Inclusive language

[NKY_Catholic]

While the Church officially does not approve of inclusive language I have noticed very frequently (especially recently) that many priests in my area will intentionally use inclusive language. One such instance occured today. In the Gospel our Lord says “… if your brother sins …”; however, today it was proclaimed as “… if your brother or sister sins …”. I’ve also experienced “Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth”; “may the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of God’s name, for our good and the good of all God’s Church”.

Why can’t the Mass just be said as it’s supposed to be said. From my experience small things like this tend to give a hint that their is a larger problem at hand (i.e. rejection of doctrine, the Church’s sexual ethic, etc.).

Have any of you experienced similar things and could provide some advice on how to address?

 

[Della]

Thereis a new liturgy of the Mass coming out soon that ought to squelch these abuses of the language of the Mass. No priest has the right to change a single word of the liturgy no matter what his personal opinions might be. And I think you are dead on when you say that use of inclusive language probably is a sign of some doctrinal difficulty the priest is having. You ought to record the priest(s) using inclusive language in the Mass and send it to his bishop. It will then be the bishop’s responsibility before God to correct such aberrations.

 

[Eileen_T]

First approach the priest, taking at least one other person with you to discuss your concerns. Be respectful. The priest may have succumbed to pressure from the Liturgy Committee or others and may welcome the knowledge that he has parishioners who will stand up and support following Church teaching on the matter.

I lived in a Parish where the priest appeared not to have read Instructions on the Liturgy from the Vatican. He made some changes in his Masses and eventually I challenged him on replacing the Creed at Sunday Mass with other prayers.

He wasn’t too happy with me, but I had cited the GIRM and at least we got the Creed back.

I have had experience with parish liturgy committees who have their own agenda and if they are the only ones giving the priest (name removed by moderator)ut he could be a bit intimidated by them. Especially if they are female!

 

[paramedicgirl]

NKY_Catholic:

While the Church officially does not approve of inclusive language I have noticed very frequently (especially recently) that many priests in my area will intentionally use inclusive language. One such instance occured today. In the Gospel our Lord says “… if your brother sins …”; however, today it was proclaimed as “… if your brother or sister sins …”. I’ve also experienced “Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth”; “may the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of God’s name, for our good and the good of all God’s Church”.

Why can’t the Mass just be said as it’s supposed to be said. From my experience small things like this tend to give a hint that their is a larger problem at hand (i.e. rejection of doctrine, the Church’s sexual ethic, etc.).

Have any of you experienced similar things and could provide some advice on how to address?

Oh, how offensive to change the language to suit the feminists!
Are they worried that the radicals will walk out if the priest refers to God as HIM? When is this going to end??

 

[bear06]

NKY_Catholic:

While the Church officially does not approve of inclusive language I have noticed very frequently (especially recently) that many priests in my area will intentionally use inclusive language. One such instance occured today. In the Gospel our Lord says “… if your brother sins …”; however, today it was proclaimed as “… if your brother or sister sins …”. I’ve also experienced “Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth”; “may the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of God’s name, for our good and the good of all God’s Church”.

Why can’t the Mass just be said as it’s supposed to be said. From my experience small things like this tend to give a hint that their is a larger problem at hand (i.e. rejection of doctrine, the Church’s sexual ethic, etc.).

Have any of you experienced similar things and could provide some advice on how to address?

I always like to mention that it’s an insult to me that the person who is using the inclusive language thinks they need to translate for me. It’s almost like I’m too stupid to figure out when God was talking to the whole human race and when he was just talking to men. :whacky:

 

[axolotl]

A Tale of Two Masses

 

[David_Zampino]

NKY_Catholic:

While the Church officially does not approve of inclusive language I have noticed very frequently (especially recently) that many priests in my area will intentionally use inclusive language. One such instance occured today. In the Gospel our Lord says “… if your brother sins …”; however, today it was proclaimed as “… if your brother or sister sins …”. I’ve also experienced “Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth”; “may the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of God’s name, for our good and the good of all God’s Church”.

Why can’t the Mass just be said as it’s supposed to be said. From my experience small things like this tend to give a hint that their is a larger problem at hand (i.e. rejection of doctrine, the Church’s sexual ethic, etc.).

Have any of you experienced similar things and could provide some advice on how to address?

You’ve given two distinctly different examples here. In the first (the Gospel reading) unfortunately the NAB has chosen to use way, way too much inclusive language, as have several other modern translations. However, the use of the NAB is permitted (obviously) for public reading in the Church.

The other example is far more serious. A priest does not have the authority to arbitrarily change the language of the Mass like that. And the example you gave comes close to denying, or at least minimizing, the Fatherhood of God. This is NOT acceptable or appropriate.

My other pet peeve? The butchering of many hymns in the name of “inclusive language” or “political correctness”.

 

[NKY_Catholic]

A Tale of Two Masses

Don’t get me started on music! Another issue is that we have to sing “Jesus, Bread of Life”; “Jesus, Font of Love”, etc, etc. during the Agnus Dei instead of just singing/saying it as it is written.

Decent blog by the way.

 

[Mary1973]

We use the OCP hymnal and they always change the hymns after a composer dies. Wise guy that I am, when we are in rehearsal, I will change some of the words to be neutral, such as “God is our parent”, “Jesus, our sibling”, etc. I mean, if you’re gonna do it, go all the way!

 

[Elzee]

I attended a Mass a couple months ago and after the ‘Our Father’, instead of saying ‘…keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety…’, he said ‘*keep us free from fear *…’.

Geesh! We wouldn’t want to be sin-free, but please, don’t let us ever fear anything… Should have known when the priest prepared the altar before Mass with a mic clipped around his ear with a mouthpiece, wearing khakis, a flowered shirt, gold bracelet and necklace. :banghead:

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Except that those who use inclusive language would take me seriously, I propose very-tongue-in-cheek for inclusive English that generous word I learned in the South- y’all and its derivatives.

So:

“If’n y’all sin…”

Wait, that’ just too Jeff Foxworthy and St. Peter pulling the pickup truck up to the pearly gates to take y’all up to the Big House- hop in the back.

I’m with Bear. I CAN figure out “Man” without having to have it pronounced for my poor beknighted self as “humankind”.

 

[baltobetsy]

“If’n y’all sin…”

I often think how I appreciate the elegance with which the Episcopalians do inclusive language - they make liberal use of the word “mortals,” which is so descriptive and poetic. I seriously do like that, BUT… “y’all” tops everything! I love it!!

Betsy

 

[Elzee]

NKY_Catholic:

Don’t get me started on music! Another issue is that we have to sing “Jesus, Bread of Life”; “Jesus, Font of Love”, etc, etc. during the Agnus Dei instead of just singing/saying it as it is written.

Decent blog by the way.

We do this too and I hate it. Is it allowed…?