‘Everybody’s had it’: Backlash to Charlotte bishop’s ban of altar rails, kneelers

Michie said:

Priests as well as the lay faithful are voicing criticisms after Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, issued a pastoral letter last week prohibiting the use of altar rails and kneelers in the reception of Communion in the diocese.

Continued below.

Catholics react to Charlotte bishop’s ban of altar rails, kneelers

In a Dec. 17 letter, Bishop Michael Martin said that by Jan. 16, 2026, the use of altar rails, kneelers, and prie-dieus will no longer be permitted in the diocese.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

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RileyG said:

Just kneel without the rail. I've seen it many times.
(I just fear tripping someone )

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chevyontheriver said:

I’d fall over trying to get up. An actual rail is what makes it even possible for me.

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chevyontheriver said:

I’d fall over trying to get up. An actual rail is what makes it even possible for me.

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Wolseley said:

Between the degenerative disc disease in my back, the arthritis in my back, knees, and hips, and the old bits of shrapnel lodged in my spine, I couldn't just kneel on the floor, either. I also have balance issues, so don't feel like the Lone Ranger.

In my old parish, the (very traditional) priest used to have one of the altar boys bring a kneeler up to the front and pace it at a right angle to where Father was standing; those who wanted to receive while kneeling simply stepped to one side, knelt, and received. All Father had to do was turn slightly. It didn't interrupt the flow of communicants, and everybody was happy. Simple.

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chevyontheriver said:

I’d fall over trying to get up. An actual rail is what makes it even possible for me.

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Wolseley said:

In my old parish, the (very traditional) priest used to have one of the altar boys bring a kneeler up to the front and pace it at a right angle to where Father was standing; those who wanted to receive while kneeling simply stepped to one side, knelt, and received. All Father had to do was turn slightly. It didn't interrupt the flow of communicants, and everybody was happy. Simple.

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Valletta said:

That's essentially what we do in my parish, we put two kneelers up front to give people a choice. The priest mixes things up, some masses we have some Latin, the Agnus Dei and maybe a Latin choral or hymn. On occasion the priest says mass with his back to the people, he has explaiend the tradtion. And our pastor often wears a bireta, for the procession at the beginning and end and the early part of the mass. Every once in a while we say the St. Michael prayer at the end of the mass. Our numbers are increasing.

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Valletta said:

That's essentially what we do in my parish, we put two kneelers up front to give people a choice. The priest mixes things up, some masses we have some Latin, the Agnus Dei and maybe a Latin choral or hymn. On occasion the priest says mass with his back to the people, he has explaiend the tradtion. And our pastor often wears a bireta, for the procession at the beginning and end and the early part of the mass. Every once in a while we say the St. Michael prayer at the end of the mass. Our numbers are increasing.

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JimR-OCDS said:

The parish where I often attend Mass, also put kneelers at the end of the pews in the front, which eliminated their use by the congregation.
It's a ridiculous move to support the few radicals who insist on kneeling to receive as if everyone else is being irreverent.

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Wolseley said:

I'd say that's the commonsense, practical way to accommodate everybody. I don't understand why some people make such a big deal out of it. So somebody wants to receive kneeling; that's not exactly like nailing 95 theses to the church door.

My former pastor used to use quite a bit of Latin, too; he always wore a cassock, but I think I only saw him in a biretta once. The parish continues to use Latin and kneelers, with the new, young pastor. The priest who instituted these practices eventually transferred to a different parish---and he is now the confessor for my *current* pastor. How cool is that?

So anybody who wants to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in a manner which they feel to be reverent, humble, and respectful is suddenly a radical???

Wow. Just.....wow.

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FaithT said:

I kind of like the idea of having an option to kneel but I doubt my pastor would go for it. I’m not even sure I could safely get up from the kneeler, even if it was there…..I have to be careful getting up from the kneeler in confession.

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Wolseley said:

Between the degenerative disc disease in my back, the arthritis in my back, knees, and hips, and the old bits of shrapnel lodged in my spine, I couldn't just kneel on the floor, either. I also have balance issues, so don't feel like the Lone Ranger.

In my old parish, the (very traditional) priest used to have one of the altar boys bring a kneeler up to the front and pace it at a right angle to where Father was standing; those who wanted to receive while kneeling simply stepped to one side, knelt, and received. All Father had to do was turn slightly. It didn't interrupt the flow of communicants, and everybody was happy. Simple.

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Charlotte priests submit dubia to Vatican over liturgical changes​

Charlotte priests submit dubia to Vatican over liturgical changes

"The pastoral letter of December 17 [has] caused a great deal of concern amongst the priests and faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte."

www.pillarcatholic.com