[american colleen]

That's why to define as "abuse" things like reception in the hand, communion under both kinds, females in the sanctuary, and occasional applause is ridiculous. All of these things were approved by the Congregation for the Liturgy!

Other than the clapping (I don't know how that got started) the Vatican acknowledged the other practices after various Bishops implemented them in their own dioceses and then went to Rome for approval based on the now fact that these practices were common practice. It was a pre-planned execution, regardless of our approval or not - that's how they happened. It was not "organic" in the growth of the Liturgy.

[sinkspur]

Reception in the hand was NOT a practice. Rome approved it in 1977 before it became widespread in any diocese.

The same with communion under both kinds.

Female altar servers may have been another matter, though we didn't have any in our diocese until Rome approved.

The other issues listed above can be classified as abuses.

[Notwithstanding]

I believe this was the action plan:

Step 1. Determine which abuses shall be implemented (in other words, which ones are most likely to diminish faith in doctrines among laymen).

Step 2. Implement these abuses, pretending not to notice they or exist or that they are abusive.

Step 3. Ask Vatican to approve the abuses because the practice has sprung forth spontaneously from the faithful and is a long-standing (5, 7, 10, 20 years) practice.

Step 4. Act indignant and hurt when anyone who notices your sneaky scheme.

Step 5. Call names and pretend there was never any scheme.

Step 6. Tap into cluelessness and extreme anti-theist bias of the press in orde to further your cause.