This article states some interesting truths. I think the problem starts in public schools. As as child I attended both Catholic ans Public schools, and preferred the much more lenient and laid back atmosphere of public schools. I have much less discipline, acceptance, tolerance, or concern of the needs of others as someone like my mother has, who is a very traditional Catholic. See innocently gave me the choice of schools. I don’t know how I survived. (Thank you God )
Thanks to public schools, I am generally lazy with details, and the demands of others, unless there is a reward attached, then I can accomplish anything. Except when it comes to my children, I want the best for them. The ridiculously superior academics and atmosphere of Catholic schools is something that I had to have for my children. Since they started in Catholic schools, getting acclamated wasn’t a problem.
My children are much more respectful and disciplined than I ever was. At one point I got annoyed with the frivolities of the strict uniforms, strict policies, overzealous mothers and teachers, an decided to put my oldest daughter in a much larger Christian school. It was Public School with values I thought. My daughter had a blast. After 2 years and a different set of problems, my daughter told me, “I hardly have to study, and this isn’t good. I’m not going to get into a good college like this.” She insisted I transfer her back. She is a junior in high school, and at a recent visit with her counselors they told me she will very likely go to Yale, her school of choice.
Any Catholic parent that doesn’t put their kids in a Catholic school is playing russian roullette with their child’s future. I see parents that sacrifice, cars, clothing, better homes, and anything to ensure their child’s formation, and those are real Catholic values.
If one is out in public with lots of children, Catholic identity is pretty obvious. I also have a Knights of Columbus license plate.
That aside, I think Catholic Faith is the important issue, not “identity.” People can “self-identify” any way they want, but it’s their beliefs and the choices informed by the beliefs that really matter.
Many church-going Catholics no longer go along to get along.We are joing together with other religious believers and we are getting results.We are taught to be disciples.Our discipleship does not end with Church on Sunday.