Once a Catholic, always a Catholic – that’s me, alright. Despite the fact I have long since left the Church, God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost (changed to “Spirit” in my youth; so much for the immutability of the divine), organized religion, and the idea of the supernatural altogether, I am still a Catholic.
I think like a Catholic. My worldview has been shaped – though not dominated – by Catholicism. In this, the nuns, the priests, the brothers, and probably a monk or two have left their mark on my intellectual, social, and spiritual development. And I will thank them for it till my dying breath. There is great beauty to be found in the strands of logic and insightful, penetrating analysis of humanity by Catholic thinkers like Augustine, Aquinas, Newman, and other Catholic theologians and philosophers.
Conversely, this makes me a lousy atheist. I don’t hate people of faith although making fun of them is sometimes too much of a temptation to resist. Nor do I see religion as “an opiate of the masses” as Marx and Barack Obama (“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed…”) view this all too human phenomena. Belief in a supreme being does not disqualify someone from engaging in rational thought otherwise, although the contradictions can get hairy at times. To this day, Catholic thinkers have, for the most part enriched our inner dialogue as we struggle with the most basic questions of right and wrong.
After 12 years of Catholic education, it is hard to slough off habits of thought that force me to see the world through a prism shaped by my Catholic upbringing. My parents were what used to be called “good Catholics.” They went to church every Sunday with their 10 children in tow (drawing little amazement from the other boomer families made up of 5,6,8, or more kids). They gave us a Catholic education through high school and college if desired. We followed Catholic rituals and practices. (To this day I will not eat a fish stick thanks to meatless Fridays during Lent.)
They say you can always tell what a man believes and how he thinks by going through his library. I challenge anyone to make that adage good in my father’s case. It would be hard to glean anything specific of my father’s politics or religious beliefs from the astonishing breadth of philosophical tracts that lined the shelves of his 3,000 book library. In this, he did the 10 of us a favor by not foisting any particular political or moral view of the world on us. Free to explore ideas from Marx to Martin Neimoller, the Moran children grew up free thinkers – just as my parents intended.
That said, as I grew to adulthood and rejected organized religion, I nevertheless still thought like a Catholic even though I didn’t live like one. In fact, I trace my conversion to conservatism based largely on the fact that in many respects, Catholic teachings line up very nicely with conservative principles although the Jeffersonian ideal of liberty doesn’t translate very well. But in the establishment of a moral and just society – one being just as important as the other – conservatism and Catholicism seemed to me a match made in, well, heaven.
That is why I feel it necessary to defend the Pope and to some extent the Catholic faith from this kind of attack:
“Whenever a cult leader sets himself up as God’s infallible wing man here on Earth, lock away the kids,” said Maher, comparing the Catholic Church to the polygamist cult authorities raided in Texas last week.“I’d like to tip off law enforcement to an even larger child-abusing religious cult,” Maher said. “Its leader also has a compound, and this guy not only operates outside the bounds of the law, but he used to be a Nazi and he wears funny hats.”
That was Bill Maher speaking shortly before the Pope came to the United States in case you missed it. Maher continued to put his foot in it:
Now I know what you’re thinking: “Bill, you shouldn’t be saying that the Catholic Church is no better than this creepy Texas cult.” For one thing, altar boys can’t even get pregnant. But really, what tripped up the little cult on the prairie was that they only abused hundreds of kids, not thousands, all over the world. Cults get raided, religions get parades. How does the Catholic Church get away with all of their buggery? Volume, volume, volume!If you have a few hundred followers, and you let some of them molest children, they call you a cult leader. If have a billion, they call you ‘Pope.’ It’s like, if you can’t pay your mortgage, you’re a deadbeat. But if you can’t pay a million mortgages, you’re BearStearns and we bail you out. And that is who the Catholic Church is: the BearStearns of organized pedophilia—too big, too fat. When the current pope was in his previous Vatican job as John Paul’s Dick Cheney, he wrote a letter instructing every Catholic bishop to keep the sex abuse of minors secret until the Statute of Limitations ran out. And that’s the Church’s attitude: ‘We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it,’ which is fine, far be it from me to criticize religion. But just remember one thing: if the Pope was—instead of a religious figure—merely the CEO of a nationwide chain of day care centers, where thousands of employees had been caught molesting kids and then covering it up, he’d be arrested faster than you can say ‘who wants to touch Mr. Wiggle?’
Now Maher is paid to be a clown so perhaps we should ascribe his outburst more to the fact that he was just doing his job shocking the sensibilities of his bourgeoisie audience who are titillated when an anti-establishmentarian like Maher sticks it to an icon like the Catholic Church.
Maher was forced to apologize about the Nazi crack – a patently untrue charge that anyone with a passing familiarity with the battle in Nazi Germany between the Church and Hitler would never have made. The Pope, as a young Joseph Ratzinger, was forced by law to join the Hitler youth despite Hitler’s signed assurances (the Concordant of 1933) that the Catholic Youth Organization would remain an option for families who did not wish their children to join a secular group.
Predictably, Maher was unapologetic about his other “charges” including his weird interpretation of the letter sent by Ratzinger to all the Bishops of the Church when he was Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
Maher grossly misrepresented the contents of the 2001 letter then-Cardinal Ratzinger wrote to the bishops. He did not tell them to “keep the sex abuse of minors of State of Limitations ran out.” The letter clarified that the Catholic Church’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had jurisdiction according to the Church’s law (canon law) to try clerics concerning abuses of the sacraments, and also, as the letter put it, a “delict against morals, namely: the delict committed by a cleric against the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue [thou shall not commit adultery] with a minor below the age of 18 years.”
What Maher’s criticism fails to take into account is that not everywhere in the world where the comedian’s attitude toward Catholics dominates is the Church protected by a document like the US Constitution. In fact, Ratzinger’s concerns that the Church be allowed to deal with pedophile priests only in extremely narrow circumstances was protection for the Church in those places where authorities share Mr. Maher’s less than expansive view of religious freedom. There are dozens of countries in the world that would take Mr. Maher’s supercilious suggestion that the Catholic hierarchy should be locked up to heart and use either real or trumped up charges of abuse by priests as an excuse to destroy the independence of the Church from government.
The Catholic Church operates in a world that is by and large not very friendly to it. But clearly the abuse scandals here and abroad as well as the actions of individual bishops to cover it up, pay off the victims, stonewall secular authorities, allow pedophiles to continue their abuse from posting to posting knowing their propensity to “sin,” – all of this dark chapter in the Church’s history must be aired out and exposed (with due diligence made to respect the privacy of victims) before the breach that has opened up between the hierarchy and the congregation is closed.
Does this validate Maher’s over the top, exaggerated, hateful rant? As any good satirist, Maher has taken the germ of truth and blown it up into impossibly overstated and wildly embroidered bombast – all for a few laughs and the notoriety that comes to those who deliberately offend people in order to get attention; much like a 5 year old who tells his parents he hates them.
Perhaps Mr. Maher believes religion should be regulated by government. He doesn’t say so outright but the threat inherent in his diatribe is clear. Is that simply part of his shtick? Or does this angry atheist actually believe that government should find a way to “regulate” against these sorts of outrages?
To place those institutional sins in the context of the modern Church is difficult. The Pope, in his visit to the US has tried to reconcile the Church’s interests with those of the victims – pleasing some and not others:
It is in the context of this hope, born of God’s love and fidelity, that I acknowledge the pain which the church in America has experienced as the result of sexual abuse of minors,” Benedict said.“No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention.”
During the Mass, the pope said the church has worked “to deal honestly and fairly with this tragic situation” and to ensure that children are safe.
That last has come to pass only recently and ignores the years of neglect prior to the last few years of the John Paul II pontificate and Benedict’s ascension. This doesn’t erase the problem and much more needs to be done. But it does make a start that any fair minded person would have to admit that while long overdue is a necessary and vital step on the road to reconciliation.
I have expressed my admiration in the past for this Pope and his remarkably supple intellect with its subtlety and depth. But this is a case where the Pope needs to show leadership and compassion – a test he has passed to this point. What he does when he returns to Rome will determine whether his American flock continues to distrust their bishops. They certainly have reason to – a fact not lost on this Pope who will seek to heal the breach caused by the abuse scandals and make the Church whole again.
10:48 am
Rick,
I thoroughly enjoyed this post. You are slightly older than myself, but I grew up similarly in Catholicism (probably more indoctrinated and without the parents having any intellectual bent) as yourself. Yup, once a Catholic always a Catholic. I also spent time with a religious order from 14-21 (not an experience I would choose to do over) and that probably fermented me further with Catholic sensibilities. I consider myself something of a borderline Catholic as far as practice goes. About 12 years ago I hung around the Eastern Orthodox for a few years(yup, I guess I have a weakness for smells and bells) but even though I met a lot of nice people there, the sensibilities were different. Catholicism is kind of like that old ratty bathroom you want to throw into the trash heap but just can’t get yourself to do it.
Now as far as the Church’s position on moral questions, my answer to those who disagree or even rage against them is try to intellectual understand the rationale of where they’re coming from. All of these encyclicals have their theological and philosophical bases. They’re just not coming out of the Vatican toaster like pop tarts. Now, one is free to hold whatever position one wants to at the end of the day, but please don’t call the Church dumb, stupid or assinine because it isn’t. I disagree with the RC’s on a lot of issues (plus I threw my halo away about 30 years ago) but I do respect the intellectual depth that goes into the formation of these opinions.
Dave
10:50 am
I meant a ratty old bathrobe not bathroom
1:22 pm
Then too, “I survived Catholic school” from those of us who actually did so, and in some ways that may be the case. However, my non-Catholic father was the one who insisted that I be educated in Catholic schools, not because he had agreed to do so when he married my mother but because he felt that it was the most effective mode of education – particularly for rebellious little old me. As in so many other areas, my father was absolutely correct. I was educated by the nuns of the Holy Humility of Mary in high school and with only 2 exceptions, was taught entirely by nuns who possessed PhDs in their specific disciplines. And speaking of discipline, mental discipline was instilled in us on an hourly basis, and that has served me well all my (long) life. At age 65, I still benefit from the education I received in Cleveland, Ohio at Lourdes Academy all those many years ago.
As I have stated quite clearly on my own site, I have little patience with non-Catholics who feel compelled to tell us how to run our church and how to change our doctrines. My response is “stick it in your ear” and that response is pretty much always going to be the same.
Dennis Miller said it best last week (and I’m paraphrasing) when he said that it was okay to attack Catholics precisely because Catholics wouldn’t take to the streets in riot mode or kill those who had “insulted” them. When someone like Bill Maher runs his ignorant mouth, I just “offer it up” as I was taught to do by the good nuns!
3:05 pm
Gayle,
Good post. My 77 year old mother gets furious at the sight of Bill Maher and wants to throw her shoe at the TV. I just recognize Maher for what he is—-a jackass.
10:05 pm
It has always seemed to me that a significant morality was instilled into human beings from the start. A morality, and an awareness of the idea of God was there. It can be rejected and covered over, but it is still a potent, transcendental force for most of us. This morality burgeons forth when needed to solve the problems of life, even when unbidden, and even when unwanted and ridiculed.
Similarly, a good education from the early years on most often predisposes one to seek one’s own way, and to live by a code that is agreeable to the self. If that education is slanted by religion, informed by religion, and instilled by religion, it too will burgeon forth with or without conscious assent in future years.
Thus there are these two factors—inherent morality and education—that are not really capable of being totally suppressed by the minds of most people. They can be an embarrassment to conscious thought as well, particularly if one has decided to run counter to their moral instincts and teachings. It is a massive internal struggle, I believe, that each of us has to go through (or to avoid, by accepting the morality, accepting the religion, and accepting the teachings without challenge.).
Rejecting God, Jesus and The Holy Ghost, and all of the rituals, ceremonies, dogmas, miracles and trappings of formal religion is indeed a massive mental and psychological undertaking. I suspect, however, that the truth is as I have said—it is all still there, that religion, just lightly covered over with evasions, counter arguments, misbelieving, and misunderstandings.
One question I posed to myself is: why does the universe, life and man exist at all? Is there a purpose, or not? I find it exceedingly difficult to ascribe it all to pure mechanism.
4:49 am
Dear Rick:
I left the Church at 10 and returned at 33. Since then it has been Mass every Sunday and Confession every Saturday. I do not eat meat on Fridays, but like you detest fish sticks.
It was never a question of which faith to return to once I realized that Christianity was true. There was only one option, and that was Catholicism. A well-known intellectual type whose name has escaped me left the Catholic Church some decades ago. A well-meaning Protestant lady approached him and said, “Well, now you can consider joining our church!” He replied, “Madam, I have lost my faith, not my reason.”
Just so.
Maher will be able to do his comedy shtick for the Carpenter a moment after his own death. I imagine that his performance will be a brief one.
The gates of Hell shall not prevail against Catholicism. How much less a trivial creature like Maher.
9:51 am
To Mike Austin,
I have to say, that is a brilliant quip—-”Madame, I lost my faith not my reason.” I have had dealings with evangelical groups and although I felt they were sincere in their faith, their method always rubbed me the wrong way. In Catholicism, we don’t preach on street corners or hand out Bible tracts to those who most likely will throw them in the nearest trash can. The Catholicism of my parents was one of steady example, one of perserverence through trials and tribulation, one of extending kindness, compassion and generosity to another. When an evangelical would question me whether I was saved, I would reply that it was up to God’s mercy if I were or were not. They then would want me to recite this prayer and then practically say—-now you’re saved. Now I know this is a bit simplistic of an explanation, but at the time it is how it appeared to me. Salvation is a process of a lifetime and hopefully by the end of your life you’re in a state where you’re open to grace and mercy. The instantaneousness of it all left me scratching my head. Hopefully I haven’t given up on the process, and Benedict’s visit was a nice boost.
5:22 pm
Dear Dave Carl:
“Salvation is a process of a lifetime and hopefully by the end of your life you’re in a state where you’re open to grace and mercy.”
You are right, Salvation is not done in an instant—-even Paul had to wait some years after the Road to Damascus before he could preach. It is worked out in fear and trembling day to day.
My brother and his wife are Protestants, and very conservative ones. I do not discuss theology with them, not because we will argue but because none of us are theologians. Christ will work out the details after our deaths.
10:22 pm
I also was raised a Catholic; here is my story.
Apparently when a catholic marries a non- the other must relent and let the offspring be brought up in the catholic faith. So there I was, undergoing the sacraments at parochial schools with nuns and non-nun teachers.
I don’t remember communion, and the first penance that perforce was needed. But I do recall later penances, where I had to confess my failings against the ten commandments. Because I was a good kid, I made up some trite to the priest. I did not have the strength to say I had not sinned. So I made something up and prayed a few Our Fathers and Hail Marys…I must have done something wrong, even as a kid. My head spins now about this psychological torture…original sin was supposed to be absolved by baptism!
My first stronger exposure came in the third grade when our secular teacher Mrs. Angster (her real name!) declared that she had a sure place in heaven because she had converted two people to catholicism. Further, I learned from her that if you died with a scapula around your neck you would also go straight to heaven. Choosing the easier route, I wore a scapula for a while…like dog tags I suppose.
Fourth grade the doubt begins…was it Nina Punaro or Elizabeth Schmoller, I’m not sure but there I was/we were seeing a wet pool gather about her desk. All she had to do was to say she had to go to the bathroom, but somehow it was easier for her to face the shame of a puddle of urine at her feet than to raise her hand. At that early age my heart went out to her, and against the institution.
Time for confirmation, robes, the bishop and his pointy hat. Sure, I kissed his ring, but did not stand up when there was a call for those who would abstain from alcohol until I don’t know when…21? There were many of us who did not stand up, and although I had not tasted alcohol, I saw no reason to make a pledge against something I did not know…my parents were not in my early eyes alcoholics…the whole exercise seemed preposterous. I would pass…
Fast forward to senior year at a Christian brothers high school. I am sure I have not gone to penance before the Eucharist for quite a while. There we are discussing divorce, and one of my best friends holds forth. But I beg to differ. I feel that divorce is it’s own punishment, that the Lord God need not weigh in on this matter. Are not choices already served? Need we be punished doubly? I was seventeen. I felt that divorce was its own punishment. I felt somewhat vindicated by our Brother’s knowing nod.
Off to university, not being dragged to Mass by my mother, I never went again. Papal infallability I could never get behind after learning about Galileo, and the pope’s children. It’s OK if you’re a pope, it’s ok if you’re a king, it’s ok if you’re a republican.
Still, I had connections to my past…so I learned about liberation theology! Imagine if the downtrodden of the earth only wanted enough rice and beans. Or corn and beans. And that these meek might inherit enough to not protest so loudly!
who was it who gunned down archbishop romero in El Salvador? It was Reagan supported death squads. rick moran what can you say?
10:36 pm
I remember the stations of the cross, and the rosemary. the rosemary is some long beaded chain. How the hell did we get through that as kids? What were we supposed to do? I did that. Am I now saved? If not, what is the shortest route to salvation? I am your keenest student and sharpest critic. Pascal’s wager.