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Joseph F Hinder's avatar

My experience with religion I’m sure is the same as any who spent twelve years in parochial school. The Baltimore Catechism first thing every morning for eight years. For years I could cite it chapter and verse. Basically anything that was fun was Sinful with a definition. Then in high school they dressed up the same teachings with a bit of philosophy. Apparently I still didn’t get it because I went on to a Catholic University where they basically approached religion as from a philosophical standpoint. All the philosophy to me at least at that time of my life was nonsense and pretty much still is today. But somehow in those first eight years the Nuns taught me that I had FREE WILL, which made me responsible for my actions. That was all I needed . Be responsible for your actions and respect others and their views. Thank you Sister Teresa.

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Chris Hanson's avatar

I am a huge follower of your blogs. And I totally think that you should put them all together into a book at some point. There's a theme to your writing in case you haven't noticed.

I have been wanting to ask you about your stance on religion. I was raised conservative Lutheran, married Catholic and became a Latin Mass goer because I was 'disillusioned' with the Catholic Church that I saw. So, I am a "Traditional Catholic" aka a Trady and we mostly homeschooled because we wanted to be the ones to educate our kids. That was a mixed bag, but I wouldn't change that if I could. They are all well-educated, but the head-butting with my German wife took a toll on everyone that we haven't completely recovered from.

Despite that upbringing, had the same experience with kids that a lot of people have today. Fortunately, they all survived to adulthood. Ironically, I don't say that jokingly as I have one (who is doing great now, is a mom and is in her last year of nursing school) that I wasn't sure was going to see 25.

My three girls are all over the board. The oldest married a former monk (also a former 2nd round pick for the Oakland A's back in the Moneyball days... check out Grant Desme if you want to see an interesting story). That one and my youngest attended Ave Marie over by Naples. My youngest is anti-Trad but is a good churchgoer. The middle one seems to be following the path you laid out. Very conservative, respectful of religion, but not a sit in the pew type.

I have warned her that will bite her in the ass. She said "Well it's easy for you and mom, because you just believe and don't have any doubts"... uhhhhhh... sure. I don't know whether to be proud that she thinks that or embarrassed. But, as I told each of them, you won't think you need Church when you're young. Then, when you get a little older, you aren't going to be in the habit and the kids will give you Hell because they don't want to go because you didn't get them used to it. Then somewhere along the way, something is going to happen in your life... it might be infidelity, or bankruptcy, or illness, or depression... but you will reach a chasm in your life that you can't cross... unless you have faith. Now it's easy to say "Sure, I'll have faith". But that's like say "Sure, I'll be able to lift that" but then not staying in shape for 10 years. As Father said (In a sermon, you should try it) today, the Graces are like a muscle. You need to work for them, so they work for you.

I also told her that despite not attending Church, both she and her fiancé were raised Catholic and thus benefitted from all of the teachings that accompanied that upbringing (which you noted). I said, despite your reservations, you OWE that your children (she has a 2-year-old daughter with her fiancé). Her fiance's father parents should be working on him, but I think they have a similar view you did.

As regards the failings of the Church... you talked about that a bit in the past. Yes, they're horrible. A lot of them have been a result of the communist infiltration that happened in the mid-20th century. Then Vatican II happened, and people thought priests were going to be able to marry and orders such as the Capuchins became hotbeds of active homosexuality. In essence, the Vatican was like what you said about your family, they decided that they didn't need to do things like they always had. They kind of said "Hey kids, how do you want to do religion?". And that went as you would expect.

And as the Catholic Church has gone, so have most of them. And as religion has gone, so has society. As society has gone, so has our government. We literally live in a world where people with semi-pagan beliefs are better than that average Joe. At least they have some sort of moral code. But the vast majority of society has fallen into barbarism.

But as our Priest said today, God never promised us Heaven on earth. He promised Heaven in Heaven as well as the means and circumstances to attain that. And often, the circumstances most conducive to holiness are NOT sports, wealth, ease, etc. Just look at your Old Country of Ireland. When they were poor, they fought with the Protestants, but they held firm to their Catholicism. But 30 years of financial prosperity and they make abortion and homosexual marriage legal and Church attendance has fallen off a cliff.

So when you think of the aphorism, "Hard times make strong men, strong men make good times, good times make weak men and weak men make hard times"... that has a LOT to do with human nature and the Church. We are on the cusp of the last 2 works in that phrase "hard times".

My thoughts aren't so organized as yours. But what I am saying is that you have hit on a HUGE, HUGE lesson. Society needs us to be wise enough to realize that we need to do some things because they deserve doing, even if we don't want to do them at the time. Because society is made up of people and it reflects their values. So you can't have a country full of agnostic, hedonistic, money-oriented people and expect that we'll have any sort of virtuous society. So, if you DO want that society, you have to order your faith, then your immediate families and set an example for your extended family and friends and coworkers and acquaintances...

My best friend was an only child and his parents were divorced when he was 7 or so. He was an only child, was super smart, charismatic and was his own man as a young adult. Early on those graces were wasted. But he met a girl, went to college and ended up moving to where I live and started a family. He also is a Trad like me. As of right now, he has 15 kids and the oldest just got married. He has a beautiful family, fabulous house and a great life... and some great friends if I say so myself. He and his kids will make this a better world.

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