A recent historic survey of practicing Catholics conducted by the Real Presence Coalition revealed what has been known to many faithful Catholics, but maybe not to bishops, that Holy Communion received on the tongue while kneeling is the key to understanding, believing, and promoting the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
This survey is the largest ever completed on practicing Catholics, not simply those who identify as Catholic. According to the summary provided by the Real Presence Coalition:
The RPC survey revealed that the loss of faith in the Real Presence has been precipitated by a combination of factors, including
1) Receiving the Eucharist in the hand;
2) Scandal of offering the Eucharist to public sinners who reject Catholic teaching;
3) Lack of reverence on the part of both the laity and priests;
4) Lack of solid catechesis; and
5) Lost sense of the supernatural.
The survey also queried respondents to offer solutions to the crisis regarding belief in the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharist:
Survey respondents also offered a number of specific recommendations to U.S. bishops on how to restore belief in the Real Presence, including:
1) Encouraging the practice of receiving the Eucharist on the tongue while kneeling;
2) Catechizing the faithful;
3) Promoting greater reverence for the Eucharist; Eliminating the use of Extraordinary Ministers;
4) Withholding the Eucharist from public sinners; and
5) Increasing Eucharistic events such as Adoration and Benedictions.
The norm for receiving Holy Communion in the United States is standing. However, the norm for the Church worldwide is kneeling. Holy Communion in the United States may be received on the hand or tongue. No one may be denied Holy Communion should they choose to kneel to receive the Blessed Sacrament.
So what is our Bishop doing about this? Will we see a reversal of his confusing mandate that kneelers for Holy Communion should not be made available for those who request them, yet approval is given for altar rails to be used for those kneeling to receive Holy Communion at a Latin Mass? Will we see a real move toward solid action (deeds speak louder than words)? Will the input of practicing Catholics, ie, those who actually come to Church weekly and support the work of the Church with their time and money, be listened to and respected? Do the Bishops themselves believe in the Real Presence?