Q: We’re building a new church. If our tabernacle location remains on the altar predella, must it be directly behind the main altar, or can it be left or right of it? We are asking this as Built of Living Stones has a catch-all line at the end of their statement on tabernacle placement about the local Ordinary having final word on this.
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A: There are no rules requiring a tabernacle in the sanctuary to be in the middle of the sanctuary. I think that there are good reasons for keeping it off the main axis. The GIRM gives the bishop the final say on tabernacle placement (315). (Not on the placement of anything else, incidentally – the font, the ambo, stations, clocks.)