I think that one can leave Catholicism, but Catholicism never leaves you. The things you write about, how the ritual, song and beautiful buildings are partly what made it wonderful. I can't imagine being (heh, rather than participating) in any other religion than Catholic. My Catholicism was really beautiful. I took to heart the good stuff. I can't abide what they've done to that.
This is what my mother conveyed to me last night. My brother and I were never truly Catholic...he's agnostic and doesn't go to any Church, and I'm Unitarian Universalist (which appears to get a lot of former dissatisfied Catholics - our Life-Span Minister was raised Catholic.)
But for my mother...whose parents never attended church and desperately wanted to find one to belong to. Who adores the ritual and song. And loved the Church during Vatican II...
She and my father...have been taking the same attitude that your mother is. Or have become as my mother calls it cafeteria Catholics. They ignore the priests and Popes. They love their small ministery group that meets twice a month. And my mother loves being in the choir. And my father is on the Church Council. But I'm not sure how much longer they'll be able to compartmentalize. My father didn't hear most of the sermon - he sits at the back of the church and can't hear that well. So was able to ignore it.
It's hard for them...there's things they love about their religion, the things they hate have nothing to do with it and everything to do with those old men who have come to power. The ultra-conservative right-wing Christians make my heart hurt. I just want to shake them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2012-02-20 02:42 pm (UTC)This is what my mother conveyed to me last night. My brother and I were never truly Catholic...he's agnostic and doesn't go to any Church, and I'm Unitarian Universalist (which appears to get a lot of former dissatisfied Catholics - our Life-Span Minister was raised Catholic.)
But for my mother...whose parents never attended church and desperately wanted to find one to belong to. Who adores the ritual and song. And loved the Church during Vatican II...
She and my father...have been taking the same attitude that your mother is. Or have become as my mother calls it cafeteria Catholics.
They ignore the priests and Popes. They love their small ministery group that meets twice a month. And my mother loves being in the choir.
And my father is on the Church Council. But I'm not sure how much longer they'll be able to compartmentalize. My father didn't hear most of the sermon - he sits at the back of the church and can't hear that well. So was able to ignore it.
It's hard for them...there's things they love about their religion, the things they hate have nothing to do with it and everything to do with those old men who have come to power. The ultra-conservative right-wing Christians make my heart hurt. I just want to shake them.