Mokantx, you reside in America; I'm on the other side of the Atlantic in Ireland. Both you & I came to the same conclusion. I have gone full circle following the exposure of the abuse scandal and the findings of the Judicial Reviews. It completely shattered my belief in the institutional church. I questioned deeply over the years and eventually came to the same conclusion that you did i.e; that it was the gathering of community members, to come together and share "the commonality" , as you put it. I firmly believe that it is the "gathering" of people together, to be present to one another & share a common Christian belief, in their inner most thoughts. The celebrant provides a service to the gathered community. It's not about the priest, it's about the gathered community. The problem was that clerics put themselves center stage and that it was all about them and we were just onlookers who were expected to pay.. Now we know we are part of a great mystery of faith on equal terms.