Before you begin, I can only assume that this article he is referring to was print only because it is not on the Madison Herald's website.
Fans of Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino appreciate his willingness to say what's on his mind, even if it's unpopular or a public relations challenge.
A recent column by Morlino in the Catholic Herald, the newspaper of the Madison Catholic Diocese, has again lit up Catholic blogs[... this is the first place I've seen it]. This time the topic is the hymn "All Are Welcome," a Catholic staple, which Morlino has concluded is not appropriate for use at Mass.
The liturgy of the Catholic Church "always requires beauty in its celebrations," Morlino wrote. Yet to be beautiful, something must embody "the truth," he continued. Therein lies the rub.
"Some of the songs that we sing at liturgy contain lyrics which clearly are not true — for example, the song ‘All Are Welcome,'" Morlino wrote.
He went on to say that all are welcome who follow God's will, "as spelled out through his son's very body, the (Catholic) Church." People who have little interest in doing God's will "don't fit the liturgy." Also not welcome: people who, "by their own choosing," suffer in hell for all eternity.
"It could therefore be concluded that the song, ‘All Are Welcome,' is not beautiful so as to be appropriate for liturgical use," he wrote.
Brent King, a diocesan spokesman, said Morlino has not banned the hymn. Priests can still use it. However, "the bishop has made his preference clear," King said.
...
"All Are Welcome" was written in 1989 by Marty Haugen of Eagan, Minn., a composer who is Protestant but spent 15 years as a full-time musician in Catholic parishes. Haugen said he wrote the song for a priest who was raising money for a new parish. [He goes on to interview him]
6 comments:
The column he's most likely referring to is this one from October: http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/bishopscolumns/2596-the-beauty-of-our-worship-in-the-liturgy.html
But the bishop's written about the song before (http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/bishopscolumns/1034-importance-of-the-communion-of-saints.html) and spoken of it in several homilies I've heard. It's nothing new. In fact, I thought Mr. Erickson handled it in a fairly well balanced fashion in his article.
I was thinking he had written about it in the past, and, well, it's a pretty widely held position. I also thought that the article was well done, going to the sources themselves. I did not know about the Archdiocese of Chicago reviewing it, that is pretty funny considering so many people must have complained about it that it actually was reviewed. I also liked reading Haugen's comments - I think his motives were sincere but the final product did not mesh. I think of todays gospel as a narrative that could have fit the message much better.
Would that the faithful learn that Scripture - especially the Psalms - is the wellspring of liturgical song.
Too many Church documents cite this, but that Church documents need to cite this speaks to our deafness to the Word of God.
(BTW, Gregorian chant proper chants for the Mass are predominantly from the Psalms.)
Hear, hear! Next up on the list of songs I hope he seeks to purge: the horrid "Anthem." Shudder, shudder, shudder. Theologically dubious (30+ mentions of "us/we" and like 2 of Christ) and difficult for non-musical congregations to sing.
Bishop Morlino says it isn't OK, the Archdiocese of Chicago says it is, I go with Bishop Morlino.
@Maqgie -- "ANTHEM" what a delightful choice. If there were an inoculation for that one, I would roll up my sleeve right now. They can take "ANTHEM" and "ASHES" and "SERVANT SONG" away. There has to be more appropriate expressions of these themes. Any ideas?
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