Being Catholic by Joe McVeigh

Most people in Ireland, were born into the Catholic Church, and were regarded as Catholic whether they practiced or not. Catholic became a handy label of convenience –especially in Norn Ireland. If, on being admitted to hospital, you were asked what religion you were, you would say ‘Catholic’. Of course you did not have to disclose. Likewise when it came to the census people usually put down the church in which they were baptised. In Norn Island you almost had to be either one or the other – Catholic or Protestant. As the joke goes if you were an atheist you were either a Catholic atheist or a Protestant atheist.

However, in recent years, many who were born into Catholic families have turned away from the faith of their fathers and mothers. So it is hard to know what will happen in the future. They may still attend Catholic schools but fewer and fewer practice going to church on Sundays. It is difficult to know nowadays what distinguishes non-practicing Catholics from non-practicing others. Most will probably come to the Catholic Church for weddings and funerals.

Being a Catholic was understood by most people as about showing respect for others and reaching out the hand of friendship. That was what the Christian religion demanded. The official teaching of the Popes and the Councils always promoted this core teaching. That was what was taught in our homes and schools.

Being Catholic made other demands like showing reverence for all of Creation and acting to promote the well-being of creation for the common good.  It could lead to confrontation with the world of big business but it was an issue that united people of all shades of Christian faith. Catholics and Protestants united in Fermanagh to oppose fracking. Others too, of other religions and no religion joined in the campaign.

My Catholic faith encourages me to live joyfully with hope in my heart. It helps me to live in wonder and awe in this unpredictable and ever-changing world. It bids me to reach out to those who are different. It encourages me to celebrate our communion and our identity. Our Catholic faith provides us with an opportunity to explore and learn more about the mysteries of life. It calls us to live together with others who are different and to respect difference. It encourages the building of community, above all a community around the Eucharist.

Our Catholic faith invites us, even demands of us, to be tolerant, to show compassion and to be generous. My Catholic faith is concerned to promote a willingness to live in peace and harmony with all those who are different from me. There must always be mutual respect. My faith also demands that I oppose all forms of injustice, discrimination and inequality. Where there is injustice, I am obliged to protest in the hope of bringing about change. It might be costly but following Christ always has some cost.