sanctus:
On the other hand generally the character of the priest has also changed. I sense a certain reservation in the priest these days that differs from the 50's era. Then it wasn't uncommon for the priest to teach at mass and bring to the forefront his concerns. Sometimes this was given in an air of displeasure, and the congregation knew it. One particular late Irish priest I recall from my teen years, bless his soul, would be downright scolding in his methods, turning red as a beet in his displeasure. But you can see the congregation's love there all the same, and this character simply reassured us that he was just like us. The parish would have considered it a loss if he were to be reassigned, and his funeral brought a huge crowd from all over. I think the coffee thing would have been handled in a sarcastic/humour like manner unique to him, sprinkled with a dash of irritation, and on-the-spot correction was entirely possible.
The priest of the 50's would have stated that he didn't want anyone at communion who was in a state of mortal sin. At the same time I think there were more devout followers in the 50's. I recall children in that era would have spoken of sin in his daily conversations with his playmates and on occasion would remind so-and-so that he just sinned, or that he needed to urgently go to confession. All these similar cases point to a forgetfullness of what the adults have learned, and of inadequate teaching of the young. Not to bring sole responsibility of this on the priest, I think it doesn't hurt on occasion to remind people of why something is being done, and what is expected of people.
We need to ask ourselves, if we are indeed a collective family, how would we act in our "home". We would not be reserved and we would speak our mind when it was necessary.
AndyF