Fr. Mitch Pacwa: At this point, some bishops’ conferences, like the American bishops, have received permission, an indult, to allow Communion in the hand. So people aren’t acting in disobedience; they’re following that permission. But you seem to be calling for a greater sense of worship and signs of adoration when receiving Holy Communion.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider: Yes, I would say not some conferences, but almost all conferences in the world already asked for this indult for communion in the hand. It is sad, very sad. But the issue is not this. The issue is the arguments. The situation is objectively really problematic. It is the Lord at stake, His honor, and we must not deal first with laws or with what is licit. Even if it is licit, it is showing objectively that this permission is damaging the honor of the Lord and therefore damaging faith.
I am speaking to help the faithful and the brother bishops to begin to reflect, because the Pope has already changed for himself. This is a sign. And why not the bishops? Therefore, we are speaking about this. We have to start an open discussion in the church about this issue without taboos.
In the history of the church, there were also things that were allowed and visited, but which afterward were revealed as damaging.
Fr. Mitch Pacwa: And on reflection, they were permitted at a certain time, but later reflection showed that this was not accomplishing what they intended. It had some secondary effects that did not fit into the faith.
Bishop Athanasius Schneider: Exactly. We need to deeply consider who the Lord truly is, the sacred Host, not just “what” the Host is. Once we take the reality of Christ in the Eucharist seriously, it becomes impossible to be content with Communion in the hand or standing. The depth of this reality demands a greater reverence.