Massachusetts is the most Catholic of states, and the impact of the regional form of Roman Catholicism is unavoidable, even to those of us who are unaffiliated with the Church.
In spite of its uneven history, there is much to admire about the Church’s intellectual legacy, social activism and the artistic expression it has inspired.
On a more personal note, my 3 grandchildren are being raised as members of the Roman Catholic church. The oldest is particularly fond of Sunday school and seems to thrive in that environment.
For these reasons, I’ve tried through the years to be open-minded about the Church’s teachings, even to convince myself that belonging to the Church would be a good thing. But I can’t get there for a number of reasons:
I love God and don’t believe that God would require the brutal murder of a holy man like Jesus to get the rest of us off the hook for our personal sinful behavior. I think we alone are responsible and accountable for our conduct and must bear the consequences ourselves for affronts to our fellow creatures and to God.
I detest Pope John Paul II. More about that below.
I think the Church’s attitude about women’s spirituality and leadership potential has no valid factual, theological or historical basis.
I find the Church’s meddling in secular affairs unseemly and even malevolent.
The Church has lost its moral authority, forever as far as I’m concerned, by continuing to reward those who illegally protected the child abusing criminals under their supervision. I refer, of course, to the recent appointment of the disgraced Bernard Law, former head of the Boston archdiocese, to a high visibility, plush position in Rome.
I don’t like the guilt with which the Church burdens its believers. I think a person’s relationship with God should be one of joy and gratitude.
I think the Church has too much money and thus, cannot be effective as a purveyor of moral values and a focus of spiritual community. As a result of its wealth, it has become corrupt, intolerant and self-serving.
I will admit that most any organized religion is distasteful, and I haven’t found an alternative affiliation. My form of worship is working in the garden and celebrating God’s creation, being a good friend and a good parent and grandparent.
Thus, at this point in life, I am hard pressed to find a reason to join a church community as a necessary element in my relationship to God. In fact, I feel quite the opposite, that a church would be an impediment to any spiritual and moral development to which I might aspire.