This 'bishop', like countless of his confreres in holy orders, really has nothing to say, so he tries to entertain. He is, it would seem, not up to or comfortable with the profound gravity of the awesome rites of which he is made the guardian and celebrant - so he must entertain. He must entertain people of whom he obviously doesn't think much.
The Church seems to be filled with such men, whether they are bishops, even cardinals, or mere priests, deacons, musicians, or other. Such persons can only be raised to such positions in an entity in which blatant authority outweighs spiritual perception and profound reverence, not to mention liturgical awareness and decorum, even common respect and love, and, much less, intellectual maturity and integrity, in appointments. What other explanation is there? It is obvious that spiritual gifts and sensitivity are not high on the list of requirements for those ordained and put in positions of authority - who, when they are in positions of authority, proceed to impose things which are contrary to what the Church has given them authority to fulfill. Just being in a position of authority does not ipso facto make all of one's acts authoritative. This latter quality persists only when the exercise of authority enables, administers, and is consistent with that for which authority was given. Is it asking too much of our Church to give us always authorities who are in fact authoritative in their ministrations? Who are believably an alter Christi? Is it not joyfully, even tearfully, refreshing when we happen to encounter (once in quite a while) one of those many who are?

I share Spriggo's reservations about the wisdom of drowning out this, or any, crooning excellency. I suspect, though, that this organist knew his people and his pastor very well, and judged that he was expressing what all were thinking about such cringe-worthy antics, and that he was undoubtedly acting on their behalf and at their pleasure. Such immature silliness is absolutely out of place in church by anyone of whatever rank. Judging from the views of the congregation, they were of one mind with their organist in repudiating this insult to their intelligence. It's high time!

I sometimes think it goes back to dear old Newton and his actions and reactions, in that there is no longer much of a connection between the two. The church is now a business, for the most part. It is about money and how to get more of it. Consequently, the liturgy is just another "entertainment" to keep the donors happy.

At one point, bishops and priests considered themselves guardians and inheritors of a sacred tradition which occupied first place. Now, it too often is all about "me." The MBAs in the chanceries not surprisingly operate with business rather than spiritual objectives in mind.

About those entertainers. I have concluded most of the ordained who consider themselves comedians would starve if they had to do comedy for a living. I hate to say it, but it seems to me the priests in the old days were often the best educated people in the parishes. I don't find that always true today.

Consequently, we have fools who are not worthy of their offices clowning around and carrying on in sacred places. This extends to the top of the church. These leaders seem confused about what it means to be Catholic. We have had a very costly sex abuse crisis because some of the bishops insisted on ordaining the mentally ill - action resulting in reaction. Not surprising. We have no tradition because the leaders don't guard and protect it anymore. Cutting up and clowning around only serve to convince me the clowns are not serious about what they do. Action and expected result, again. Nothing demonstrates our inadequate leadership more than the "bishop" in the op. Why hasn't this idiot been removed from office?

"The church is now a business . . . "

Not just now. It was even MORE of a business when it was a significant landowner, landlord (and huge rent-and-tithe collector) and sovereign ruler of church-states. For many centuries.

What would have been going through my mind:
'What is he going to do next? No...I can't believe it. The uke? Really? The UKE? Here? That is not going to fly here. That's it, I've had it. No more. Enough. We've fought against this, we've been vilified and beaten up for following the norms, and now, right in our own parish... No. Just no. This needs to stop.'

It is clear that the standard means of redress for liturgical narcissism is not working. This bishop is one of the men to whom concerns about liturgical abuse are supposed to be addressed and what is he doing? Making a mockery of the Liturgy - at the Grotto of all places. One wonders whether it was calculated.

As to whether the organist was right to confront him in this public way, as far as I'm concerned, the jury is out. We're always told to stay calm, talk to the perpetrator, talk to the bishop, talk to the archbishop. Talk, talk, talk...and still we get this, again and again and again for fifty years. The frustration is palpable.

I think a bishop deserves respect - when he is a respectable man. Many of our bishops have acted in ways that forfeit the respect the office commands.

Sidestepping the rightness or wrongness of either party.....the bishop has a really nice voice. But that organist, picking right up on the exact note with that magnificent accompaniment, that was awesome to this musical pretender.

Well, argument could be made he was trying to accompany him. If he really wanted to drown him out, he could've played the Toccata from Widor's Fifth Symphony.

If it weren't for the reported No Comment from the organist, I'd be VERY much inclined to take Stimson's charitable read.

I would have had to go to My Special Place had I been in the Grotto during this ecclesiastical echo of "Deliverance". I would at least have resorted to the lav.

The poor judgment of the bishop doesn't salve what appears to be (see my first paragraph above) the poor judgment of the organist. Consequentialism is rarely invoked for ostensibly bad *ends* - if it were, it would be so much easier to resist, wouldn't it?

Yeah, the organist may have messed up, and I think he did, to be honest, but the congregation and (especially) those serving, concelebrating, or acting as deacons are held hostage too and can do nothing or very little about it. The latter have to interact with him in a different way, both afterwards in the sacristy and in diocesan business, for the clergy. The bishop should have acted better. And he definitely knew that it was out of line, given the quip once the music finally stopped.

I would have cut off the PA, and that would probably be enough to keep me from saying something later.

I’m in agreement, I think, Liam. I just understand why he did it. He certainly expressed the feelings of PIPs.

I detected a snippet of Veni Creator at the end.

Two wrongs don't make a right. The organist owes the bishop an apology.

Too bad this isn't the Middle Ages. They could have thrashed him and ridden him out of town on a rail. Unfortunately, the civil authorities now protect the scoundrels as well as the good guys.

Also for what it's worrh - His Excellency has celebrated the EF before.

And Satan can quote scripture? In all fairness, I don't know the man and might think well of him if I did. But I am also glad I don't have to put up with antics from him. Our show-offs are bad enough without importing anyone else's.

The simple solution would've been that the Bishop should've used an electric guitar instead of a ukulele, so when he started straying off into Parts Unknown you just give him the "Ottaviani Treatment" and pull the plug on his amp. Instant silence.

Therefore, electric guitars are appropriate for the sanctuary. Q.E.D.

Does the Grotto regularly have confirmandi and visits from this bishop? It’s possible they didn’t know or hoped it was not going to happen... Who knows?

Strange that a parish would have to request "no ukulele", though, when making arrangements with the bishop.

Or tamborines. or sousaphones. or calliopes.

The simple solution would've been that the Bishop should've used an electric guitar instead of a ukulele, so when he started straying off into Parts Unknown you just give him the "Ottaviani Treatment" and pull the plug on his amp. Instant silence.

I know of a priest who actually did just that one Lent. He didn't want any music for the recessional, so he pulled the plug on my brother's electric acoustic guitar at one of those Teen Life Masses.

The bishop is the episcopal vicar for the central region, so his visit to the Grotto was routine. It seems also that he took the accompaniment added by the organist in good humor; his thanks (heard on the video) sound gracious enough, and (according to what I've seen on the net) he quipped later that he'd be asking the organist to join him for confirmations elsewhere.

"Thank you, Bishop, but I only accompany Sacred music."

To say that his Excellency thinks the laity are half-wits is not quite right. There are several web pages that thank him for singing his little song at other parishes, so he probably thinks he's doing something that pleases people.

Perhaps he's just acting according to his formation; he was ordained in 1974, as the Archdiocese was dominated by 'progressive' attitudes, under the governance of Cdl. Dearden.

While the ukulele shtick is clearly ridiculous -- we should we start a Gofundme drive to thank the organist! -- the prelate has actually been helpful to Detroit traditionalists, and has offered Mass in the old form himself.

I believe SC mentions something about performing one's liturgical office completely and only the duties of one's office. Performing an entertaining solo such as this, I think, is beyond the office of celebrant during the liturgy.

well said dad29

we should not tolerate any evil but bring it to light.

The last mass I played, a First Communion Mass, I listened to Our Lord being referred to as "Big J" at least ten times!

Digression Alert.
How speedily doth the worm turn, Samuel! I have to wonder if Ap. Cordileone had remained in Oaktown, would the disintegration have still occurred?

child-friendly music

Because the time-honored music of the Holy Catholic Church isn't suitable for children.

Or...

"No one sings it anymore because nobody has been teaching it."

"For more than 1000 years children and adults sang in Latin."

"The Church says people should be singing in Latin still." (reference relevant sections of Sacrosanctum Concilium, make sure to mention that Vatican II put out this document).