The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The tabernacle is to be situated ‘in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor.’ The dignity, placing and security of the eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.”
You could argue that the first sentence in this Catechism quote favors a central place in the sanctuary. Others could argue that, while respecting the reverence called for in the first sentence, the second sentence favors a place where individuals can get closer to the tabernacle for private prayer and adoration. The Church’s current liturgical directives favor this second interpretation.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law says, “The tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is reserved should be sited in a distinguished place in the church or oratory, a place which is conspicuous, suitably adorned and conducive to prayer” (#938,2).
Individuals can have honest differences of opinion about whether a particular site is “conspicuous, suitably adorned and conducive to prayer.” Most dioceses require that plans for new churches or major renovations of existing ones be approved by a diocesan commission appointed for this task.
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