Having read, like, nothing related to this whole mess, I'm going to add my two cents as a Lapsed (lapsing?) Catholic.
Pretty much any time anything related to Christianity, particularly about being a "good" Christian/Catholic, comes up, I am bombarded with Catholic Guilt. Why aren't I going to church? If I am going to church, why aren't I going to the right church? Why am I getting pissed every time the priest goes off on a conservative rant during the homily (which happens a lot with our most recent priest) instead of accepting everything this wiser, older man, who has been trained in the Ways Of The Church, says? Why do I disagree with the pope, who is our ultimate authority, since God doesn't usually see fit to talk to us directly any other way? Why do I doubt? Why do I not dedicate all of my talents at least partially to the church (since that is ostensibly why I even have them in the first place)? Why do I insist on living with luxuries like television, the internet, a place to sleep every night, three square meals a day, the ability to go to the doctor when I need to, while there are people out there suffering because I don't give these things up?
And that's not even going into the horrible institutionalized misogyny, homophobia, etc, and how can I even disagree with all of that and still count myself as a good Catholic. *sigh*
I've also heard the flinching whenever Christianity/Christian themes are brought up is pretty common among Lapsed Catholics, so it's not just me; it could well be her, too. Which could contribute to her not wanting to go into a different sect of Christianity.
no subject
Pretty much any time anything related to Christianity, particularly about being a "good" Christian/Catholic, comes up, I am bombarded with Catholic Guilt. Why aren't I going to church? If I am going to church, why aren't I going to the right church? Why am I getting pissed every time the priest goes off on a conservative rant during the homily (which happens a lot with our most recent priest) instead of accepting everything this wiser, older man, who has been trained in the Ways Of The Church, says? Why do I disagree with the pope, who is our ultimate authority, since God doesn't usually see fit to talk to us directly any other way? Why do I doubt? Why do I not dedicate all of my talents at least partially to the church (since that is ostensibly why I even have them in the first place)? Why do I insist on living with luxuries like television, the internet, a place to sleep every night, three square meals a day, the ability to go to the doctor when I need to, while there are people out there suffering because I don't give these things up?
And that's not even going into the horrible institutionalized misogyny, homophobia, etc, and how can I even disagree with all of that and still count myself as a good Catholic. *sigh*
I've also heard the flinching whenever Christianity/Christian themes are brought up is pretty common among Lapsed Catholics, so it's not just me; it could well be her, too. Which could contribute to her not wanting to go into a different sect of Christianity.
Blah blah, I talk too much!