In the days before Vatican II, Roman Catholic priests celebrated Mass with his back to the people. The purpose was not to ignore the people - he and the congregation were supposed to be facing in unison toward the Holy Land - and that's why the churches were oriented toward the east.

As time went on, the idea of united orientation of priest and people was forgotten. The idea was then that the priest faced the Blerssed Sacrament in the tabernacle, which was considered to be more important than the people.

But it was a good idea at first, before the reason behind it got lost.

-Joe Offer-