The tune and the lyrics of Morning has Broken and its use as a hymn in the Catholic Church predates Cat Stevens. This author is displaying his ignorance.
That was the first thing I noticed, too. If Cat Stevens recorded “Pange Lingua,” would that mean we couldn’t use it in church anymore.
The words are by Eleanor Farjeon, who also wrote “People Look East” for Advent. She was one of my favorite writers when I was a girl, with a unique take on traditional fairy tales.
You wrote:
“The tune and the lyrics of Morning has Broken and its use as a hymn in the Catholic Church predates Cat Stevens. This author is displaying his ignorance.”
Where in the article did the author claim the song came into the Church because of Cat Stevens?
I'm with Vlad here ... Do you feel there is a place in the Mass for the music of Cole Porter and Bobby Darin? I recall several years ago, the pastor at my former parish invited a pianist to play 'accompaniment' to the Consecration. The music was not liturgical but something I would label 'mood music'. It was totally unrelated to the sacred actions taking place before us and was more of a distraction than a method for lifting our hearts heavenward.
Most of the Eastern Catholic liturgies are chanted with musical instrument accompaniment - EXCEPT - the words of Institution which are chanted by the priest and no instruments. It is his voice, good or bad, that chants the words of Consecration to a prayerful congregation. Mass is not entertainment; it is a time for deep reflection, prayer and worship due God.
"I thought also of the church song “Morning Has Broken.” This was a song I’d first heard sung by the popular entertainer Cat Stevens, who, as far as I knew, was now a devout Muslim."
Looks to me as though the author only makes claim to where he'd first heard that song, nothing more. I'd wager most folks alive now probably had the same experience.
No need to be so hard on him. I daresay most folks had never heard the hymn before Cat recorded "Morning Has Broken". Actually the words to the song are quite lovely, and full of praise for God's Creation.