Many Australians form their impression of Catholics from movies and the media. They rarely receive a truthful picture.
Sometimes admitting your Catholic at university or in the workplace can feel like stepping into the Roman arena – you are just waiting for the lions to appear.
Movies are hilarious when they bring on Catholic clerical stereotypes. A Catholic means cue the shadows, smoke and evil sounding music. You expect Darth Vader to appear – instead it’s the Pope.
Getting out of Australia can really help Catholics regain their sense of pride. Go to the Philippines and you will see the Churches packed many times a day. Go to Rome and you will see thousands of other Catholics, the beauty of the Churches and the history behind your faith. You suddenly realise that you are part of a religion far larger than any small minded view portrayed on the ABC news or in the Sydney Morning Herald.
What are some things you should be proud if you are Catholic? This list is not definitive but it’s a good start.
J.R.R Tolkein and other good company
So many great writers are Catholic: J.R.R Tolkein, Dorothy L Sayers, Grahame Greene, Evelyn Waugh, G.K Chesterton, to name a few. Even Oscar Wilde became a Catholic on his death bed.
Acts of Kindness
The Catholic Church runs invaluable charities all over the word and has done so for centuries. The Church has founded schools, universities, orphanages, and hospitals. The Catholic Church serves the poor and has been a driving force for eduation that has shaped culture.
Our Priests
So many priests that I have met are like the present Pope. The more I hear about Pope Francis, the more he feels entirely familiar to me. The priests I’ve met are humble, have a good sense of humour, are kind and full of wisdom.
The Big Brains
Catholics have an amazing tradition of intellectuals. Richard Dawkins attempts to debunk a few of them in his little book The God Delusion. When you start reading the Catholic intellectuals you realise how far they tower above him in depth and precision of thought. Their wisdom is astounding. To name a few there is Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Moore, Edith Stein, John Paul II, Teresa of Avila and Catherine of Siena. These are only a few that I’ve dipped into. It would take a life time to discover them all. Personally I find their wisdom comforting, inspiring and an encouragement amidst a world that can be so shallow.
Our inside information
When Pope Francis was elected the speculation began on what sort of agenda he would be running. Most Catholics however knew they had an inside scoop. This Pope was Catholic – he would quite simply teach the Catholic faith.
If any journalist has a question on the Catholic religion can I refer them to the Catechism of the Catholic Church – It’s quite a detailed document. If they are short of time, there is even an abridged version. Basically it answers any questions in beautiful detail. From the ten commandants to every Sacrament, it covers it all.
Universal religion
I was baptised by an Irish priest, married by a Spanish priest and my baby was baptised by a Vietnamese. From Cambodia to Vanuatu, when I’ve gone on holiday, I’ve always found a Catholic Church.
It’s a challenge
Being a Catholic isn’t for the faint hearted. We are called to love everyone just as much as Jesus loved them. And he gave his life for everyone. That means we can’t just love our best friend who buys us coffee and tells us we are looking fantastic. We can’t just love the members of our family who we get along with.
We have to be kind to the person at work with bad breath who talks too much. We have to be welcoming and hospitable to all our relatives, even if they only talk about tennis and its bores us to death. This sort of love is revolutionary!
It’s timeless
A good reason I’m proud to be Catholic, is it just isn’t fashionable at the moment. Being Catholic will rarely win you anyone’s instant admiration. You might find yourself elbowed out of the cool crowd.
In the 16th Century it was fashionable for women to paint their faces white with lead. In the 17th and 18th Century you wouldn’t have been seen dead without a large, lice infested wig. In the 19th century women strapped themselves in corsets so tight they could barely breathe and were still giving their babies away to a wet nurse for the first year of their life.
History tells me, that as a woman it’s not always wise to follow fashion.
So that’s why, looking left and right for lions to pounce, I’m still proud to be a Catholic.
This article was first published on Clare Horsfall’s blog Still Reading Bedtime Stories
Originally posted 2013-11-06 11:01:05.