I was born and raised in the Catholic Church. Never missing Mass on Sunday or Church Holy Days of Obligation. Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Catechism classes and on and on I did it all.
I attended Catholic School for a few years, followed rules, received punishment for what I felt were ‘nothing events’ and attended Mass before school on First Fridays, fasted for hours before receiving communion and kneeled straight up, in the pew, out of fear of a shot to the back of the head. And oh, never ate meat on Friday.
I respected priests and nuns (or maybe it was fear). Nuns taught us school subjects and the ways of a good catholic and were wicked disciplinarians. Priest were revered for their position in the church. I don’t remember ever looking a priest eye to eye unless on some command to do so. Only in my adult life did I learn these same individuals I feared would remove their collar and sit next to me in a bar and tell jokes over a cocktail.
Abstaining from meat on Friday ended as a part of Vatican II. It left me wondering what happened to all of the sinners who ate meat on Fridays over the years. I think it was about that time that I began to question some of the things I’d been taught to believe about the church. I was becoming what Monsignor Maher referred to as a “Pigeon-Hole Catholic.” A person that picks and chooses which parts of the church’s teachings and beliefs to follow and that fit their lifestyle.
I found myself at odds with the church and more and more of “it’s” teachings (not in the belief in God or that Christ died for my sins) as I grew older. It was the man made rules as interrupted by the church leaders that bothered me most. Friday cheese sandwiches was just the beginning. We went from confessing sins directly to the priest in a dark closet to something called “general absolution” (which I preferred) to my questioning why I couldn’t ask for forgiveness in prayer?
Growing up we always wore our “Sunday Best” to church and church functions and now it’s acceptable to wear shorts and a tavern t shirt to encourage more attendance. No more fasting or public confessing of sins before receiving communion.
Church requirements like being required to have a non-Catholic marriage annulled before getting married in the church (at the cost of about $500). Then being required to wait months will some priest at the Vatican decided if the request met some form or was “out of form?” If the first marriage was annulled what did that make the kids of the annulled marriage? Or for a second marriage requirement of taking a social test and attend counseling sessions to determine if the second couple were well balanced and had a chance of success. I found it interesting that the counseling came before the marriage - doesn’t that usually come later?
So why am I sharing all of this background? I find the church of my youth has become more political at a time we may need more faith, a belief in a greater power. No, the church is worried about a woman’s decision to make a choice on matters of her body. If God gave her a brain shouldn’t she be allowed to use it? Decisions made by men in cold meeting rooms impacting a woman in the 21st century is just not right!
This while the church overlooks the abuse some children have experienced at the will of the person representing Christ on earth. Then quietly moving the offender to another parish with no assurance it won’t happen again.
It’s that judgment that I question. The church’s ability to decide what is right or wrong much less what a woman should do with her body.
Today we have only the second Catholic President of the United States in my life and now the church leaders (The Conference of Catholic Bishops) have decided to hold the Sacrament of Communion hostage. It seems one of the most devote Catholics in public life is being challenged on his beliefs and have not recognized him for the way he’s lived his life. The President believes in the church’s position on abortion and has publicly stated this fact. As President of the United States he must follow the Constitution he swore to uphold which means he must also follow the rules and laws on the country.
The Church Bishops have stated in their policy document “Eucharistic coherence” that unless the President denounces his support for a woman’s choice (abortion) he will be denied the right to receive Communion, one of the holiest sacraments of the church.
Again, I find the timing of the church’s position interesting. Currently there are 140 Catholics in the House of Representatives and 25 Catholic Senators many who were elected prior to 2020. Where was the church’s position on this topic then? No mention of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, and devote Catholic, on her position which aligns with the president’s. How about Chief Justice John Roberts, a Catholic, who has decided cases in favor of abortion. No church position to ban them from communion.
Why is this just now becoming an issue? Has the Catholic Church become a political arm of the Republican Party? Won’t the decision impact membership in the church going forward?
I’m sure Monsignor Maher would never believe how applicable his term would be 60 years later or have imagined that kid sitting in the corner of the cafeteria for all of seventh and eight grade, for talking through lunch, would quote him on anything much less remember the term “Pigeon-Hole Catholic.”
June 22, 2021
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