I'm here to speak what's been brewing in my heart.
I'm a Catholic. I'm a lot of other things too. But first and foremost I am a cradle-Catholic. True to Rome, in line with ALL of the teachings of our beloved Church.
I'm also meek. I understand fully that in ANY circumstance I encounter, but for the grace of God go I. There is no guarantee that I will never be homeless, never be raped, never be persecuted, never lose a child, never (insert unimaginable horrors here)..... and the list goes on.
I don't like to make waves. Like most Americans, I want to be left alone to live my life the way I see is right. I choose as my guiding light the Catholic Church. Not everyone does, and that is totally fine with me. I won't try to convince people that my way is the only way. It is pointless and only breeds contempt. I am convinced that this path I have chosen is fruitful on so many levels. Else, why would I have chosen it and continue to choose it?
So, I'd like to be left alone to continue down my path. To do and act in my lawful-abiding way. And I am grateful that we live in a country that guarantees and protects my right to practice my religion and live in the way I see fit.
Unfortunately, the past four years have shown that whatever anyone else in this country may do, Catholics will not be able to simply go about their business, blissful and free. When the President issued the HHS mandate, he awakened a sleeping giant. Most Catholics are like me. They want to be left alone. We're not looking for a fight. (Those who are, will vote third party and strut around saying "I told you so" when all Hell breaks loose. The Apocolypse they've been dreading, yet hoping for, and were instrumental in attaining, knocking at our doors.) But when we were called out. When the Bishops had to respond, the wall was strong, the keep unbreachable. And the strong emerged.
I am not among those strong. I am one of the vulnerable. I feel that so keenly now. I cannot go through my days without worry plainly written on my face. The coming paycheck, the full tank of gas... will that still be a given next month, next week, tomorrow?
Living in the present moment and trusting has never been my forte. It is a mixed blessing that I find myself doing so now. I vote not because I want to return to that blissful, trusting innocence. But because I love my country. I love deeply all that it stands for. LIFE, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
I love that we are all different.
And I love that we have that right to be.
