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I live in DC, but my folks are out in Ohio. During the summers I'm there, and I often attend the Mass of the Tridentine order ... but on those occasions I happen to be assisting at the normative rite of the Diocese of Cleveland, I stand after receiving Communion.

The last bishop of the place, who shepherds there no more, Anthony Pilla, requested as such. When I heard of it, I did not like it one bit. To his credit, the Bishop conducted himself like a gentleman, saying quite plainly that he would not allow his people to be jerked around as they were after Vatican II, and that we may continue to kneel if we wished, but that this was his request.

I didn't like it, but I supposed that if a Bishop asked me to do something which was not a sin, then I must try my best to do it, if it was at all possible to do so and keep my peace of soul. I didn't understand his reasons, but his reasons are his own. So in Cleveland, I stand.

In Cleveland, I think the process was handled properly (even though I disagreed with the end objective of the process.) The people who chose to continue kneeling were not defying the Bishop, they were praying as the peace of their souls demanded.

Publicly blasting people is hardly what anyone (anti-kneeling liberals especially,) would call a "pastoral response." "Inviting" people to leave the parish and the Diocese is a risky business. What if a few souls there decide to leave the parish, diocese, and the Church altogether?

What will this priest say on Judgment Day, when he has to explain to the Father why some of the children entrusted to him are in Hell? "Almighty God, I sent them away, because they were kneeling to pray to you." Laaaaaaaame.

>>>>> When I heard of it, I did not like it one bit. To his credit, the Bishop conducted himself like a gentleman, saying quite plainly that he would not allow his people to be jerked around as they were after Vatican II, and that we may continue to kneel if we wished, but that this was his request.

>>>>>>I didn't like it, but I supposed that if a Bishop asked me to do something which was not a sin, then I must try my best to do it, if it was at all possible to do so and keep my peace of soul. I didn't understand his reasons, but his reasons are his own. So in Cleveland, I stand.

This is an accurate summary of the situation in Cleveland. Personally, I stand as an act of obedience (or penance, if I'm not feeling obedient) from the Agnus Dei until I go up for Communion, and I kneel in prayer after Communion. Several other people do the same. It has caused no problems at my parish, because the Diocese did make clear that people may continue to kneel if they feel the need to do so.