The December U.S. Catholic<\/em> (print edition, not yet online) looks at the new missal\u2019s first year in \u201cWords Fail Us.\u201d It\u2019s a rather devastating critique of the whole thing. Their online survey was completed by 1,231 priests and 1,208 laypeople.<\/p>\n I know, I know, it\u2019s probably a self-selecting audience that goes to USCath<\/em>, as is the case with the commbox at Fr. Z\u2019s WDTPRS or anywhere else. But still, this is pretty serious stuff, the reactions of the USCath <\/em>crowd.<\/p>\n 58% of the priests checked \u201cI dislike the new translations and still can\u2019t believe I\u2019ll have to use them for the foreseeable future.\u201d Only 4% say \u201cI was unsure about it at first, but I\u2019ve grown accustomed to the new translations.\u201d Only 9% say \u201cI personally enjoy the new translations as much as, if not more than, the old version.\u201d If given the option, 76% of priests would go back to the old translation. Over three fourths! Only 16% of priests say that the new translations have had a positive effect on their prayerfulness during Mass \u2013 75% disagree. 10% of the priests have heard parishioners tell them that they were leaving to worship in other churches over the language changes in the Mass.<\/p>\n Asked to comment on the most difficult part about making the transition, the priest respondents gave an earful. \u201cActing like I appreciate the new texts when I find them to be terrible,\u201d said Fr. James Sauer in Evansville IN. \u201cHandling the disappointment of the people and realizing their complaints are well founded,\u201d from Fr. Patrick Connor in Nashville, TN. \u201cMastering the art of speaking like Yoda,\u201d said Fr. Brian Fischer in Chicago.<\/p>\n Asked what as a presider the new text has made them, Fr. Francis Gignac SJ replied \u201cAnnoyed.\u201d \u201cEnjoy saying Mass far less,\u201d said Fr. Stanley Robert Azaro, OP. \u201cFeel like a robot with no heart or soul,\u201d said Fr. John Francis Samsa of Apleton, WI. \u201cResentful. It was a poor process and a poor translation, period,\u201d said Fr. Jack Conley, CP.<\/p>\n But not all is a loss. Asked to comment on positive effects, Fr. Alan Phillip of Sierra Madre, CA said \u201cAt times we have had a few good laughs because of the convoluted language.\u201d<\/p>\n Priests were given an opportunity to make suggestions to improve the translation. All the expected answers came in: get rid of \u201cAnd with your spirit,\u201d \u201cchalice,\u201d \u201cConsubstantial,\u201d \u201cI\u201d in the creed, and so forth. And this: \u201cThrow it all out and start over,\u201d from Fr. Paul Freemesser in Rochester, NY.<\/p>\n 49% of the laity still dislike the new translation but will put up with it; 17% don\u2019t like the new translations much but don\u2019t think it\u2019s a big deal; 17% like the new translations as much as or more than the old one, and 6% were unsure at first but have grown accustomed to the new translations. Not exactly a happy acceptance.<\/p>\n Only 21% of laity agree that the new translation has had a positive effect on their prayer and participation – 70% of laity disagree. 25% of laity know people who have left to worship elsewhere because of the missal change. 54% of laity wish we could go back to the old translation \u2013 only 29% disagree.<\/p>\n So now what? What do bishops do with sentiments like this among their flock?<\/p>\n I know, I know, this isn\u2019t a scientific survey. But it\u2019s not nothing, either.<\/p>\n I expect bishops would want to do a lot more to find out how widespread the views in the survey are. Wouldn\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n UPDATE Monday morning and Tuesday morning:<\/strong> I see that USCath<\/em> posted part of the issue right after I posted. I see a causal connection and am amazed at the power of this blog – makes me wish I had posted sooner so USCath<\/em> had too. It’s here (parishioners)<\/a>\u00a0and here (priests)<\/a>.<\/p>\n awr<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If given the option, 76% of priests would go back to the old translation. Only 21% of laity agree that the new translation has had a positive effect on their prayer and participation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[24],"tags":[495],"class_list":["post-16821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-translation-new-missal","tag-us-catholic"],"yoast_head":"\n