In an interesting twist on the whole "reform of the reform of the reform of the reform" liturgy thing, Bishop Roger Foys of the Diocese of Covington has drawn notice by issuing a pastoral letter barring extension or holding of hands by lay folk during the Our Father:

Special note should also be made concerning the gesture for the Our Father. Only the priest is given the instruction to extend his hands. Neither the deacon nor the lay faithful are instructed to do this. No gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, therefore the extending or holding of hands by the faithful should not be performed.

Anthony Ruff scratches his head:

Hmmm, if people can no longer extend their hands for the Our Father because the Missale Romanum states only that the priest does so, then what about the announcement of the Gospel Reading? The missalmentions only the deacon (or priest) signing himself on the forehead, lips, and breast, but the laity began doing the same ages ago. Is this too an abuse to stamp out?

Bryan Cones' head explodes:

This is wrong for all kinds of reasons--one of which is the general canonical rule that what is not explicitly forbidden is permitted. There is nothing in the law that forbids people from holding hands or extending them as the priest does, so as long as they aren't hitting their neighbors or otherwise distracting them, I can't imagine the canon lawyer who wouldarguethe bishop actually has the authority to prevent a baptized person from doing so in the liturgy, unless they were spinning around like Wonder Woman or something.

Me, I was raised pretty middle-class Protestant, so any public expressions go against my nature -- which is in part why I like it when my fellow worshipers extend their hands, and why I at times, and haltingly, do so as well. I need to be taken out of my comfort zone.Also, extending hands is an active expression of my inner prayer, and heck, it might make some of those Pentecostals take a second look at our often soporific liturgies. I just hope Bishop Foys doesn't celebrate Mass in Africa, or an African-American or Latino parish...I think it was the late Cardinal O'Connor -- channeling who, John XXIII? -- who used to say that he prayed each morning that he would not interfere with any initiative of the Holy Spirit. Amen, I say! Though to myself, of course.