Over the next year or so, every Catholic in the English-speaking world will be learning a new translation of the Mass. It is the first time that such a thing has happened since the Novus Ordo was first introduced in the 1970s. Some Irish priests have already rebelled against the new text, saying it is "archaic, elitist and obscure, and not in keeping with the natural rhythm, cadence and syntax of the English language". Liturgy officials have been muted in their defence of it. Martin Foster, acting secretary of the bishops' liturgy committee in England and Wales, said: