Couldn't agree with you more RG, thanks for your insightful comments... to my mind the primary factor resulting in this "punitive" mindset is one of idolatry. More specifically, I'd place the blame on the decision to enshrine the medieval theory of "transubstantiation" into doctrine. Without getting into the reasons for this "enshrinement," what would the Church look (and act) like if the decision of "worthiness" was left up to God? I can site a passage from the Didache ("Teaching of the Twelve") that lends good evidence of how  early church fathers viewed the Eucharistic celebration, and it was nothing like the fetish-ness in which  traditional Catholics would describe today. Even if you believe marriage to be a sin, do we really need to compound the problem by excluding the "sinners" from partaking in the bread of life?