Why Catholics Can't Sing

Originally published in 1990, Why Catholics Can't Sing by Thomas Day emerged during a period of intense liturgical debate within the American Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council. Day, a musicologist and choral conductor, sought to critique the decline of traditional sacred music and the rise of what he termed the 'folk' or 'pop' style in parish worship. His analysis focused on how a shift in aesthetic standards and a perceived lack of communal musical competence had, in his view, marginalized the contemplative power of traditional congregational singing.

The book gained notoriety for its provocative title and its unflinching assessment of contemporary liturgical practices. While it faced criticism from proponents of post-Vatican II innovations for its perceived elitism or nostalgia, it became a foundational text for advocates of liturgical reform and traditional music in the liturgy. The 2012 edition published by the Crossroad Publishing Company serves to keep this discourse alive for a new generation of clergy and parishioners interested in the intersection of theology, culture, and musical participation.