[GreyFriar]

in my midwestern USA hometown, the altar of the church was at the western end of the building; thus the priest, before Vatican II faced west when he held Mass. Since Vatican II, he has faced the congregation and thus was facing toward the east.

Thus was this Catholic church and priest guilty of not ‘facing east’ under the pre-Vatican II rite?

[piusv]

Not all churches could be built this way. The real issue was whether the priest is facing in the same direction as the people or not. The OP is referring to switching from facing the people to facing the altar.

[ebb tide]

I will not engage in silly dicourse on the geographical configuration of particular Catholic churches.

But have you heard of “ad orientum” as opposed to “ad populum”? And the reasons for such?