The theological debate over ad orientem is, IMHO, not even required. Jesus is in the tabernacle. He is a person. We face people when we are speaking to them. The parts of the mass where the priest is speaking to God, he faces God. When he speaks to us (“Dominus vobiscum”), he turns to face us. This isn’t theology so much as the way that 100% of the world communicates with each other.

Don’t believe me? Try this experiment. Next time you see a mother holding a baby, try walking up to her, look at the mother’s eyes and say, “Oh I could just eat you up! Oh you’re so cute! Yes you are! Yes you are!” Let me know how that goes.