Since I sent a letter to our Bishop, asking if Communion on the tongue should return in the wake of the nutty professor’s desecration of the Eucharist, I got a response…seems like a form letter, but here goes:

Thank you for your letter of July 24^th to Archbishop Gregory.  The Archbishop asked that I respond too your email.

I commend you for your dedication to the Sacred Presence of our Lord in the host, and your solicitude for the dignity of the Eucharist.  The bishops of the Church, when the time came to deliberate granting the privilege of receiving Communion in the hand, weighed all the arguments for and against, including those you mention.  Their decision was that the Faithful could not be deprived of the blessing of receiving in the hand, because of the threat of some ill-guided individuals who might seek to desecrate the Sacred Host.  This phenomenon arises occasionally, and the upshot is always that when such acts are made public, it is the desecrator who ends up feeling the weight of shame that comes upon him from both the words and prayers of those who respect the Sacrament, whether Catholic, Protestant, or outside the Christian Faith. For those who obtain consecrated hosts surreptitiously, then their shame is known only to God, and of the two set of circumstances, I would think the consequences of the latter are far worse than the former.

Our Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross, we believe, was perfect, and everlasting, and no amount of worldly insults cast upon Him now, no matter by whom, can make a jot of difference in the fact of Redemption, and its availability to all mankind.  What we must do, as Christ would want us to do, is to pray for those so misguided as to think they can harm the best, most perfect Son of God, who took upon Himself human form, even for their sake.  I appreciate your cautions, but I want you to know, that every priest I know, has at heart at every Mass, the desire to see that our Lord in the Eucharist is honored and protected – our eyes are open when we distribute – and if something amiss should happen, you can be assured that we will address it.  If it is something we miss, then we can all be assured that God sees nonetheless, and He will not let such actions escape the balance of His justice.

Thanks for sharing your concern, and I hope my answer will allay your fears – and remember, we must pray for our enemies.  God bless you.