As a pianist in our parish, it is my responsibility to remove songs to use at Mass just because the composer did horrible things?
I am referring to David Haas and only recently now I have heard of the horrible things he did and honestly, reading about this kinda disgusts me and saddens me and it's such a grave scandal.
And I'm gonna be honest, I have personal favorite songs despite not liking most of his compositions (especially the parts of the Mass e.g. Kyrie, Gloria and especially that awful Glory to God that has that "Sing Glory to God" Holy, etc... yeah, that Mass of Light and many other Mass part songs)
The songs in question that I absolutely loved even before knowing this and what I've been using in English Masses:
Here In This Place
You Are Mine
Love Never Fails
All That I Am (my favorite Marian Hymn for English Masses, I personally use this as a post-communion song for Marian Feasts and other Marian themed Masses alongside Ave Maria)
Now We Remain (this one is my personal favorite of all time and I never fail to use it during the Seven Last Words or Siete Palabras in Holy Week before the Good Friday Liturgy)
These were my all-time favorite English Mass songs and I've personally used them countless of times now (even if recently, I've been trying to play Antiphons more) aside from my native Tagalog liturgy, in the English Mass, I rarely have favorites when it comes to hymns but I always have those rare personal favorites. (especially from the Filipino Jesuit Composers)
Wasn't a fan of most American OCP Hymns but some of David Haas' work, especially ones he worked closely with Himig Heswita ang Hangad, I really can't help but love these works before even if I wasn't a fan of most of his work.
But now, hearing about this now? I am now hesitant to use them now, my Diocese is in the Philippines and I don't think we even have a ban for these hymns just like other Dioceses but yeah, what do you all think?
Posted Jun 8, 2026, 4:54 AM UTC