The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops decided last month in their fall meeting that it is time for the hymns sung in mass to be doctrinally correct.^[1] This means that some of the excesses in the use of “inclusive” language should be curbed, and updating archaic language might be done more carefully. While it is certainly true that some use of inclusive language is possible without introducing heretical statements, the idea advanced by Boston College professor Lisa Sowle Cahill that “nothing radical” has been done to the songs used at mass since 1950 is certainly inaccurate. I have seen a few examples of abuses as I go through the song hymnal before each mass even here in the “conservative” Arlington Diocese.

This last week or so Lauren and I have been trying to gather information about our options for the reception. I have been doing some of the calling because I have a real land line, while she is limited to her cell phone while in Richmond.

The caterers seem oriented towards getting you in to meet them, versus providing information over the phone. Couple this with my ineptitude with the phone, and you can imagine the result. I am not getting far, and we will likely not have much more information than the website provides until we go in to meet with each in turn. ☹