Although I was raised in the Catholic faith, I now keep a significant distance.. My journey away from Catholicism began in childhood began as I thought about the non sequitur nature of Catholic dogma. My doubt deepened as I learned more about the darker realities of the Catholic church. The Catholic church plays a gigantic role in covering up systemic sexual abuse. I cannot align my values with the institution because it’s actions challenge the very principles it claims to uphold.
I have not maintained any traditions of being Catholic. I do not attend church. I do not pray before meals. I do not celebrate any Christian holidays. I also lack the tradition of being very spiritual in my daily life. My critical opinion and subsequent rejection of Catholicism damaged my own relationship with my mother. She is a devote Catholic – this troubled me very much for some time. I tried to explain the misdeeds of the Catholic church to her. I wanted to show her why following them was bad. My attempts were in vain.
As a child, before my brain was fully developed, I was quite close to the idea of Catholicism. Then, I critically examined my beliefs when I was about twelve, and I stopped believing in it. I refused to receive the sacrament of confirmation. Then, I was even further swayed to reject and even criticize the church by watching the movie “Spotlight” in college.
In the movie “Spotlight,” journalists from The Boston Globe gather firsthand stories. They speak with adults who had suffered sexual abuse by Catholic priests when they were children. The firsthand accounts of the abuse uncovered by these journalists are sometimes graphic. From the movie, I remember one grown man sobbing as he recalled the aftermath of the abuse. “I threw my bloody underwear over the fence in my backyard.” The findings of The Boston Globe solidified my dissent for the Catholic church.
Many Catholic followers turn a blind eye to these horrific misdeeds perpetuated by the Vatican and the church. To me, holding such a position is equivalent to MAGA combined with global terrorism. I believe that all children deserve safety.
What traditions have you not kept that your parents had? Comment to let me know!
Things We Forget 
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