On the other hand, there is a GORGEOUS church downtown which is very old and very traditional, has a beautiful High Altar hand carved in marble that fills the entire east wall. Unfortunately this beautiful church is inhabited by a bunch of hippie Franciscans, and they hauled the tabernacle out and shoved it off into a corner where it cannot even be seen from the nave. There's a big blank spot where it used to be.
Even the loony Episcopalians allow ad orientem celebration in historical churches. Do some Catholic bishops allow this as well?
I don’t know if it’s allowed, but theoretically it’s not even forbidden. Of course, the bishop could make the priest’s life very unpleasant if he doesn’t like the practice, though...
We have a side chapel next to the main altar and visible from it (the wall is semi-open on that side) where the Tabernacle is located. It’s not as hidden as in some churches, but it’s still not exactly the focal point.
Sadly, we don’t even have a crucifix behind the altar (in the place where the tabernacle was and should be). We have one of those awful “Resurrection Jesus” figures, larger than life and very spectral looking, especially since it’s lighted from underneath. He looks like the King of the Dead from Lord of the Rings.
Only at the Traditional Latin Mass, AFAIK. Then again, I have little experience here in Albany. My former RC parish had a tabernacle on the Epistle side, as well. After I left, they built a separate room and moved it there. The presider's chair gradually moved further and further to just behind the altar and just below the Risen Christ statue. FWIU, there was an uproar from the more traditional catholics on moving the tabernacle. To accommodate them, the pastor installed a window in the room.
One priest I know, explained that in the post VCII period, several dioceses embraced this more 'progressive' view of the church and taught it in the seminaries. My former pastor was one of its beneficiaries. He was uncomfortable around a crucifix or benediction and especially adoration. At the request of those same orthodox Catholics, he attempted Eucharistic Adoration. There were sign up sheets and I joined the list. I just happened to be assigned the final hour, followed by Benediction. First off, the 'monstrance' was a small box that held the standard sized host - practically invisible. Traditional hymns were sung and the pastor elevated the monstrance but you could immediately tell that he was quite uncomfortable with these movements. It was the first - and - last time adoration was celebrated in that parish.