In Tucson, Arizona yesterday, at Mass, the Church Choir sang America the Beautiful. Hardly any of the congrgation sang along. Diversity City. Welcoming immigrants city.
Thanks Dems and GOPe and Chambers of Commerce and big Corporations.Vote them out. Do not buy their products. Speak loudly.
At Mass in the NW Phoenix Valley, the hymn was “My Country ‘tis of Thee” and it was the most sung hymn. Plenty of hispanic heritage at my church as well.
We used to live in Oro Valley, near Tucson recently. I went to several times a week and during Lent I would travel all over the county/ diocese to attend daily mass and stations of the cross. Let me tell you, even in the most socialist neighborhoods during American holidays, which were many times on Monday, we all sang patriot songs. The only church I did not go to was the one for the U of A students (avoided that).
I made it a point to go to mass on US holidays because for me it was a Holy Day and I wanted to worship God and thank him for our country inspired by HIM. My heart especially swelled when singing patriotic songs that were suffused with references to God.
I am so sad that things had begun to change with the catholic congregations in Tucson.