In what can only be described as a surprise, the U.S. bishops failed to pass the most recent revisions to the English translation of the liturgy. The proposed texts, meant to replace the English translation used since 1970, has been criticized for sounding foreign to modern ears, though its champions argue that more sacral language will "elevate" the liturgy to new heights.

Bishop Donald Trautman of Erie, Pennsylvania has been the voice of reason here, and I'm sure he's made the new translation's very powerful advocates angry. But he's right: If Catholics are going to have to respond with the nonsensical "And with your spirit" to the priest's "The Lord be with you," we're better off sticking to what we have.