Oxford philosopher weighs in against liturgical "abomination"

The latest issue of Adoremus Bulletin carried the following letter in its Readers' Forum, from the vernerable Oxford University Professor, Sir Michael Dummett, Wykeham Professor of logic (emeritus) and world-renowned philosopher of mathematics and linguistics:

Your report of the discussion by American bishops on English translations of the liturgical texts (AB Dec-Jan 06) indicates a general feeling among them that the translation of the Ordinary of the Mass (Gloria, etc.) ought to remain the same, because the laity have become accustomed to it.

We are, indeed, very familiar with it: who could not be who has attended many Masses in the English language over the past few decades? But familiarity with it does not imply that we like it. We did not choose it: it was imposed on us. Our opinion has never been asked.

The mangling of the Gloria, in particular, is an abomination. Those responsible thought it their business, not merely to translate, but to revise; this ancient Christian hymn, used in the Byzantine as well as the Roman rite, ought to have been treated with respect. Instead, it has been dismembered.

When I can, I attend a Mass in which it is sung in Latin, because I find the English version so painful and therefore so distracting.

I hope the argument that 'what we are familiar with must be kept as it is' will not be given any more weight than it deserves, which is to say none.

This is not the first time Dummett has weighed in on liturgical matters in Adoremus Bulletin. In the March 1997 issue, he had an article criticizing ICEL translations, "Revision of the Roman Liturgy, a Review."