Why do we stay Catholic? Here's one response:

[hedgehog]

So can I continue to call myself a Catholic? A friend once framed the dilemma in whimsical language: “I can no more stop being a Catholic than a Navajo could stop being a Navajo.”

http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/2953


I don't agree with everything this woman says, but then, anyone who thinks all Catholics are or should be in lock step misses the meaning of the word "Catholic".

[atreides1]

1. Catholic

One set of definitions:


1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.
2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.
3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.

[TrogL]

6. That's a different "catholic"

pronounced rhyming with "alcoholic".

The other "Catholic" is what Anglicans (and others) call "Romish".

[bunnies]

7. Whos set is that?

The Vatican's?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. just because you say something doesn't make it the truth

i can not help being indian, but i can certainly help being hindu

yes, the hindu culture affords me comfort but only if i ignore vast amounts of history.

i read the article, the writer is comforted by her religion and therefore wants to remain part of it. Thats her prerogative. But to compare it to someone's race is silly.

[hedgehog]

3. I've heard it said that there are three things that don't actually exist:

an ex-Catholic

an ex-Texan

an ex-Marine

[La Lioness Priyanka]

4. again, just because a saying sounds cool or is popular doesnt make it the truth

you can be an ex-anything that is a choice and religion is certainly a choice.

you may still be comforted by the rituals of religion, the grandeur of its buildings, the community that it brings together. But, you can also divorce yourself from it.

i use the word religion and not catholicism since it applies to all religions.

do you not think hindu rituals, temples, community comfort me? ofcourse they do but i know the harm that the religion has perpetrated and continues to perpetrate. The comfort seems a little trivial in that respect.

[KatyMan]

8. I agree with you

But I also think that being Catholic is like being Jewish or Orthodox (or Hindu, i.e., any of the 'older' traditional religions) in that it's more a way of life, a long history of traditions that one is used to. We always saw Protestants as people who could change churches at will, but Catholics can't and don't (usually). Just a point of view, of course, but I think that's a distillation of how Catholics see themselves. Like the old joke about the Protestant that goes to heaven and sees a big wall and asks St Peter what it is, and Peter says 'Oh that's the Catholics, they think they're the only ones here...' :)

[Donnachaidh]

9. bullshit.

Ex-catholics exist. And for the most part, many do very nicely once they get de-programmed.

[Baby Snooks]

10. Some are ex-Texans only if someone finds out...

At this point quite a few ex-Texans swear they're from somewhere else once they move. And some try to deny it when someone finds out.

Quite a few current Texans would love to move and probably would if they could afford to. Of course they have to move first. Who will hire someone from Texas at this point?

Most assume you're either a Republican or slightly deranged for admitting you're still in Texas.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. which is funny, cos there are states much redder than texas

[KatyMan]

15. Here we go again...

Quite a few current Texans would love to move and probably would if they could afford to. Of course they have to move first. Who will hire someone from Texas at this point?

Most assume you're either a Republican or slightly deranged for admitting you're still in Texas.

We're in Texas. We've lived in southeast England the last 3 years, in fact, have spent 5 of the past 9 years in England or in Ireland, but Texas is still home, and we love it here. Lots of great people, good jobs, low housing prices, great food. I doubt there are many ex-Texans living in other states that 'swear they're from somewhere else'.

[Lugnut]

16. I'm an ex-Catholic.

So much for that theory.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Well, I'm not an ex-Texan. But, an ex-Catholic and certainly an EX-Marine.

Becoming an ex-Catholic was easy. Becoming an ex-Marine took four endless years of utterly useless activity.

[Marrah_G]

23. Hey, I do too exist !

[monmouth]

29. And an ex-alcoholic...Had to throw that in there....LOL.

[TEmperorHasNoClothes]

5. she's a dimwit, religion is different than ethnicity

[Raksha]

33. Not if you're Jewish it isn't!!!

Technically, I guess we're a religion AND an ethnicity, or a religion that roughly coicides with the ethnicity. While it's totally possible to be a Jewish atheist or a nonpracticing Jew, I have never in my life heard anyone describe himself/herself as an ex-Jew or former Jew.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. The stance of the Church on birth control and abortion is what drove my wife out of the church.

At age 62.

I left at age 12 after one too many "God works in mysterious ways" from a priest.

[Marr]

13. I get the impression that religion is, for this woman, about being a member of a community.

I can certainly understand that. We're social animals and no one wants to be rejected from their community.

She actually sounds as though she's on a long path to private atheism, in my opinion. She's dismissing a lot of her religion's dogma as unbelievable, and making little logical bargains with herself to remain in the fold. Christ is only a "symbolic son of god", for instance.

[Mugweed]

14. Actually, you could reject religion altogether

since it's not healthy to live a life based on primitive superstitions and myths. Many of us in the reality-based world don't care what religion one calls oneself, it's all a money-laundering scam anyway. The hate/discrimination justifications and the not-so-closeted pedophilia are just icing on the stupid cake. Yet somehow, the "flock" never strays. Baaaaaaa!

[hedgehog]

17. Sorry I mentioned it.

[trotsky]

18. And yet if you, and everyone else who had significant problems with the church leadership

left it - formally - they'd have to change, or collapse.

[hedgehog]

20. A lot of people have walked, a lot are thinking of walking, and a lot of us

are trying to figure out how to keep the baby and get rid of the bathwater. I can understand and sympathize with the good people who decide to leave. A lot of them just can't take it anymore, and they shouldn't have to! One problem is that every time a good person leaves, it raises the proportion of ass holes!

[trotsky]

22. You need to make it formal.

I.e., excommunicate yourself. You can stop going to church, but you'll still be on their official rolls.

[EFerrari]

27. The Church is not a democracy. Our actions are not on the books somewhere.

:)

[Mari333]

21. well lets see

i was raised catholic but then my dna tests say i am mostly ashkenazi. so i am pretty much f*cked because i dont think i fit in anywhere now. which is okay, i prefer it that way.
'all is vanity.'

[Politicalboi]

24. Another Ex-Catholic

Here. Not that I ever wanted to be in the first place. Me and my brothers were dragged every Sunday to church and CCD on Wednesdays. I think exposing children to religion that they do not want to attend is kinda like abuse. None of us go to church anymore. I haven't been in over 30 years and never ever want to or will go again. Anyone can change their religion no one can change their race or orientation. (Micheal Jackson excluded)

[thingy]

25. The anger isn't worth it here.

It just seems to me that when anybody makes any religious statement, too many here react like the Wicked Witch to water. Let's save the skepticism and anger for when it's truly warranted.

And if all else fails, just replace "Catholic" with "Democrat" in that original statement above - you'd likely find no fault in it then and we'd lose fewer posters to apoplexy.

[EFerrari]

26. I left years ago but will never stop being Catholic.

My reactions to some situations come right out of that culture and I suspect they always will.

[donco6]

28. I most definitely stopped being Catholic.

Sorry, but the analogy falls utterly flat.

[Darth_Kitten]

30. Wow, another catholic bashing thread?

Honestly. :eyes:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

32. how is this catholic bashing?

[Naturyl]

31. I'm not religious, but Catholics get some respect in my book.

Of all denominations, I've found Catholics to be the most consistently responsive and understanding regarding poverty issues and needs.

Protestants, unfortunately, have been a consistent disappointment.