I was a journalism major in college, and one thing I learned from a linguist in the course of reporting a story (about TAs that students claimed they couldn't understand) is that the longer you hear someone, the easier it is to understand them, even if they have a thick accent. In my experience, this has shown to be true. It's true that it's a good idea to give them diction lessons, but it's also true that the PiPs need to give it time.

We have several priests from India in our diocese. Yes, it is difficult to understand them at first, but after a few weeks, it becomes easier. I haven't heard of anyone in our diocese not going to Mass because they couldn't understand the priest.

I once went to an African priest for confession. I understood two things, "I absolve you" and "Amen." The rest I assume God understood. ;-)

They all now worship Cod at my former parish, led by the very erudite priest from the Indian subcontinent.

Accents are wonderful. The more accentuous, the more wonderful. 'Accent reduction', which I've not heard of before, seems a cruelty to me. The way we speak is a part of who we are. One of my greatest recent disappointments was when I called the Imperial Japanese Consulate one day to discover where I might find CD's of noh drama and other Japanese classical music, which I hold in high regard. In a cheery state of mind in anticipation of this cultural adventure, I expected to hear that colourful and uniquely civilised Japanese accent answer the 'phone. What I got was the, obviously learned, soulless accent of an American businessman, with a more perfectly soulless delivery than the American businessman himself. To make matters worse, this smart functionary didn't even know what noh drama was! I will never again call the Imperial Japanese Consulate. People, from wherever they come, should sound like who they are and where they come from - even American southerners and Texans, though these latter might ought to be somewhat embarrassed about it.

On the other hand, the pride of any non-French French speaker is that he has learned flawlessly to speak Parisian French. For most languages, though, there is not such a standard of similarly high register. In fact, the French (to their credit) may be the only ones to take such pride in their exquisite tongue.

Um, no doubt, Chris, this 'something' would be somewhat 'colourful'?

Who was that mediaeval scholar who said of the singing of the various nations and tribes that the Germans sounded like barking dogs, and the French like grunting hogs? The English, by all accounts (particularly their choir boys), were, on the other hand, said to have sounded like angels.

Chris -
I have never,
nor will I ever,
chantez la Marseillaise.... 'al la Bretonne',
ou d'une toute autre maniere!
Vive le roi!

...accent acquisition training...

Hear, hear!

I'd rather ask your Scots friend half a dozen times (if he would be so indulgent!) what he said than for him not to speak as he speaketh. Thusly would I gain - and thusly he would not lose.

I worked with an African priest once that people complained was difficult to understand during the homily.... however they never (or rarely) complained about the rest of the Mass because he sang it all. When he sang somehow the words came through quite clear.

I also had no problems with his homilies - I just had to actively listen.

Also I don't believe for a second that people are staying home from Mass because they can't understand the priest. If they truly believed in the Real Presence, in mortal sin and the Sunday obligation they would be going to Mass if it was only available in Swahili in a tent with no air conditioning.