Hypocrisy: Part 1
Yeah, weird title, I know, but there’s always something hypocritical to whinge about. Part one of our series on hypocrisy is fundamentalist Christians, and I will use the examples of exclusion and over-ceremony.
It was leaving the Papal Mass on the Sunday of World Youth Day that I experienced my first ultra-conservative Catholic. Yes, I had SEEN them, MET one or two, but not actually had a conversation with one. Didn’t even realise there was one with us until I opened my big mouth about one of the more conservative members of the Mt. Carmel World Youth Day pilgrimage group, and comparing myself (the liberal, new Catholic) with him. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I just mentioned I disagree with some of what the Church says (I disagree with a lot of stuff, this is what the article is about) like contraception and rejection of gays, because some of my friends are gay and lesbian.
Me: “I just think that there’s nothing wrong with them, they can’t choose who they are attracted to, from what my friends tell me.”
Gal: “I see, a case of hate the sin, not the sinner?”
*Slight pause*
Me: “Yeah, totally…” *BA-BOW*
Now, from what I remember, Jesus welcomed the outcasts, from lepers to tax collectors to his friend Peter’s mother-in-law, not said “Hate the sin, not the sinner.” One of his closest friends was Mary Magdalene, a supposed prostitute. Also, the Church (well most of it) acknowledges that non-heterosexuals can’t decide who they like, or want to be. So for a supposed Christian to reject someone for their differences is definitely hypocritical in my books. To be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if one of the apostles was gay or another of Jesus’ good friends. Knowing Jesus, he would have sought him or her out and had dinner with them, talking to them, keeping them company. And if God is a God of love, why is everyone who isn’t fundamentalist damned? Is it only if you are exclusive that you are included? Please show me the logic, anybody.
Now to my other point of over-ceremony. At my church, we have an order of monks, the Carmelites, running the show. They are lovely people, but couldn’t stand up for themselves against a wet newspaper. There is some lovely person on the liturgy committee that thinks because he has a masters degree in some religious hoo-haa, has the authority to be making decisions about how mass is run at church. In one month, I saw at least 5 changes to the way we do things at mass, and really stupid, unnecessary ones too. If you don’t follow them you get humphed at by the resident humphers. Seriously, if God (or anyone sane for that matter) cared how we did mass, then I think it would be part of the Bible.
Well I’ve finished my whinge session, leave a comment.