As I rather hoped it would, my last column brought a broad
range of interesting comments from readers. It’s also generated conversation
that has given me much to think about.
My attempt to write a narrative about a little girl and young woman trying to make sense out of what
little religious rituals she had encountered offended some. Others wrote to tell me how they identified
with the confusion and contradictions I had experienced. I regret the use of the word “creepy” to
describe my first encounter with a Catholic mass. If you can imagine a little girl
about 8 or 9, with limited religious experience going into a huge
dark Catholic church where a different language was spoken, and
nothing was familiar or explained to her in advance. People were
crossing themselves, standing, kneeling, sitting, standing,
kneeling.....and genuflecting. I had never seen anything like it,
and didn't know what to do or think.
What didn’t make it into the paper was that despite earlier
prejudices, I have grown into a person who values religious principles and
rituals. I consider myself to be “spiritual,” a term that has become a popular
expression of belief in something greater than ourselves. I’ve attended more
than one church that reflects the deepest part of me.
Turns out that we baby boomers (especially the older set)
are returning to our churches, or
finding new ones in great numbers according to Gallup.
Some thoughts from my Catholic readers:
From Deb:
“This Sunday, I have to say, I was mortified as I read your column. I found your take on the Catholic
Church very upsetting. I was really, really offended when you called the Church, my church, "creepy"
I was born and raised Catholic. I understand there have been many horrible atrocities throughout the
ages perpetrated by the Church, including the current issues with pedophilia. This makes great fodder
for those who have an axe to grind with Catholics, for whatever reason. What you and others who
readily bash the Catholic faith don't seem to know is that the Catholic nuns, charities and congregants
help more people of this world every single day, and do it with anonymity, than any other faith
worldwide. Denouncing a particular religion or faith in today's society is a very slippery slope.
This article tells me you do not know the good and wonderful side of the Catholic faith/Church at all.
I am sorry for you for that. Catholics believe we will rest in eternal peace. As we Catholics bid one
another at the end of our "creepy" Mass, "peace be with you".
From JoAnn:
I was born and raised a Catholic, and I will die a Catholic. Most of my 66 years I went to church and I
still do. I don’t agree with everything the Catholic Church teaches, but then again, I don’t agree with
everything other religions teach.
Some other
reader feedback:
From Phyllis:
“Nowadays, I live by the Golden Rule and say my own prayers
in my own way and I've never been happier.”
From Jerry:
“What effect do you expect if you never find a religious
organization with which you have a real affinity? I have become very
comfortable with my "personal relationship" with God. I feel no
need whatever to join up with a bunch of people who have bought into rules
someone else concocted and are hell bent on forcing others to go along with
those rules, too.”
From Rosemary:
“I went to the United Church just down at the corner for my
formative years, then married a Lutheran minister, and of the Missouri Synod,
the most hard-nosed of the lot, and I thought about it plenty.
During those years and the ones following I've been to college and seen most of
the world, so I have formed my own ideas too. As we say at the end of all our
Unitarian Universalist service.............I will bow to the Mystery. The thing
is – 2 friends of mine of different religions – all of us widows now, when we
get together it always, always comes up how blessed we have been in our
lives. Each of us feels we have lived in the best of times and in the
best of places.”
