This Helps

So I am a fallen away Catholic.  I was raised Catholic, and even got my social work degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, in Chicopee, Mass. a Catholic College. It was also called Elms College back then, and markets itself as Elms College http://www.elms.edu/ now.  I like College of Our Lady of the Elms better, but what do I know.  It was a women's college when I obtained my degree.  It is a co-educational college now, and has a lot of extra-curricula activities that were not on campus during my matriculation. It also has graduate programs.  I have to say, it has really kept up with the times, and changed its image and mission to remain current and relevant in the modern world. 

So, after graduation, I volunteered as a social worker in the Laymen in the Amarillo Mission Program (LAMP), and was assigned to the Lubbock office. I worked for Catholic Family Service, Inc. for ten years.

During that time, I married a man who was not Catholic.  He was willing to go through whatever classes and conversions needed so I could continue to be Catholic.  But his involvement would have been a lie. I could not suborn that.  I continued to attend Mass for a while but did not receive the sacraments, and finally, despaired of participating in the Catholic Church.  One of the Palatine priests told me I should have asked him, and he would have married us in the Catholic Church. After the fact. I wish I had.

I never thought that I should abide by the Roman Catholic doctrine of not using birth control (other than "the rhythm method.") I think Roman Catholic women or families should freely be able to use birth control pills, and tubal ligation if they so choose. I fervently believe the policy of teaching abstinence is an invitation to unwed pregnancy, STDs and HIV.

Years after that, I was married and divorced again. Which further distanced me from the Roman Catholic Church.

I think the Roman Catholic Church should openly welcome gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender individuals. I am sorry that the Roman Catholic Church does not understand about acceptance, and love. I love that Pope Francis said "who am I to judge" about homosexuals. 

I have been asked about my feelings about the ruling of the United States Supreme Court, upholding the right of homosexuals to be legally married, with all of the rights and privileges attached. I know family and friends who are benefited by this ruling, and I have to say I want them to be treated with dignity, respect, and equal protection under the law.

Today on Facebook, I saw this interview about "Hell."http://deadstate.org/retired-priest-hell-was-invented-by-the-church-to-control-people-with-ear/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

This helps me so much. It validates my belief about Heaven, Hell and God. I think that the teachings of God are about love, forgiveness, acceptance,service and kindness to one another.

I do not believe in Hell. I do not believe in being condemned to an eternal life of unforgiveness, pain and suffering.  I believe that God gives us the opportunity to be good people, and if our overwhelming actions show us to be children of God, our mistakes will be forgiven.