FIRST OFF . . .

Catholic churches should no longer be used for concerts of secular music, the Vatican said in new guidelines published in Rome over the weekend. The instructions, drawn up by the Vatican department responsible for religious services, state that only religious music should be played in church and that no entrance fee should be charged. The document says whether the music is classical or contemporary, “it is not legitimate to program in a church the performance of music that is not religiously inspired.” The Vatican’s decision comes in response to the widespread use of churches for non-religious music and other secular activities.