CONVENTION 2020
BLACK LIVES MATTER
Each day of the convention, a panel of Black Catholic leaders shared their wisdom and experience with attendees. Here M. Roger Holland II pulls together the threads of the week of conversations that included Fr. Steven Bell, Dr. Kathleen Dorsey-Bellow, Lynné Gray, Donna Grimes, Dr. Kim Harris, M. Roger Holland II, and Valerie Lee-Jeter.
VOICE & SING! Liturgical Equity, Liturgical Justice: A Musical Response for Parish Musicians
By M. Roger Holland II
As the pandemic of COVID-19 has merged with the Black Lives Matter movement, further exacerbated by the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, a surge in the push for social justice has spurred a greater awareness in literally all aspects of society. Te Church is one area where this holds true, and many in the church have been moved toward self- examination in regard to how Black Catholics, in particular, have been treated. At the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement are issues of justice and equality. What do justice and equality look like for parish musicians as we engage in music ministry?
18 LIFT EVERY
Sing to the Lord—other things being equal
First, let us consider the meaning of those two words: justice and equality. Justice has to do with “just” behavior or treatment; a concern for justice, peace and genuine respect for people. Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. Quoting Sing to the Lord, Sacrosanctum Concilium states,
“Te Church recognizes Gregorian chant as being specially suited to the Roman Liturgy. Terefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services.” (SC 116) Gregorian chant is uniquely the Church’s own music. (STTL 72)
What if we modified the last sentence of this excerpt to become instead, “Gregorian chant is historically the Church’s own, unique music”? By reframing this statement we make room for the music of other cultures to be equally valued.
In many parishes the modifying phrase “other things being equal” is disregarded in favor of conformity to the personal and individual preference of the pastoral
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