There is no doubt that Michael Voris stirs things up. Voris claims to cut through the clutter and expose what’s wrong with the Catholic world. Many conservative Catholics — who are figuratively dying to get the capital ‘T” Truth out and who tire of waiting for Catholic bishops to grow a spine and speak the Truth (without all the watering-down caveats) — are embracing Voris’ take-no-prisoners approach. There are other conservative Catholics who dislike Voris’ video productions on tone and substance.
In this blog post, Mark Shea takes on Voris, in the way that only Mark Shea can. It’s full of life and passion, and I respect that. Some might say that Michael Voris uses a similar style. I disagree. For one, Voris seems to enjoy creating an Us versus Them situation (in which those who support Voris are Us, and those who oppose Voris are Them). And the focus on anger and outrage (whether justified or not) creates a cartoon image, “HULK SMASH!!”
There are some revolutions, in which all control is lost.
On this particular issue, I think Voris is partially correct. I long for a Latin Liturgy to return the Chant to a pride of place. However, whether or not “Amazing Grace” should be sung by Catholics is another issue altogether. I happen to like this song, and I fear that a Harry Potter-like debate will ensue on the theological merits of the song. In this, Voris has moved the debate into a place it does not need to be. There will be emotional squabbles about the song itself, setting up two opposing camps with pitchforks pointed at each. Michael Voris is a divider.
A simpler approach, one that treads on safer ground, is to point out that “Amazing Grace” is not chant. But then again, this is America where egalitarian opinions would demand that “Amazing Grace” is in seamless artistic harmony with chant. America will probably be the last country to eliminate widespread liturgical abuse.
