pray, hope, and don't hold your breath

From the USCCB site

The U.S. bishops will vote to establish norms for hymns at Mass during their annual November meeting in Baltimore, November 13-16.

By the fact that they have to VOTE on this rather shows we are already in trouble.  Obedience doesn't manifest itself in popular vote.  But it is nice to know that they are aware there is a problem.

Specific norms state that

1. The approval of liturgical songs is reserved to the Diocesan Bishop in whose diocese an individual song is published. He is supported in his work by this directory and by the USCCB Secretariat on the Liturgy.[emphasis added]

So who are these bishops?  The OCP publishing company is in Oregon.  So if we pray really hard for those bishops, perhaps we can focus our efforts into decent music.

 

There is hope though.

According to the proposed directory, theological adequacy may be judged in two ways:

• Individual songs should be consonant with Catholic teaching and free from doctrinal error

• The repertoire of liturgical songs in any given place should reflect a balanced approach to Catholic theological elements.

The directory warns of doctrinal compromise. For example, it notes:

• Liturgical songs must never be permitted to make statements about the faith which are untrue

• The doctrine of the Trinity should never be compromised through the consistent replacement of masculine pronominal references to the three Divine persons

• Any emphasis on the work of the members of the Church should always be balanced by an appreciation of the doctrine of grace and our complete dependence of the grace of God to accomplish anything

• The elimination of archaic language should never alter the meaning and essential theological structure of a venerable liturgical song.

tip to Gerald