Been struggling to find the appropriate words... I'm sorry. And also glad. Thank you for being you and sharing yourself with us so openly.
Namasté
-from the kind atheist who was christened Catholic ?
I'm a Christian who hasn't been to church in a long time. The way so many churches embraced T. made me horrified and heartsick.
Moonbeam, I love what you said. Christ preached by streams, on hillsides, in homes. He doesn't support anything bad or hurtful that happens in His name. I honestly believe it makes him angry.
@jeanne-mayell, If you like Joanna Macy, I think you'd like Richard Rohr.
I had a similar experience as your friend with nuns. One in particular. I was 8. I think she picked on me because I was so sensitive. Bat-shit-crazy evil. I created illnesses to avoid going to school that year. Years later and in my early 30's, while traveling in a group I was fortunate to meet a nun who was lovely -- funny, kind, loving spirit. My experience with her didn't completely heal those childhood wounds, but it helped.
I greatly appreciate all of the support. I'm a strong person and have always just kept moving forwards. And way from those situations that tried to cause me harm.
I'm posting a small excerpt from a autobiography I'm writing.
"My life growing up was in a typical Midwestern small town, population approximately ten thousand. I attended the local Catholic grade school, St. Bernard’s, a few blocks from my home. When I began first grade, I remember being afraid of our teaching nuns in their traditional black habits. I also remember being too afraid to ask for permission to go to the bathroom.
My parents were friendly with a young, handsome parish priest, whom we will call Father Bob. Everyone loved him, including my parents who would invite him over for family dinners. I was around six years old. Father Bob would show me an usual amount of attention, which my parents thought was just great. I remember him bringing me gifts too, including a pair of adult cuff links. It was a strange gift for a child. Even my mother thought so. While waiting for dinner to begin, Father Bob would always sit in a corner, quietly by himself. With a huge grin on his face, he'd call me over to sit on his lap. While bouncing me on his lap, I remember feeling uncomfortable. It didn't feel right. Not the way my uncles or grandfather held me. It felt sexual and intimidating. I was so confused as to what was happening. Father Bob was quickly moved to another parish within two years, much to everyone's surprise. Most parish priests stayed for eight or more years.
A few years later, I became an altar boy. We participated in morning mass before school. An altar boy friend told me that a new parish priest would ask him to stay after mass "to play games", while getting him intoxicated on wine. When he didn't come to school until much later, our teaching nun would made excuses that "he was helping father". My friend shared true details with me, which I sadly recognized from my own experience. It made me wonder "Will I be next?".
During seventh grade, I went to mass and confession at another parish. This priest's confessional guidance focused on very explicit sex tips, such as "have you ever tried putting your penis in a friend's mouth?" He further suggested that boys my age should sexually satisfy each other. I didn't even understand what he was talking about. I was so frightened. Priests were supposedly representatives of God and the Catholic Church. Who was I to question it? I was too young to really understand or know how to explain these incidents. No adult would have believed them anyway. A code of silence existed. These 'secret' experiences effected my self-esteem throughout much of my life. A child's innocence treated with total disregarded by these men. I still hold some anger at the Catholic Church, which still clearly shield these pedophiles.
After my early experiences with Father Bob, I developed a speech impediment. Thankfully my mother took me to a speech therapist, which corrected the problem."
Keep an eye on what's happening with Barr and the DOJ and Judge Walton and the redacted portions of Mueller's report. Could get interesting.
In the predictions, it seems to me Mueller isn't mentioned at all for a while, then in September or thereabouts, someone predicted that Mueller's work prevails. I still believe there's indictments under wraps.
@jessi1978 While I have no evidence of it, I've often wondered if his so-called suicide was suicide or the result of someone shutting him up in order to protect Trump. The buzz at the time was that he had tales to tell about Trump, then suddenly he didn't. Wonder where recordings are now.
@polarberry SO DO I. Conscientious prosecutors in the DOJ, FBI, etc. are not the type to NOT preserve evidence, but to protect it. Watergate prosecutors took home copies of all of the evidence ...just in case. It has to be happening here. And, those with pride in their work cannot possibly like Barr.
Oh, Lawrence, that story made me grimace. I also went to Catholic school. Years after I had left, I learned of a priest who had been accused of the same vile acts.
What you went through is so disgusting in so many ways. I’m so sorry.
Anita
@cc21, I'd like to respond more to your post about the church and spirituality etc., but I don't want to hijack this "Great Unraveling ..." thread. I think creating a separate topic is a good idea. What should we call it? Also, feel free to get my email from Jeanne if you'd like to contact me directly.
BTW, have any of you gone back to look at some of our old threads? There's a wealth of incredible insights and knowledge there.