Part of the problem is that our temples have become more or
less public spaces. We are far from the disciplina arcana and
a sense that the mysteries are enacted exclusively by and for
'the faithful'. We even embrace the wholly counter-intuitive
notion that our liturgy is an evangelistic tool, "hey everyone,
come and look at us as we worship!" I think that to many early
Christians the idea that we should welcome folks - as opposed to
'the faithful' - welcome folks to 'share' in our worship, especially
our eucharistic worship, would be like inviting folks into the
conjugal bedroom. For them, the mysteries were something fundamentally
and deeply intimate, personal, exclusive to 'the faithful' - and not
even catechumens and penitents could get in. But now liturgy is public
and our temples more or less public and we are pressured into having
a 'welcoming attitude' - and yet we bridle at the mores of the sub -
and post - Christian world we are stuck with 'welcoming' so earnestly...
Sigh.