In his 5 November decree, McKnight wrote "It is now clear that an authentically synodal process of greater consultation did not occur prior to its promulgation".

He said he had ordered a "more comprehensive consultation with the relevant parties within the diocese" related to sacred music.

The move will now include the views of musicians, music ministers and "everyone else who has a perspective on the music used in liturgies across the diocese".

He is looking to have a decision by August 2025.

"I am excited about moving forward with an open mind and an open heart" McKnight says.

"Music is such an important part of who we are as Catholics … I am eager to hear from everyone, in a synodal process of deep listening, as we embark on this process together."

Through this, McKnight aims to determine how best to use sacred music to encourage active liturgy participation.

Forbidden hymns back for now

In his decree of October 24, McKnight listed a dozen commonly used contemporary hymns that were to be "absolutely forbidden" in the diocese after the end of the month.

He obtained that list from Father Daniel Merz, a diocesan pastor and chairman of the diocesan liturgical commission. After several years of research and consultations with priests ministering in the diocese, Merz recommended banning the hymns.

McKnight's new decree notes it is "important to recognise that some hymns in current distribution may not be appropriate for use in Catholic liturgies".

Unlike his October decree, the new one does not include the names of any of the previously banned hymns.

Instead, it describes the criteria set by the US bishops' Committee on Doctrine that must be considered when determining whether a hymn is suitable for the liturgy.

McKnight acknowledges the "spirited discussion" on social media and various media outlets following the publication of the banned hymn list.

Banned composers stay banned

The new decree retains a diocesan ban on the use of any music composed by persons who "have been found by his or her diocesan bishop or competent authority to be credibly accused of sexual abuse".

It specifically mentions hymns and music by David Haas, Cesaréo Gabarain and Ed Conlin.

"It is vital that we ensure the greatest care be taken to prevent scandal from marring the beautiful celebration of the Eucharist" McKnight noted.

Source

• CNA

Hillman's flashbacks were triggered by a press release from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) that supported the reports that the advocacy group Into Account collected from several women accusing Haas of sexual and spiritual abuse. Hillman said the allegations "felt so familiar."

Two weeks later, Hillman described sexual abuse by Haas in her own report with Into Account, an organization that supports survivors of sexual abuse in Christian contexts.

Hillman, a 53-year-old musician, serves as cantor, choir member and assistant with the youth choir at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sarasota, Florida, and cantor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Venice, Florida. Read more

As allegations of serial sexual misconduct against Haas continue to mount, GIA Publication want to know how his predatory behavior avoided scrutiny and accountability.

GIA Publications, which distributed the Gather hymnals that included some of Haas' best known works, says "a third-party assessment will create a strong survivor-centered structure to report incidents of alleged harassment or abuse.

"In addition to the assessment, we are in the process of establishing a Code of Conduct for all composers and authors we publish," GIA Publications says.

"These changes will facilitate the community's ability to take prompt action in response to reports of behavioral misconduct."

David Haas is known for contemporary hymns such as "You Are Mine," "We Are Called" and "We Have Been Told,".

Last month, NCR reported accounts of three women chronicling the sexually predatory behavior the Catholic composer had subjected them to.

All three were over the age of 18 at the time of the alleged incidents and had participated in Haas's music workshops as students.

Since a report about the women's experiences was published, about 40 additional women across the United States, Canada and Australia have alleged experiencing similar instances of sexual misconduct by Haas.

"The pattern that I've seen is that David Haas, when he traveled for conferences, for workshops, for concerts, [took the opportunity] ... to target victims," a commentator says.

"What that indicates is that there are likely women in many, many places who have yet to figure out that their experience was not an isolated one."

One accuser says they believe there are professionals in the industry aware of Haas' behavioral history and yet failed to publicly address them.

GIA says it terminated its relationship with Haas in January, when it first "heard a rumor" that his letter of suitability from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis was under review.

"We did not receive confirmation from the Archdiocese that this was indeed the case," the company says.

Once it received a letter in May showing that a systemic pattern of abusive behavior spanning decades, GIA decided to go public with its suspension on 13 June. Early the following week GIA pulled Haas's music off of the market.

In addition to the assessment GIA has organised, the Association of Catholic Publishers says it is in the "early stages" of an internal conversation about developing a code of ethics for its members in response to the Haas case.

Source

• NCR
• Image: Patheos

The group - known as Into Account Inc. allege David Haas (63) engaged in "a repeated, unethical abuse of the professional and spiritual power he has had in church music circles".

He targeted "multiple women using techniques that abuse prevention experts identify as grooming," coercing women into sexual favors, and exploiting women who had previously experienced abuse.

Saying the allegations are "false, reckless and offensive," Haas criticised the means Into Account chose to broadcast their allegations.

They should not have used social media before allowing him a fair and legitimate venue to face his accusers, he says. Instead launched a marketing effort with the mission to destroy his reputation and livelihood.

Haas is the composer of several songs included in the "Gather" hymnal, which is one of the most used hymnals in American Catholic parishes. He is a central figure in the "contemporary liturgical music" movement that began in the 1970s.

Despite Hass's denials, Into Account - which says it "provides advocacy and the most up-to-date resources to survivors seeking accountability," - says it has heard from "nearly a dozen women".

Into Account says some women accused Haas of "sudden, overwhelming sexual aggression," and "incidents that we would interpret as outright sexual battery, involving groping, forcible kissing, and aggressive, lewd propositions. The youngest victim was 19 years at the time, while Haas was over 50."

"These individuals are in positions of professional and/or personal vulnerability that make it difficult for them to identify themselves publicly. They are almost all fearful of Haas's retaliation, and based on what they have reported, we believe those fears to be well-founded".

"The pattern that emerges from the reports we've received on Haas's behavior constitutes a repeated, unethical abuse of the professional and spiritual power he has had in church music circles".

This is not the first time the Catholic composer has been accused of sexual misconduct.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis says it received allegations of misconduct against Haas in both 2018 and 1987.

While Haas denied those allegations, after the 2018 complaints the Archdiocese told him "the Archdiocese would not provide him with a letter of recommendation that he had requested."

Furthermore, "he was not allowed to provide services at Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese without disclosure of the complaints made against him".

Haas says he is "an advocate for survivors of clergy sexual abuse and discrimination of all kinds," and "stands in solidarity and prayerful support of sexual abuse victims and encourages survivors to seek legitimate and appropriate professional services and/or to report any allegations to law enforcement."

Haas went on to accuse Into Account of attempting to "market and solicit for potential clients," through its letter.

"If Mr. Haas believes there are any inaccuracies in what we've shared, we invite him to specify what they are," the group replied.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Catholic World Report
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: Catholic News Agency