Actually, ncjohn, the USCCB does not have that kind of authority. They have limited authority, but, not absolute. In other words, they cannot create something new.
I absolutely agree that they don’t have the authority to create something “new” without approval. But the DO have the ability to clarify that NO position is prescribed, to make it clear that individuals, “even if they be priests” don’t have the right to prescribe or to forbid the prayerful positions of individuals since it is not regulated by the liturgical books.
Furthermore, your final statement is ironic. Those who force themselves on the rest of the faithful by either grabbing their hands or making annoucements from the altar encouraging them to do the same are the ones imposing an unnecessary burden on the faithful.
There is absolutely nothing ironic at all. I have consistently, for many years, been just as forceful in condemning anyone “grabbing” at anyone else, or any third party calling for anyone to participate. That is indeed forbidden as that would indeed be “adding” something to the liturgy.
Fr. David is indeed right that it is possible for someone other than a priest to be one “adding to the liturgy”, and I did not word my previous response well though it was indeed primarily at priests that the SC statement was aimed. Choir directors or other “liturgists” who suggest or demand things that are not part of the liturgy can indeed be adding things illicitly, but an individual’s posture in the pew cannot, though it may indeed be illicit by its very nature.
That is the fine point that consistently gets lost though. In the absence of someone else requesting it, the actions of an individual ARE NOT REGULATED and absolutely cannot “add to the liturgy.” If they could then any and every individual posture assumed by an individual, from folding their hands to just putting them on the back of the pew to sneezing could be interpreted as adding to the liturgy. You just don’t get to have it both ways and say to one group that their individual action is forbidden while telliing another that theirs is ok when NEITHER is addressed because there is no prescription.
Canon Law is pretty darn specific on this and those who continue to make claims of something being illicit when the Church specifically has declined to do so are clearly acting outside of their authority. Despise it as much as you want. Encourage others to stop doing it. Refuse to participate. Any of those are fine. Creating prohibitions of what is legitimate under the Church’s laws and casting judgments and aspersions on another’s legitimate prayer posture is to create a stumbling block and an unnecessary burden.
That the hatred exists no longer surprises me, though I do continue to be amazed at how much it upsets some people how someone else prays. I do recognize though that there are those for whom there is just “one right way” and that way is MY way. To that I would remind them of their oft-expressed credo that “the liturgy is not your private property.”
We each have our cross of having to bear things that others do differently from us and to understand that different doesn’t necessarily mean “bad”. Just a little bit of charity goes a long way.
Peace,
Agreed! **I’ll remember that next time some stranger at Mass pokes my shoulder or glares at me when I don’t go into the automatic stretch-across-the-aisles mode at the start of the Our Father. 
