Dsc, I don't think you're understanding where I'm coming from. I would be wholly in favor of suppressing the ICEL-butchered Novus Ordo entirely, and leaving the church in the U.S. with the Latin 1962 Missal and the Anglican Use only. I go to a Latin Mass every week. So no argument about the usefulness, and appropriateness of Latin--all I am saying is that rw's point about it not being *essential* is correct. He thinks we are *insisting* that a Mass has to be in Latin for it to be valid/spiritually beneficial, and I want to make it clear to him and every one else that that is *not at all* reflective of Catholic thinking.
I'm on the same page as you--I just don't like using sloppy reasons to get there, especially ones that scandalize well-meaning Protestant folks.
"He thinks we are *insisting* that a Mass has to be in Latin for it to be valid/spiritually beneficial, and I want to make it clear to him and every one else that that is *not at all* reflective of Catholic thinking."
Oh, I see. Yes, you're correct.