Letters

Mutilated hymns (letter)

Eric G. Miller

Contents - Apr 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain!' - Peter Westmore Melbourne 'Sexuality Directives' put parents first - Anthony Cappello News: The Church Around the World Documents: John Paul II on the Catholic Faith in our region - Pope John Paul II Events: Carnivale Christi 2002 - Young Catholics restoring Sydney's Christian culture - Helen Ransom Adelaide Thomas More Centre address: The key elements of Catholic Action today - Archbishop Philip Wilson Melbourne TMC: The rights and responsibilities of laity in the Catholic Church - Archbishop Denis Hart The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter and Star Wars - Hal G.P. Colebatch A fresh way for children to learn the faith - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Anne Delsorte Australian version of Maltese Marian shrine of Ta' Pinu 'Victims of Abortion' founder appeals to Catholic priests - Anne Lastman Letters: Gem of a priest (letter) - Patrick Nathan Letters: Vocations (letter) - Erin Carli Letters: Ambassador (letter) - Tom King Letters: Reforming the reform (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: Evangelisation (letter) - Mavis Power Letters: Telling the truth (letter) - Teresa Martin Letters: Vocations Pilgrimage (letter) - Martine Watkinson Letters: Harry Potter (letter) - Christine Slagter Letters: Bare churches (letter) - Ned Haliburton Letters: Croatian appeal (letter) - Fr Zeljko Rakosec SJ Letters: Mutilated hymns (letter) - Eric G. Miller Letters: Generous response (letter) - Grace O'Hara Letters: EWTN (letter) - J. Clarke Letters: Purgatory (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Books: 'The Church In The Dark Ages' by Henri Daniel-Rops - Michael Lynch (reviewer) Books: The Clash Of Orthodoxies: Law, Religion and Morality in Crisis - David R. Oakley (reviewer) Books: Bound To Forgive: The Pilgrimage to Reconciliation of a Beirut Hostage - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Engaged to be Married - A Giftbook for Engaged Couples - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: For Youth and the Poor - De La Salle Brothers in Australia, PNG and NZ 1906-2000 - Michael Bohan (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: Father forgive them ...: Our Lord's example for Christian living - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes PP

Over the last 18 months I have spent time in my original home-town of Adelaide, and found that in the suburban church where I attended Mass, the feminist element had modified many of the hymns to remove any reference to God as masculine. Where "He" or "His" occurred in the original, it was replaced by "God" or "God's".

In some cases it made sense, but in other cases it was just plain nonsense. I attributed this initially to a lack of orthodox teaching in the Adelaide Archdiocese, but now, horror of horrors, such texts have turned up on the projection screens in my own parish church in Perth. Whenever I see a mutilated hymn projected, it always has the copyright notice "Word of Life International" tacked onto it.

What I would like to know, from whoever has the information, is:

* Who or what is this organisation that is mutilating our beautiful hymns?

* By what right do they do this dastardly deed?

* Which Church or other organisation originated or sponsors it?

* Do we have to put up with this mutilation, or can we continue to use our cherished previous editions of such hymns?

I respect the right of a civil government to use inclusive language in order to remove discrimination, but that does not extend to our Faith, where Jesus Christ clearly said "I and the Father are one" and our Creed says "I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth."

Let us ask God the Father, and Mary, His Blessed Mother, to guide us in this matter.

ERIC G. MILLER
Lesmurdie, WA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 3 (April 2002), p. 15