U.S. bishops and kneeling. (News in Brief: United States).

Washington -- The U.S. bishops' Committee on Liturgy has confirmed that "the only licit posture during the Eucharistic Prayer (or Canon) is kneeling, unless Catholics are prevented on occasion from kneeling due to 'health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason.'" This instruction reaffirms that of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM).

However, confusion and conflict have arisen over the posture for receiving Communion. In its newsletter, the Bishops' Committee has prescribed standing unless the bishop of a particular diocese derogates from this norm. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, for example, has "given a derogation so people can kneel if they wish." Some bishops will allow kneeling, but not actively support it, while the Bishop of Lafayette, Ind. has instructed his faithful that they may neither kneel for communion nor even genuflect.

In one distressing situation, the Rector of the Arlington, Virginia Cathedral refused communion to pro-life politician Richard Black because he was kneeling. Then, at the end of Mass, as Black exited the Cathedral with his family, and in the presence of other parishioners, the Rector shouted insults at him.