Weiben W. (Weiben) reviewed Why Catholics Can't Sing : The Culture of Catholicism and the Triumph of Bad Taste on
Helpful Score: 4
This book is more serious than it sounds. While the tone is light and humorous, and anecdotes do make one chuckle, the subject ultimately is not. He uses the issue of congregational singing in Roman Catholic churches as a jumping off point to touch on the social history, sociology, and liturgy of the Church. While sometimes critical of the Church (his critiques are primarily about liturgy and church practice, rather than doctrine or theology), the author clearly cares deeply about it, and points to ways he hopes the Church can improve. Though his subject is the Roman Catholic Church, his discussion also sheds light on issues in other church traditions, so as a non-Catholic, I was fascinated not only by what I learned about Roman Catholicism, but also my own faith tradition.
