Changes in Ohio Mass posture?

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Bishop Perez has written a letter posted on the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland website on 27 March 2019. It is at https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/files/resources/lettertothefaithfulmarch2019.pdf . Other resources, available at Resources | Catholic Diocese of Cleveland | Cleveland, OH are:

“ Communion Rite Posture Resource: Posture During Mass Chart” posted 26 March 2019.

A link to “Communion Rite Posture Resource: General Instruction of the Roman Missal, third typical edition” posted 28 March 2019.

A link to “Communion Rite Posture Resource: Elements of the Catholic Mass video series” posted 27 March 2019. “ This video series, produced by The Liturgical Institute, Saint Mary of the Lake University, Chicago, IL, contains much helpful information on why we do what we do during Mass. Episode 11, “Unity and Diversity,” addressed some issues similar to Communion Rite Posture, and may be helpful.” This video is at
and 6:12.

At FAQs | Catholic Diocese of Cleveland | Cleveland, OH there are seven “Frequently Asked Questions” on the topic.
 
Huh, this was under Pilla not Lennon? I didn’t think I was going to Mass in 2004. Memory loss must be catching up with me.

If Bishop Perez is reaffirming it now, I guess that’s better than if he announced he was closing 2 dozen churches like the last guy did, so I’ll look on the bright side and continue to kneel like I did at Bishop Perez’ St. Joseph’s Day Mass.

I’m frankly more interested in whether Perez has released the full list of accused priests yet that he promised to do last October and that I still have not seen updated. I check every week.
 
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tafan2 said:
Now, if someone can give me the US version of the GIRM, I would appreciate it. But Rome gives the national bishops conferences the power to designate posture, not individual bishops, IIRC. So seeing how the USCCB has not, to my knowledge, defined the posture of standing for the Communion Rite, I do not see how the Bishop of the Ohio diocese can do so.
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I think this is the most up-to-date USA version of the GIRM, at n. 43:
In the Dioceses of the United States of America… The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise.
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Dan
 
Usually, I’d advise to obey your bishop, but in this case, he can’t force you to stand, kneel, or do the hokie-pokie. Kneel if your heart desires it.
 
Quoted from: “FAQs | Catholic Diocese of Cleveland | Cleveland, OH”

I can’t stand for the whole Communion Procession! What should I do?

Exemptions from the Church’s posture directives are always allowed without prejudice in cases of age, infirmity, injury, or for parents with small children.

Finally, it is worth noting that “the prescription of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal number 43, is intended, on the one hand, to ensure within broad limits a certain uniformity of posture within the congregation for the various parts of the celebration of Holy Mass, and on the other, to not regulate posture rigidly in such a way that those who wish to kneel or sit would no longer be free.” Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments [CDWDS], Prot. n. 855/03/L, May 26, 2003, as quoted in the BCL Newsletter , vol. XXXIX, July 2003, pg. 133"

Isn’t this part of the faq basically saying what you just said, or am I misunderstanding something?
 
The rest of that paragraph reads: “The significance of unity in posture and gesture as a symbol of our unity as members of the one body of Christ should be the governing factor in our own actions.”

The USCCB have made it clear that this means standing throughout the Communion Procession, ie until everyone has received and the singing stops. Their handout on it, from which you quote, is not that clear, but the implication is there. If “the governing factor” is “the significance of unity in posture” what posture would you adopt?
 
GIRM n.43 begins:
  1. The faithful should stand … from the invitation, Orate, fratres (Pray, brethren), before the Prayer over the Offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated here below.
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Kneeling after the Agnus Dei does not refer to the posture during the Communion Procession, which is rather included in the “until the end of Mass.”

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Cleveland diocese has a chart that shows this, accompanied by the following footnotes:
  1. “The appropriate posture of the faithful during the distribution of Holy Communion is standing.” Bishops’ Committee on Liturgy Newsletter, July 2003, c.f. GIRM, 43, 86
  2. Standing to receive Holy Communion is the normative posture for the reception of Holy Communion; however, a communicant is never to be denied Holy Communion if they choose to kneel. GIRM, 160
  3. Standing for the singing of the Communion Hymn is the normative posture of the Catholic Church in the United States; however, this posture directive is not to be enforced so rigidly that those who wish to sit or kneel would not feel free to do so. c.f. endnote 23
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Dovekin said:
If “the governing factor” is “the significance of unity in posture” what posture would you adopt?
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Well every parish around here kneels. So that’s what u will continue to do. If I was in Ohio, I do not know. Have always thought, and still do, the time after receiving is fir silent prayer and reflection. Standing is not conducive to that. I suppose that’s why most diocese do not follow the norm.
 
tafan2 said:
If I was in Ohio, I do not know.
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Some people stand, quite a few people kneel, unless it is a church with no kneelers, in which case people are more likely to stand, but some will still kneel on the floor.

Certain churches tend to attract older and traditionalist people even if the Mass is OF, so you will see almost everybody kneeling there.
 
I agree this is a good sign and a step forward.

Around here, the vast, vast majority of the liturgical craziness of the 70s and 80s has been put behind us. I am saying, at most, what is described by the OP is a very small step back towards that. But if the diocese was to start a definite path back to that, I would seriously consider moving. I will not be able to deal with some of that stuff, eg weird liturgical dances, acted out gospels, nuns giving homilies, standing during the consecration, no benedictions ever done, no adoration, rosaries discouraged, etc. All that I lived through once, not again.
 
This went down in our corner a few years ago. About 20 of us went on delegation to the bishop to get an exception for our parish. We got it? But then later a new bishop came in and set things back to right throughout the diocese.

'twas interesting times.
 
I’m not sure there is a reason yet; I’m going to ask this Sunday, as our wonderful pastor (he gave us back our communion rail!!!) always checks in on the choir and I can catch him then (:
 
How I didn’t see that I have no idea (Sleep more, Hawk, sleep more), but I thank you profusely!
 
So, our bishop published a letter in the diocesan paper and it is in the bullitens at Church. The letter details the thought process and reasoning behind it. There has to be something similar in your diocese.
 
It’s posted on the Diocesan website and there are already a couple links to it in this thread.
It looks/ sounds pretty much the same as what I remember the previous bishop issuing 15 years ago the last time they decided to make an announcement about everybody standing in the exact same manner.

In any event it’s not anything to get excited about. OP, you can always go to the TLM at St. Stephen’s. It’s lovely and the church has one of the most awesome interiors in town. It’s worth going there even for an OF.
 
@Hoosier-Daddy Correct, somebody here kindly linked it for me and thus now I have it (:

@Tis_Bearself yep, exactly. I’ve heard about the TLM there and in Cleveland (forget the Parish) and I think there’s a Friday TLM at St. Paul’s in Akron? I’ll work on my timing and travel ability, I have yet to attend a TLM and I really, really want to (need to!).
 
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