Lars 5:07AM
Where I am it went from sentimental pseudo religious music to literal profane pop music fairly quickly, even at regular Mass. Funerals and weddings are basically Top of the Pops now.

True charity is giving people what they need and deserve, even if they don’t know it themselves.

Secular forms might well draw us in, but if they are so far removed from the forms of an authentic liturgical culture, then even in the context of the liturgy they are inclined to lead us back to the secular values, not on to the Eucharist. Such music is less likely to draw us into a genuinely deep and active participation in the worship of God. In the long term, therefore, any secular music, even if it draws people to Mass, will inevitably lead to more people leaving the Church than staying because the music is distracting them from what is at the heart of the Mass. As a result, there is less of a force that draws us into a supernatural transformation in Christ. There will be fewer Christians, therefore, with the capacity for transmitting an authentic Christian joy to those with whom they interact in their daily lives, outside the Mass and the liturgy. With this reduced power for evangelization, we will lose our lifeblood.

Were the approach to music correct and, (dare one hope for more?) our liturgies celebrated in the way that the Church truly desires, would this then bring huge numbers back to churches? In the long run, I would say yes, but in the short run, almost certainly not. But it would bring to the church immediately those who are genuinely looking for what the chant directs their hearts to - God. In the long term, this would have a domino effect. More people who attend Mass would be participating more deeply and become emissaries of the New Evangelization, shining with the light of Christ as they go about their daily business. This, in turn, would draw others to Christ. Because we have free will this is never going to be the whole population, but I do believe that it can be far more than we currently see in our churches today.

Has the throw-away missalette approach to church music had its day? Probably not yet, to judge from the support that so many bishops, priests and choir directors currently give to this style in the cause of a faux pastoralism that actually alienates most people. But because of this alienation, it does contain the seeds of its own destruction. Unless it is replaced by something else, under the influence of brave pastors and choir directors who are prepared to take the truly pastoral approach, one that takes into consideration the majority who aren’t at church, then we are doomed to steadily declining congregations until the generation that currently listens to this style of music grows old and disappears.

I have no issue with the idea of the tune having a lot to do with it. I think the idea that "only the text matters" has been as abused as any notion in modern liturgical practice.

those who can't stand it have stopped going to Mass.

That is to say, “drying out” the experience of worship. That’s what generates so many kind of undefined complaints, where people can’t articulate a theological objection, but it just doesn’t hit right to them. “Where have they taken the Lord...?”

hurt them unnecessarily and thus be uncharitable

Neither he nor Bishop Schneider (whom I've had the pleasure of hearing preach, live, at a Mass at which I was in the choir) is driven by ideology nor by conspiracy theories.