Are we ‘Catlics’?

Last week I wrote about my God, my friend. I received an overwhelming response that I want to share with you. I thought of sharing all, but I hit over 1,300 words and I had not typed half of the responses, so I decided to stop and just pick the most colorful. I am typing them just as they were sent to me so the misspellings and grammatical errors are not my fault.

“I am 62 separated n also a non practicing Catlic. (Catlic! Isn’t that cute?) My daily prayer is 2 thank God d Father.  I’m checking in wd d rest of us n I kno u’ll b getting more.  If u b kind enaf 2 txt bak or post on ur colum how many made d effort like me 2 b counted. Tnx u made me realize wat I’m now.” 

I think about 48 people responded, most of them positive, but there was one — only one — who was really irritated:

I pray and hope that you state in your last will:  “I don’t believe and therefore I renounce my Catholic faith, that I don’t need the Sacraments of the Church if I’m dying, that I don’t want to be buried in a Catholic Cemetery.” 

Well, I pray to God that He take me in my sleep, so really, I don’t think I ask for any sacraments, though I never thought about it until you mentioned it. 

My relatives’ cremains are in two niches in a Catholic church. I bought those niches for them because I thought it was pretty to be buried there. My guess is my children will bury me with them and I will be happy. You won’t be. I’d like to apologize but it’s not really your problem, is it? And that is an issue many people have with the Catholic Church, that you want your burial grounds only for practicing Catholics. I’m sure that wasn’t Jesus Christ’s point of view.

“You used the name of GOD IN vane/vein and maybe too many books you read changed you. Have faith and believe. Am sorry but will pray for you.  Bye.”

It’s “used the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”  That’s your accusation.  I know I did not.

Then there are the biblicals.  “Call unto me, I wil show u great things u hv never seen before.  (Jeremiah 33:3)  Jesus is d same, yesterday n 4ever. Jesus is my Lord n D Savior of my soul. And —Joshua 1:8 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Then there was  … “Frankly.  Was shocked by ur anti Church denunciations knowing u way back at d now dfunct M. Chronicle and your blood linkage w d most affluent Gonzalez clan of Pamp.  But ur openness is admirable.” 

That most affluent clan was begun by a Gonzalez lady and the Spanish friar in the Catholic church across the street, who I am sure had taken a vow of celibacy, which resulted in six children.  Initially I thought they had a moment of indiscretion. But six children? That’s a big family! So please don’t be shocked. We aren’t. We are grateful.  If my great-great-grandmother hadn’t met the priest, where would all of us be?

I received three texts recommending that I check out their websites, and one recommending that I attend an ideal pastor’s session.  No, thank you.

Then there were: “I just read ur article, we share the same view on not being a practicing catholic.  Do you think maybe I’m worse since Inever attend mass anymore.  Naku baka marami na naman mag txt uli sa inyo na nagagalit.  Marami kc sa atin hypocrite.  Pls pardon me for sending my text in English n tagalog.” 

“We are the same.  I am a single parent and a teacher.  I have experienced being turned away from jobs in catholic schools because of my situation.  I have been asked to get married, as if it were that easy.  Because of these I have decided to live my faith the way I want to.  I always say that I am a spiritual person, not a religious one.  God has always been with me and He will still be, even if I don’t go to mass every Sunday.  Cheers to you and to us!”

I wish I could have reprinted all the other texts that said essentially what the last two quotes said.  So I want to tell the 62-year-old non-practicing “Catlic” that we should be happy.  We are not alone.  There are so many of us who no longer go to Mass or follow the rituals of the Catholic Church but who remain very spiritual people. I think maybe we should call ourselves Catlics because that word is just very charming to me.  It reminds me of a purr-fect little kitten licking her paws.

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Please text your comments to 0917-815-5570.  Also text your queries about a writing class I intend to start the third week of June.