Warning: Contents may offend some, so if you don’t believe I have a right to speak my mind on any subject, especially about religion, STOP reading now.

I called my sister this morning to talk about Lord of the Rings winning all eleven of the Oscars for which it was nominated. The conversation turned to Catholicism because she asked if I had seen The Passion of the Christ. Somehow the conversation touched upon how I read a section of a book, Catholicism for Dummies, and how I was trying to find out the differences between Vatican Council I and Vatican Council II. I mentioned how I read that mass was said entirely in Latin only between 1939 and 1958 (and how I may have misunderstood). She then went on to say how Latin is the official language of the Vatican and how she is was skeptical on the point that I read about. I told her that I was only telling her what I read and that the book was written by priests. Her answer to me was, “So? That doesn’t mean anything!”

That reminded me of the time I took my mother to church for a Spanish mass and the priest told the congregation that he expects more people to take communion because they don’t have to go to confession in order to do so. That unless they have committed a mortal sin, they can take communion. Then a friend of mine told me how in her church the priest complained about too many people taking communion without having confessed first. I also know that this isn't particular to the Catholic church.

All of that confuses me. I do not go to mass because I fundamentally do not believe in some of the doctrine or dogma of the church. However, I do not study theology and can’t back up my beliefs enough to defend them and don’t believe I should have to. I believe that is called tolerance... or better yet, respect. But I do think that the church should at least be united in something as simple as communion and confession! I know it is quite naïve for me to expect so since even Mel Gibson doesn’t like the changes in the church made with Vatican II. Should he worry since throughout history the church has accused many of the faithful as heretics for not submitting to their point of view 100%?

What’s the point of this blog today? I don’t exactly know so don’t call me to say that I need to confess or something to that matter. I’ve been told that I am a “lost sheep” that needs to start going to church. The problem is that I do send a check to Planned Parenthood every year. I believe in what they do. I also believe pro-choice is a right. I believe that God created everyone, including homosexuals, and I believe they should have the right to marry. Those three points in themselves, I believe, can have me excommunicated from the church. That’s ok with me. I also believe that my faith is between God and me alone.

For someone whom the church may have issues with, I have been blessed in many ways. I am not in the best of health but I did survive a bout with cancer. I have a wonderful husband who is my best friend, my supporter, my buddy. I have been blessed with an intelligent, beautiful daughter even after doctors had told me I could never have any children. Someone once told me that I was punished by God and only had one child because of my belief in pro-choice. I disagree whole-heartily. I say.. I was blessed with one child because God chose me to take care of one of his angels. So the church may have issues with me but I believe God doesn’t.

Since this blog was a bit on the serious side, I will end with this quote....

“When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”
~Emo Philips.

PS. WOO HOO!! Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson rock!