liturgy itself. The entire way Catholicism is presented and taught has been progressively watered down. If I wanted Christianity with minimal demands I'd become an Anglican. (At least the high church there has maintained much of the ceremonial).

Yes there were innovations that for the most part have been corrected. The cultural implementation is up to the bishops, (female altar servers etc.)

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I haven't attended a Novus Ordo for a couple of years now. (I attend the ordinariate). But granted while I haven't seen robed women dancing around the altar with bowls of burning sage for a long while, the liturgy (Novus Ordo) and its accompaniments are still banal. The liturgy should almost compel reverence and what typically passes as Catholic worship in the Roman Rite these days is usually anything but.

Fundamentally, my objection to the Novus Ordo is that it lacks reverence. Beauty, reverence and a sense of the transcendent are important to me. And while I'm sure you're a nice enough guy, I'm not at church to be your friend. I don't want to shake your hand and sing cutesy little ditties with you. I'm not there for the personality of the priest, nor do I want to be subjected to cringe-worthy liturgical experiments. I want beauty, reverence, tradition and prayer. And at least in the English speaking world the authorities have done a thorough job in ensuring that one gets little of the sort in most parishes.

Actually, there was no Tridentine liturgy and "those who cling to the "Tridentine Missal" have a faulty view of the historical facts."

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Don't let the name fool you, that particular liturgy (in its essentials) goes back to the very early centuries of Christianity. The Tridentine Mass is a product of slow, gradual development of tradition. The Novus Ordo in contrast, was the creation of a committee. And sure, the Novus Ordo may contain what is essential in terms of validity. (In that it is a real Mass). But being valid dosen't make it an improvement. Nor do I think the men responsible had any right to enforce their "improvements" upon what is now two or three generations of Catholics. It is only recently that Tridentine Mass has become somewhat available. Although if there is truth to the rumors the current pope is currently awaiting to clamp down on that once his predecessor passes on.

An Ecumenical Council together with the Pope is the highest authority. Those who refused to accept the Novus Ordo refused this authority and was exemplified by the continuous use of Latin.

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This is the very thing I've been talking about! You, intentionally or not, make it sound as if Latin, after almost two millennia as the liturgical language of the west, suddenly became a dirty thing.
I think the Novus Ordo was a mistake, not that it didn't happen. And below, are the very words of Christ Himself if the visions of Marie-Julie are to be believed:

"I give you a warning. The disciples who are not of My Gospel are now working hard to remake according to their ideas, and under the influence of the enemy of souls, a Mass that contains words which are odious in My Sight. When the fatal hour arrives where the faith of my priest is put to the test, it will be these texts that will be celebrated, in this second period."

"The first period is the one of My Priesthood, existing since Me. The second is the one of the persecution, when the enemies of the Faith and of Holy Religion will impose their formulas in the book of the second celebration. Many of My holy priests will refuse this book, sealed with the words of the abyss. Unfortunately, amongst them are those who will accept it."

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Albeit, private revelation is private revelation. Take it for what you will.

How can you say they rejected the old, when there are elements in the Eucharistic Liturgy that go back to the late 2nd early 3rd cent?

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Because I can compare the two liturgies and notice that one is a stripped down shadow of the other. They retained what they had to for validity. They minimized if not outright did away with everything else. The liturgical heritage of millions was tossed aside for no other reason than the aesthetic ideas of the "authorities" who were meant to guard and teach the tradition, not innovate it.

Musing Bassist said:

laymen handling the Eucharist.

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Musing Bassist said:

(Heck, if you actually want to go back then there was a time when catechumens weren't even permitted to be present during the consecration).

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And the catechumenate has been restored and yes they are dismissed after the homily.

Musing Bassist said:

I'm not at church to be your friend. I don't want to shake your hand and sing cutesy little ditties with you. I'm not there for the personality of the priest,

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So your looking for a 'Jesus and me' thing.

Musing Bassist said:

and laymen handling the Eucharist.

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Eusebius Church History Book 7 (265-340 ad)
But I did not dare to do this; and said that his long communion was sufficient for this. For I should not dare to renew from the beginning one who had heard the giving of thanks and joined in repeating the Amen; who had stood by the table and had stretched forth his hands to receive the blessed food; and who had received it, and partaken for a long while of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lectures 23.21-22 (315-386 ad)
21. In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof ; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?
22. Then after you have partaken of the Body of Christ, draw near also to the Cup of His Blood; not stretching forth your hands, but bending , and saying with an air of worship and reverence, Amen , hallow yourself by partaking also of the Blood of Christ.

Musing Bassist said:

As it is no doubt well known, the Catholic Church has been dealing with a scandal. Decades of sexual abuse (overwhelmingly of teenage boys) and its systematic cover-up. Now, the current state within much of the Church has often been disheartening for anyone drawn to Catholicism by the beauty of its tradition. Nevertheless, that a criminal element was shielded, protected and in some cases, elevated to the highest ranks within the hierarchy has been devastating. The credibility of the Catholic Church is in the gutter because of a corrupt, criminal minority and the failure of the institution as a whole to face the problem and truly deal with it.

Of course, there are many good priests, religious and hierarchs who will be tarred by association for decades to come. Men and women (in the case of nuns) who have done nothing wrong and my heart goes out to them. But perhaps this will have to be the price to pay if it forces the Church to take real substantive action. (Which as always with the Church is never something that occurs overnight).

Now as sad as the current state of affairs is, it would be a mistake to allow such to break my faith. Christ may have promised to never abandon the Church, but He never promised exemption from battle. Ephesians 6:12. Evidently, some in the Church have sided with said powers and principalities and that is unfortunate. Nevertheless, it is futile to preoccupy myself unnecessarily over that which I have little power to affect. Instead it is better to focus on my own spiritual house and to get that in order before contemplating the Church. If I can’t reform myself what business have I to talk of reforming the Church?

So, while my own sins don’t come close to sexual assault, that there are men who have done far worse than I have is not something I think would fly were I suddenly summoned before God’s judgment seat. If anything, the constant bad news is actually a call trust God all the more and make greater strides towards living a proper Christian life. A nation gets the leaders it deserves. Why should the Church be any different?

It is my hope that the pressure on the Church is maintained. The criminals within and their abettors cannot be allowed to get away with this yet again. But that the faith itself has been dragged though the mud because of the actions of a now conspicuous few is a hard thing to watch for a Catholic. The Catholic faith has so much to offer. But that fact has been obscured. It has been obscured for one, by a deliberate watering down of tradition that is now decades long. And it has been obscured even more so by the criminal actions of some who were charged to be shepherds. You cannot preach against sexual sin while abetting some of the worse forms of it within your own ranks.

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I was strongly influenced by the Church when I was sooooooooooooooo much younger
almost became a priest because of it

my days in that all boy catholic high school were good for me

but I did wander off
and I have learned to go on ...just fine

as for what I left behind....
I will make no damnation unto the Church overall

so what if there are rotten apples in the bushel basket

God will take care of it

yes He will

Musing Bassist said:

The liturgy should almost compel reverence

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Reverence begins with us acknowledging we are in the presence of Christ, that entering the Church a threshold is crossed from the profane to the sacred. I admit there are certainly acts of irreverence and these need to be addressed and corrected, that is up to the priests and catechists and should be brought to their attention until they are corrected. One is the irreverent way some approach the host.

Everyone talks of abusive priests, few of the abusive pastors and rabbis. If you invest any class of people with an authority that they do not actually have, then a minority will be tempted to abuse it.

As for the value of ancient tradition, I'm very much in favour, since my tradition is far older than yours

pcarl said:

And the catechumenate has been restored and yes they are dismissed after the homily.

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I have never, not once, seen anyone dismissed. Not that I think we need to go so far as to kick people out during Mass. My point is that if you really believe that the consecrated host is God in the flesh, then you can darn well knell to receive Him. Knell and be silent, praying in thanksgiving that the creator of the universe should deign to manifest Himself so directly for you. (Of course, it should go without saying, allowing for those incapable of knelling).

So your looking for a 'Jesus and me' thing.

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Don't strawman.

What I am looking for is the Roman Rite. Not the moribund, infantilized version of it perpetuated since the 70's.

Eusebius Church History Book 7 (265-340 ad)
But I did not dare to do this; and said that his long communion was sufficient for this. For I should not dare to renew from the beginning one who had heard the giving of thanks and joined in repeating the Amen; who had stood by the table and had stretched forth his hands to receive the blessed food; and who had received it, and partaken for a long while of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Lectures 23.21-22 (315-386 ad)
21. In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof ; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?
22. Then after you have partaken of the Body of Christ, draw near also to the Cup of His Blood; not stretching forth your hands, but bending , and saying with an air of worship and reverence, Amen , hallow yourself by partaking also of the Blood of Christ.

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Do you recall how I said that the totality of Church history is important? Cherry picking very early practice isn't a compelling argument. It is actually to miss the point. Church practice (east and west) has overwhelmingly forbidden laymen from directly handling the Eucharist. And for good reason. It not only cultivates a culture of reverence, it more importantly helps guard against the possibility of sacrilege. Both wholly understandable concerns if you believe the consecrated host is truly the body and blood of Christ.

Reverence begins with us acknowledging we are in the presence of Christ, that entering the Church a threshold is crossed from the profane to the sacred.

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I agree. Now the questions that ought to be asked are these:

1. Why has the profane been allowed free reign within the churches?
   
2. Why has everything and anything that implies the sacred been minimized if not removed?

The two answers that come to my mind are that either the Church has been a victim of well-meaning but terribly misguided ideas. Or that the Church and her liturgical heritage has been intentionally undermined by modernist infiltrators. Personally, I think the answer is somewhere in the middle.

Musing Bassist said:

Now as sad as the current state of affairs is, it would be a mistake to allow such to break my faith.

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In my opinion, the institutional aspects that result in the problem are irreparable.