When I was very young, every Sunday I would go to church with my family. We were often late, and as the church was a little too small for the local congregation, we would usually have to sit at the back on some makeshift chairs. The hymns were joyous and I remember them as the highlight of the services, though as I grew older I realised that they were only highlights because the rest of the service was so dull. It wasn't the pastor's fault - he was a kind gentleman who spoke the truth as he was taught it. Tradition demanded that he must each week remind his devout followers that rational thought does not lead to salvation.
In 1994 Pope John Paul II reaffirmed that Catholic women are not equal to Catholic men, and will never be ordained to the priesthood.I didn't learn much from the Catholic church. It's a shame considering it was my primary school's church, and those years were of great importance to me. It was where I first learned to speak English, and how English was to be used in good faith.
Earlier this year Pope Benedict XVI demonstrated the Catholic church's ignorance when he claimed that condoms increased the problem of AIDS.
I didn't learn much from the Catholic church. In truth this is a blessing.
One memory of primary school remains with me. I was admiring a construction that I had built out of sticks for a class project. The teacher asked if I was proud of my work. Pride was an unfamiliar concept to me, but yes, it was a deadly sin. So I said "no". I remember my teacher being quite amused at my "modesty". Great education yeah?I didn't learn much from the Catholic church. I'm probably being unfair now as it's not entirely accurate. These days I find myself with a strict moral code. They aren't Catholic morals (luckily), but I do believe that those years of being told that we are all sinners and need to seek salvation somehow taught me to have strength in my faith and hold true to my beliefs.
At the very least, my friends, that is hopefully a plus.
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