Anyone still think Communion in the Hand is such a wise idea?
(I know I'm preaching to the choir here...)
Guess what? Before Vatican II, this wouldn't have been an issue!
It HAS to be harder to keep Hosts for later desecration when the Host starts out in one's mouth. With so many Catholics around in the church, a villain would have to be VERY discreet. And if he raced out of the church upon receiving (in some larger churches it would take minutes!) someone would notice -- especially if he had the nerve to do it more than once.
Let's just say that Communion on the tongue is an obstacle to desecration -- a big obstacle. Not saying that it's an insurmountable one, but it CERTAINLY helps. The more obstacles the better!
Like I said, desecration of the Host was MUCH LESS OF AN ISSUE before Catholics became "grown up enough" to receive Communion in the hand. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic -- there's nothing childish about having a humble attitude toward the World's Greatest Gift and God Himself!)