Hope for Catholic Liturgical Music
For decades, the Catholic Church has been concerned about the state of its liturgical music.
A 1992 book, "Why Catholics Can't Sing", highlighted the shift away from traditional chants and hymns in the late 20th century.
Damian Thompson criticized "Bad Catholic Music" in a 2015 essay, citing folk-and-jazz-inspired "worship songs" as examples.
Tommy Tighe also raised concerns in a February column for Aleteia, stating that some common Catholic hymns are musically lacking and doctrinally questionable.
The critique of contemporary liturgical music is often linked to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and their implementation.
Author's summary: Catholic liturgical music faces challenges.