February 19, 2010--The Pope's Top 10
Until not too long ago the Vatican published its list of banned books. Books Catholics were "forbidden" to read. The Index Libororum Prohibitorum. It contained thousands of titles. Just from the A's alone listed were every one of Jane Austen's novels; all of Issac Azimov's books; all novels by father and son Kingsley and Martin Amis; everything from one of my favorites, Paul Auster; and even Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. God only knows, sorry, the Pope only knows why Catholics couldn't read about little Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.
Of course the Index carried into the modern era only incentivized many trangressive-minded believers to try to get their hands on these works. And I suspect that is one reason the Vatican decided to stop publishing it. They did not want inadvertently to encourage the reading of these salacious books. Too bad. Anything that gets people reading Pride and Prejudice is a good thing.
This then left me wondering why the Vatican the other day (see linked New York Times article) published its list of favorite pop record albums. The Holy See's official newspaper, L'Osservatore, came up with its top 10. At the top of their charts is the Beatles' Revolver. Next was David Crosby's If I Could Only Remember My Name. Also touted was Michael Jackson's Thriller, Paul Simon's Graceland, U2's (What's the Story) Morning Glory, and Carlos Sanata's Supernatural. This latter title alone in the past would have led to its being banned.
On the other hand, evoking the good-old-days of the Index, everything by Bob Dylan was excluded because, as L'Osservatore observed, though liking his "great poetic vein," he influenced a generation of other performers, "dilettante singer-songwriters," who have "harshly tested the ears and patience of listeners, thinking that their tortured meanderings might interest somebody." Talk about the sins of the father . . .
So I looked up the tracks on the Supernatural album and saw that one song is called "The Calling." I thought might this have caught the Vatican's eye. Here are lyrics from the chorus. Judge for yourself:
Of course the Index carried into the modern era only incentivized many trangressive-minded believers to try to get their hands on these works. And I suspect that is one reason the Vatican decided to stop publishing it. They did not want inadvertently to encourage the reading of these salacious books. Too bad. Anything that gets people reading Pride and Prejudice is a good thing.
This then left me wondering why the Vatican the other day (see linked New York Times article) published its list of favorite pop record albums. The Holy See's official newspaper, L'Osservatore, came up with its top 10. At the top of their charts is the Beatles' Revolver. Next was David Crosby's If I Could Only Remember My Name. Also touted was Michael Jackson's Thriller, Paul Simon's Graceland, U2's (What's the Story) Morning Glory, and Carlos Sanata's Supernatural. This latter title alone in the past would have led to its being banned.
On the other hand, evoking the good-old-days of the Index, everything by Bob Dylan was excluded because, as L'Osservatore observed, though liking his "great poetic vein," he influenced a generation of other performers, "dilettante singer-songwriters," who have "harshly tested the ears and patience of listeners, thinking that their tortured meanderings might interest somebody." Talk about the sins of the father . . .
So I looked up the tracks on the Supernatural album and saw that one song is called "The Calling." I thought might this have caught the Vatican's eye. Here are lyrics from the chorus. Judge for yourself:
So I'll say why don't you and I get together and take on the world
and be together forever
Heads we will and tails we'll try again
So I say why don't you and I hold each other and fly to the moon
and straight on to heaven
Cause without you they're never going to let me in
posted by Steven Zwerling at
5:27 AM
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