Altar used as a stage for performance

[zab]

The Code of Canon Law, canon 1210 states:
Only those things which serve the exercise or promotion of worship, piety, or religion are permitted in a sacred place; anything not consonant with the holiness of the place is forbidden. In an individual case, however, the ordinary can permit other uses which are not contrary to the holiness of the place.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Ch. 5, no. 306 says:
For only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the altar table …
Finally, the 1987 document “Concerts in Churches” states:
In order that the sacred character of a church be conserved in the matter of concerts, the Ordinary can specify that: … The Blessed Sacrament should be, as far as possible, reserved in a side chapel or in another safe and suitably adorned place…
I should think the latter applies to other non-worship events as well.

Thanks for the links. From Concerts in the Church :
In order that the sacred character of a church be conserved in the matter of concerts, the Ordinary can specify that:
a. Requests are to be made in writing, in good time, indicating the date and time of the proposed concert, the programme giving the works and the names of the composers.
b. After having received the authorization of the Ordinary, the rectors and parish priests of the churches should arrange details with the choir and orchestra so that the requisite norms are observed.
c. Entrance to the church must be without payment and open to all.
d. The performers and the audience must be dressed in a manner which is fitting to the sacred character of the place.
e. The musicians and the singers should not be placed in the sanctuary. The greatest respect is to be shown to the altar, the president’s chair and the ambo.
f. The Blessed Sacrament should be, as far as possible, reserved in a side chapel or in another safe and suitably adorned place (cf. C.I.C., can 938, par. 4).
g. The concert should be presented or introduced not only with historical or technical details, but also in a way that fosters a deeper understanding and an interior participation on the part of the listeners.
h. The organizer of the concert shall declare in writing that he accepts legal responsibility for expenses involved, for leaving the church in order, and for any possible damage incurred.
11. The above practical directives should be of assistance to the bishops and rectors of churches in their pastoral responsibility to maintain the sacred character of their churches, designed for sacred celebrations, prayer and silence.

 

[zab]

Recently our youth group did a summer bible study. Part of it involved putting on a stage performance. I was not there but they posted photos of it all afterward in our Parish newsletter. They performed on the altar while the ‘audience’ sat in the pews. They used all the altar space and decorated the area, including the altar table, with animal images - as part of the performance.

I was completely shocked and offended at this when I saw the photos. Is this allowed?

Your reaction to seeing the photos of animals placed on the Altar is understandable and I probably would have reacted in a similar way. Although the response from the Sacred Congregation for Divine Liturgy, “Concerts In the Church” is directed mainly to musical concerts in the church, I believe that the points listed provide sufficient information to answer your question regarding the respect to be shown in the sanctuary by the Bible School stage performers, assuming that they had first gotten permission at least from the pastor, who could ensure that things were to be done properly.

 

[Digitonomy]

I still don’t understand your reasoning in terms of the OP. Consider, for example, the EF prayer,

Aufer a nobis, quæsumus, Domine, iniquitates nostras:
Take away from us, we beg, Lord, iniquities our:

ut ad Sancta sanctorum
that to Holy of holies

puris mereamur mentibus introire.
with pure we may be worthy mind to enter.

I am not familiar with this prayer, so this is my interpretation on short notice. But it seems to me we are praying that we may be worthy to join the Lord, who in the form of the Eucharist is reserved in the tabernacle. I think poetic license is being taken such that it has the same effective meaning of uniting with the Lord, but is a turnabout from the centurion’s comment about receiving the Lord under his roof.

I.e., I see the “Holy of Holies” phrase as being figurative, and don’t see the prayer as suggesting anything about the tabernacle when it is empty.

I also checked the old Catholic Encyclopedia tabernacle article to see if perhaps I was shortchanging the importance of the tabernacle in the absence of the Eucharist. It does describe it as a vessel, but doesn’t truly address the matter we are discussing. One description I found interesting,

In general, four main methods of preserving the Blessed Sacrament may be distinguished in medieval times: (I) in a cabinet in the sacristy, a custom that is connected with early Christian usage; (2) in a cupboard in the wall of the choir or in a projection from one of the walls which was constructed like a tower, was called Sacrament-House, and sometimes reached up to the vaulting; (3) in a dove or pyx, surrounded by a cover or receptacle and generally surmounted by a small baldachino, which hung over the altar by a chain or cord; (4) lastly, upon the altar table, either in the pyx alone or in a receptacle similar to a tabernacle, or in a small cupboard arranged in the reredos or predella of the altar

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Leonardo DiFilippis, a world-famous actor who is best known for one-man plays on the lives of saints, routinely sets up in the sanctuaries of churches. The Blessed Sacrament is removed first, and then a stage area is constructed using the available space. Lighting and sound systems are also brought in. However, his plays are always reverent and appropriate, and he often comes at the request of bishops and pastors.

 

[janeway529]

I went to a concert this weekend by some Filipino priests raising money for the renovation of their damaged seminary and to help offset the costs of the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress. The concert was inside the church and the sanctuary in front of the altar was the stage. The Blessed Sacrament was removed. The concert included medleys from secular, Christian, praise and worship, and traditional Filipino songs, as well as dances, all centered around the virtues of faith, love, and hope, performed as an offering to the Holy Infant Jesus.

It was a fun concert.

 

[Allegra]

Thanks for the links. From Concerts in the Church :
In order that the sacred character of a church be conserved in the matter of concerts, the Ordinary can specify that:
a. Requests are to be made in writing, in good time, indicating the date and time of the proposed concert, the programme giving the works and the names of the composers.
b. After having received the authorization of the Ordinary, the rectors and parish priests of the churches should arrange details with the choir and orchestra so that the requisite norms are observed.
c. Entrance to the church must be without payment and open to all.
d. The performers and the audience must be dressed in a manner which is fitting to the sacred character of the place.
e. The musicians and the singers should not be placed in the sanctuary. The greatest respect is to be shown to the altar, the president’s chair and the ambo.
f. The Blessed Sacrament should be, as far as possible, reserved in a side chapel or in another safe and suitably adorned place (cf. C.I.C., can 938, par. 4).
g. The concert should be presented or introduced not only with historical or technical details, but also in a way that fosters a deeper understanding and an interior participation on the part of the listeners.
h. The organizer of the concert shall declare in writing that he accepts legal responsibility for expenses involved, for leaving the church in order, and for any possible damage incurred.
11. The above practical directives should be of assistance to the bishops and rectors of churches in their pastoral responsibility to maintain the sacred character of their churches, designed for sacred celebrations, prayer and silence.

Our Cathedral doesn’t follow rule C at all. They have a very expensive concert series every year. Once, I bought one of those coupon books because there was a BOGO coupon in there for the Cathedral concert series and my grandmother wanted to go to the Christmas concert. When I called, they wouldn’t let me use the coupon! They said it didn’t apply to the Christmas concert (the coupon didn’t state that) because that was their most popular concert.

 

[Martin_Pastore]

RCIA and Religious ED need to start teaching reverence again. The Church building is the house of God. There should “never” be any social functions like dances or bands or whatever. That’s disgusting and anyone who promotes that kind of stuff, knowing how absolutely inappropriate it is, should be removed from any position where they call the shots on that kind of stuff. The house of God should be a place of silence and peace. Talking before, during, or after Mass (outside of responses, prayers, etc) is wrong. Applause after the Mass is horrid. Where is the reverence? [edited]

Thank you Saint Francis333!,
AMEN.
Just more “in the spirit of” Vatican II 'ers, up to their horrible shenanagins.
But I feel recently a real sea change, and the tide is turning all over the Church, against these
types of atrocities.
Pray the Rosary.
Pray for the renewal of a Holy and Reverent Church.
Amen to your post…Amen to the Lord…Martin Pastore.