Bishop Drainey rejects kneeling for communion

Local complaints, please. You can quote Redemptionis Sacramentum, Section 91: it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.

Curial Office, 50a The Avenue, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough TS5 6QT

Tel: 01642 850505 Fax: 01642 851404

E-mail: financialsecretary@dioceseofmiddlesbrough.co.uk

After ticking off a communicant for kneeling to receive Holy Communion, Bishop Drainey of Middlesbrough had the Chair of the Bishop's Council for Liturgy, Fr Gerard Robinson, write as follows: 'Approaching the altar, if one opts to kneel on receiving Holy Communion, rather than showing reverence by means of the communion procession, one is drawing attention to oneself rather than allowing all the attention and reverence be focused on the presence of our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist.'

He refers to the 'definite guidlines for receiving Holy Communion', about the 'Communion Procession' (see it here), from the Bishops of England and Wales website. But this says nothing about kneeling or standing for the reception of communion. Even if it mandated standing, it has been definitively established by Rome, such guidlines CANNOT take away the right of the faithful to receive kneeling. The bishops simply do not have the right to do that.

The individual involved has written to the Papal Nuncio.

Hat-tip to Catholic Truth; see their latest Newsletter. See Fr Z on this issue.