Comments on: Hello, Father (I)

By: Cas Kopacki

Cas Kopacki — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 20:03:41 +0000

Thanks for the kind comments. I find that in discussing this with others whether in person or over the internet, I discover other aspects of my own denied religiosity that were not so apparent to me at those certain times. I’d completely abandoned the idea of being religious or spiritual but I’m finding now that the entire time after my personal schism with the Catholic Church has been filled with various methods of acknowledging spirituality. I just took a one dimensional stance on it at the time. Either way, the most impactful insight I’ve had recently is that my father’s subtlety toward Catholicism has made a lasting impression on me. This is something I will be covering in depth very soon.

By the way, Devon, I just recently passed by a beautiful Maronite Catholic church here in an area of Portland called Ladd’s Addition. The area is dotted with traffic circles amidst a very “green” neighborhood. Each traffic circle has a rose and flower garden with benches for relaxation. This in combination with the beauty of the church really made quite an impression on me. Oh, and all the commie and lefty bumperstickers helped, too.

Cheers.

By: Anthony Rochon

Anthony Rochon — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 19:50:12 +0000

Good post, Cas. I’m looking forward to the rest.

Your comment about the Polish pope was funny. Amazingly, prior to J.P. II, the last non-Italian pope was Adrian VI, a Dutchman who became pope almost 500 years ago.

By: Dharma

Dharma — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 18:44:07 +0000

Cas,

I found the story in your post very intriguing. Perhaps it’s because I was raised without formal religion and have, for the most part, considered myself agnostic. However, I have often found myself searching for something that I could have faith in. I have never found it in any sort of formalized church, be it catholic, babtist, lutheran, or buddhist. I get really uncomfortable with any other man or woman telling me that they have the corner on what God wants or what is right and wrong and to me that’s what church has been.

By: Devon Akmon

Devon Akmon — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 18:40:41 +0000

This is a great post, Cas. I completely empathize with your sentiments. I’m of Middle Eastern descent (Lebanese), so I too come from a very strict religious background (we are Maronite Catholics – eastern rites). For me, I think I’m opposed to the church as an organization and its strict hierarchy. I’m also appalled by the church’s recent bout of politicking on issues including gay marriage, abortion, and the war (In fact, I recently got into an argument with a representative from the Detroit Archdiocese regarding these issues). I’ve explored numerous religious studies throughout my life, but I always come back to Catholicism. However, I’m still really confused about religion…

BTW, I should thank you for turning me on to Sojourners. I regularly read their website, and just recently found the January magazine at the A2 District Library’s magazine

By: Randy Bishop

Randy Bishop — Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:19:44 +0000

Now I think I know why I like your writing so much. There’s a great transparency and honesty in it.

This story reminds me of when I decided to become vegetarian. It was August of 1999. Mary and I were camping with her mother Sue, and brother Andy. Sue began cooking bacon on the fire our first morning there and I couldn’t get the image of the pigs flesh being human. It was a very horrible image. I decided that day that I would never eat meat again. So far so good.

I just realized I can’t remember if I ate the bacon or not…