The current law of the Church actually forbids Communion in the
hand except in very limited circumstances. According to Memoriale
Domini (promulgated under the pontificate of Paul VI in 1969), the
only time Communion in the hand is permissible is when the practice
(which the pope calls a contrary usage) has already been
established (usually through disobedience), and only then where the
appropriate episcopal conference approves the usage by a secret 2/3
vote, which must then be reviewed and approved by the Holy See.
Communion on the tongue (sub lingua) is still the universal law of
the Church. Incidentally, even though Communion in the hand is now
a pervasive practice throughout the United States in Novus Ordo
parishes, the United States was not one of those places where
Communion in the hand was an established practice before Memoriale
Domini.
Memoriale Domini states that a contrary usage should not be
allowed if it would lead to a lack of respect of the Eucharist,
false or adulterated doctrinal opinions of the Eucharist, or
profanation of the Eucharist. Thus, while Paul VI permitted a very
narrow exception to the Churchs universal law of Communion on the
tongue (in places where the abuse was already established, subject
to Romes approval), the document made it clear that the Holy
Father has decided not to change the existing way of administering
holy communion to the faithful (which is on the tongue). This
reflected the bishops desire by a clear majority - not to
implement Communion in the hand.
John Paul II affirmed the foregoing. In Dominicae Cenae, the pope
said: "To touch the sacred species and to distribute them
with their own hands is a privilege of the ordained (No. 11). In
Inaestimabile Donum, the pope said: It is not permitted that the
faithful should themselves pick up the consecrated bread and the
sacred chalice, still less that they should hand them from one to
another (No. 9). In 2004, John Paul IIs Congregation for
Divine Worship issued Redemptionis Sacramentum which addressed
certain matters concerning the celebration of the Eucharist. The
document reiterated the warnings of Memoriale Domini by stating:
If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not
be given in the hand to the faithful.
(Scripture catholic)
