Bad Carols

Come all ye censored:

The outlet said "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" has been targeted for depicting other faiths as being "outside of God’s grace" — and the hymn's "captive Israel" reference also rubs church higher-ups the wrong way. The Daily Mail also said "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending" — a favorite of Queen Victoria — has been called out as well, with clergy receiving a link to research noting that the second verse contains "problematic words" that state Jesus is the "true Messiah." What does the Church of England have to say? The Church of England on Monday told Blaze News that the Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt. Rev Dr. Michael Volland, issued the following Sunday statement in regard to the Daily Mail's report: No one has been asked to change words in carols or liturgies. Members of our team working closely with diverse communities in Birmingham invited churches to think about providing some context for people new to church who might be unsure why "Israel" is being discussed and whether this has any relation to the current conflict. The lyrics in some of our hymns, even those that have been sung for many years, are not always understood as having their roots in the Bible rather than current situations. The email from our team was an encouragement to help churches think about how they can tell the Christmas story authentically, without confusion, and in a way that makes all visitors feel welcome. Canon Chris Sugden — a former member of the General Synod and executive secretary of the Anglican Mainstream group — told the Daily Mail that hymns shouldn't be altered just because the Church of England "conforms to every progressive cause."

Joy to the cause, or something...