Bishops agree to music guidelines, Lenten readings, weekday rituals

Published: 2007-11-14

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- In a series of quick votes Nov. 14, the U.S. bishops approved new guidelines for the use of music in worship, English- and Spanish-language rituals for the celebration of weekday Liturgies of the Word, and revised Lectionary readings for Lent. The documents, presented by Bishop Donald W. Trautman of Erie, Pa., outgoing chairman of the Committee on the Liturgy, prompted little discussion as the bishops wrapped up the public part of their Nov. 12-15 fall general meeting in Baltimore. The music document, called "Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship," was accepted by the bishops in a 183-22 vote, with three abstentions. It had originally been proposed as a document that would have required Vatican approval and would have been binding on bishops in their dioceses. But Bishop Trautman said the committee decided to recommend the document only as a guideline for bishops, not as "normative law." Members of the U.S. bishops' conference nevertheless took a keen interest in the document, proposing nearly 400 amendments to what was the committee's 11th draft.

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