I've never found much any evidence of the church encouraging non-adherants to hold onto anything pre-Christian, McGrath, except in this manner. This is what was inferred by "thin veneer." The song is only nominally a hymn to Mary, Mother of God. In fact, it's just a celebration of the spring. I agree with your sentiment on tolerance ... it would be nice if one belief system didn't require the absolute abandonment of the another.

One of the things I miss most about abandoning Catholicism is the beautiful smell of the church on Easter Sunday.