When ‘Catholic’ became a slur

Catholicism

A certain tune of hope played throughout the stream of notifications I received about Pope Francis’s recent commentary on homosexuality and its shaky (at best) relationship with the Catholic Church. Hope, first because the Church shed itself of at least one layer of sheer disapproval, and second because now everyone associated with Catholicism is no longer bound to the presumptions of his or her religion.

Catholicism has been long associated with strict rules, outdated traditions and an artificially cultivated nun-with-a-ruler image.

I’ve been told that I don’t accept people of the LGBT community, that I don’t have any fun and that I believe in a strict list of predetermined ideas and nothing more — all because I’m Catholic. I’ve been told this is wrong or ridiculous, and I’m struggling to understand when exactly “Catholic” became a slur.

I find it hard to believe that the people who have approached me in this way would do the same to a population of more than 1.2 billion people. They might not realize it, but that is precisely what they are doing. Pulling assumptions from this religious label is akin to approaching nearly 25 percent of the U.S. and generalizing what they all must believe, in exactly the same interpretation, down to the letter.

Somehow, society has managed to juxtapose Catholics and the LGBT community in the way one pits the white checkers against the black. People who don’t identify with the denomination have decided what being a Catholic means. I hate to pull the “walk a mile in the other person’s shoes” card, but it seems as though this is the most opportune time to use it.

I don’t have a religion-induced allergy to homosexuality, transgender individuals or anything that challenges the bounds of the average medieval comfort zone simply because of my religion. That’s not what being Catholic means. It does mean acceptance of the people surrounding you and a certain degree of humanity with everything you choose to say or do. Yet those aspects are considered and regarded with the same respect given to the cracks in the sidewalk: overlooked and unappreciated.

A lot has happened in the time that Pope Francis has held his title. We’re moving forward in making known our views on modern-day issues and slipping out of the antagonistic mold that has been so carefully crafted for us. He’s telling the world that we’re not simply mass-produced clones of our religious ancestors.

The world is changing, and we’re taking hold and running with it. For some people, that’s hard to see. They don’t understand that it is difficult for our religious authorities to stray from the letter of the law, but they are, however slowly. Instead, people see it as them simply not wanting to.

So the overwhelming amount of people who pin assumptions on Catholics should brace themselves, because I believe this to be the first in a series of plot twists that will make them forget everything they thought they knew about our religion.

Samantha Reilly is a freshman journalism major. She can be reached at sreillydbk@gmail.com.