Jack is in his second year at our local Catholic school, which means that most of his class will be celebrating their First Communion in June. Now as you all know I am a confirmed hypocrite when it comes to religion: respectful of all but my own native creed, married in a church but blasphemous in word and sometimes deed.
Fully in keeping with my morally dubious stance, I let Jack decide for himself if he wanted to do his First Communion or not. He decided he wouldn't, which was just fine with me. When I asked him why he had made that decision, he said "Because I don't believe in God and I don't like going to mass at all." Fair enough reasons, but not of the kind that have ever stopped a Catholic from doing anything before.
Now because he's at a very Catholic school, Jack has been sitting in on all the preparatory classes, along with all his fellow little atheists, Muslims and other assorted infidels. And sure enough, last week he confessed to me that he'd changed his mind. My good little Catholic has, in the true spirit of Catholicism, decided that while he still doesn't quite buy the whole deity business and he still doesn't like mass, he does rather love the pretty songs they will be singing (and the drama of it all, the drama!) and can he please do his Communion anyway? In a similarly Catholic manner I thought "What the hell, that's as good a reason as any," so this morning I went into his school to ask his teacher if he could still join the party.
And then she, again completely in line with Catholic custom, said "I don't think so. It would be very difficult to include him at this stage because we've already planned the readings for the mass and all the slots are taken. I doubt he will be allowed but I'll talk to the principal about it." (Remember we're talking about a June event - more than three months away.)
Jesus would be so proud of all of us.
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As a practising catholic that sounds right on line with the fundamental problem the church has - oh yes turn away perfectly good people who might have been a good addition to the party
ReplyDeleteMeh!
haha! glad you shared! proof in the pudding that if you let the little ones decide, well maybe sometimes they'll make the right decision.
ReplyDeleteha.
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling with the idea of whether or not to baptize our (someday) kids. I'm not baptized but my husband is. It's not a huge deal for them, more like an excuse to get together and party (well, a big deal to my mother in law). But I hate the thought of making the choice for my kid of whether or not they are baptized or not. If they want to be baptized when they are older, sure why not? But I dislike choosing for them. I don't know, perhaps it is no big deal anyway.
BTW--I'm a self proclaimed religious hypocrite too. Just deleted all my church fb friends, cuz i don't want them philandering in my blogging and fb business cause it's not always kosher...just fyi
ReplyDeleteI think you should pull the whole " well I thought religion was mean't to be inclusive" line. He shouldn't be excluded because he doesn't know all the songs yet, there is planty of time to learn and it sounds a little like the teacher is thinking of the hard work she needs to put in and not the bigger picture!
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes.
ReplyDeleteOh Jesus Christ! I hate religion. Bunch of stupid rules and everyone involved wants to get in on making and enforcing them. Crappity, crap, crap.
ReplyDelete@Muddling Along - I know. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDelete@Thug in a Cocktail Dress - It really is up to him completely. But I can see he wants to belong to the group.
@Megan - Yeah, I have the same but now if he does want to do his communion I will organise a mass baptism. I see it like this: either it works and they need it, or it doesn't and then a little water and oil won't kill them. You know? And then we'll be done with that forever. Otherwise we have to do this three times.
@faraway me - Yes! I was thinking of going that way already but I think I'll wait for the answer first. I was thinking also about the story of Jesus and the little children. :-)
@Steph - Ha! Indeed.
@Ms. Moon - It certainly is like that in Catholicism most of the time. I'm hoping they'll see sense and just let him play along.
ahhh Jesus Christ Mary, the buggery Catholic Church are up their arses about doing it their way. I regularly disagree with our Priest over the difference between Jesus/God and the Catholic Church. I think I'm with the tax collectors, I know Jesus will forgive me and hey, I regularly go to 'fess up so it'll be fine!
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, if I were you I'd whip him along to your local Church and get him confirmed ASAP before he changes his mind again. let him live a guilt ridden life knowing that everytime you do something bad like say "fuckety fuck" when you hit your thumb with a hammer, that God is likely to hit you with lightening :0) In the name of the Father, the Son and ...ahhh you know the rest!
Did you tell her that Jesus would be so proud of her actions?
ReplyDeleteAaaargh...
ReplyDeleteAnd this is why I am not, even the tiniest bit, religious......mind you, the Littleboys keep asking me 'who made us?' and I have taken to replying 'well, some people believe that God made us' for want of a better answer. And now they keep asking about God....
ReplyDeletehehehe...she'll totally let him in. she HAS to. right? i mean jeeezzzz.....
ReplyDeleteThis is why giving children a choice in anything is a very bad idea. Please consult me before making any further mistakes.
ReplyDeleteJesus is so lucky that he didn't have to deal with any of this.
All too hard for me, I am too much of a free spirit, as long as I live with integrity, compassion, and a good dose of humour I am happy. No bending down for me, or should that be bowing down!!
ReplyDeletex Sandi
Hahaha. I love his original response - exactly what I would have said too. The only thing I enjoyed about church was singing in Sunday service in the choir - I loved the songs. The religion bit, not so much.
ReplyDeleteJesus would forgive her :)
ReplyDeleteThe more I "grow" up, I am in my mid thirties, the more I have a problem with religion. But I am lucky I dont believe in purigatory or hell, so Jesus will forgive me! but I like the songs in church! and the drama - Catholics are good at drama
Let us know what they say. Bullocks.
ReplyDeleteHere is a little Jesus joke that you are sure to laugh at, and then go to hell, with me. This was an Easter card I found a blasphemos card store: Jesus is up on the cross, dying, and the Easter Bunny standing next to him hands him an egg, saying "have an egg, you'll feel better."
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
She'll let him join. Otherwise she'll never have the answer to "WWJD?" .
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOODNESS...this is why I hate being Catholic sometimes (or more often than that). I am so upset for you. How crazy...God forbid they get another Catholic out of this situation. I didn't know they were turning people away...
ReplyDelete