Holy See, Not Always Holy Do

"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the unquestioned answers."

This will be my first year not attending mass on Easter Sunday. When asked how I feel about this I will tell you that I feel at peace and feel (not to sound arrogant) ...really enlightened. Things ideologically line up now. My experiences line up with my great epiphany: Universal Restoration. In lieu of Easter mass, I will spend some quiet time meditating and sending out my prayers of gratitude.

I went to an early Easter family get-together yesterday. I come from a family of hard-core churchgoers. I happened to overhear two of my very religious aunts talking. One is Catholic and one is a non-denom Christian. The non-denom was telling my Catholic aunt under hushed tones how the pastor had openly called someone out on their sins in front of the congregation during church. I tried to lean my ear in and listen as closely as possible, but someone else was talking to me. I can't imagine how anyone, sinner or not, deserves public humiliation in a house of worship?

Many churches these day, which IDEALLY should be places of love and peace, are being turned into venues of political soapboxing. Now, as a church drop-out, I can only look at these situations and shrug...and return to my own moments of solace and meditation to find balance. But I can recall being in church many times when the priest would scold the congregation left and right. I would leave feeling down. I feel bad for those are psychologically tethered and obligated to go to church, despite the abuse and guilt that, week after week, gets heaped upon them. I wish I could hug those people whose cheeks are red and hot with the shame of being called out publicly on their private sins...so I can joyfully tell them what they are needing to hear from church: The Good News.