What is "Catholic culture"?

[hedgehog]

[demosincebirth]

1. Go to any Latin American country...their culture is Catholic. Also try the Philippines.

[hedgehog]

4. Ummmm......you mean the public celebrations of the start of Lent?...(NSW)..

You know, I had an image here, but on second thought, lest I offend anyone, if you're really interested google Rio carnival and click image search.

[demosincebirth]

5. What I'm talking about is in many latin countries, especially Mexico, in the country side,

Catholicism is in their blood, their life, the daily things that they do, all revolve around their Faith. I lived there for three years and thats how I renewed my faith..watching and living with these, simple, humble, marvelous people. Secularized religious festivals have no spiritual meaning for me, but they are a place to go and have a festive time.

[hedgehog]

6. I think Catholicism is in my blood, and that's why I remain

despite all the problems in the institutional Church. It's just about impossible to explain that to some people here who constantly accuse all Catholics of supporting homophobia and child abuse because we haven't left. What bothers me is to see the phrase "Catholic culture" being used as code for a call to wipe out Vatican II. Also, all too often, we here in the North are chided for being too secular. I wanted to point out that even a Catholic country such as Brazil people don't spend 100% of their time attending novenas!

[Matilda]

2. I found a number of websites that talk fondly of "Catholic culture".

Here's one of them:

http://www.catholic-pages.com/life/family.asp

Funny - nowhere does the author mention love and kindness to others; nor acceptance of differences.

[hedgehog]

3. For me, Catholic culture represents a certain outlook, an appreciation

of God's presence and the sacredness of the everyday things surrounding us. However, I've a sneaking suspicion that when writers call for a return to Catholic culture, they want a return to a certain attitude (Catholics are closer to God than anyone else) and a return to the Council of Trent.

[Joe Chi Minh]

7. Yes the 'traditions of men' in terms of Catholic culture seem to form a continuum

stretching from very good to very bad. I suppose since we're part of mankind.

[hedgehog]

8. I think true Catholic culture runs deeper than the traditions of men,

although we can confuse tradition for culture. When tradition inteferes or distorts with culture, it's time for tradition to go. For example, I love and honor Mary, have made pilgrimages to her shrines, placed flowers in front of her image in a place of honor in my home. But, I refuse a tradition that turns this vibrant strong woman into a reason to fear both women and sexuality.

[Joe Chi Minh]

9. Of course. But are you impugning belief in the Virgin Birth? Would that have made

her less strong and vibrant?

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. Or perhaps, rather, the Immaculate Conception?

[hedgehog]

11. Oh, absolutely not to either question! I don't think there is

a more offensive statement on DU than the one that pops up from time to time suggesting Mary was raped by God.

The Virgin Birth is clearly specified in Matthew 1:25. A lot of people try to dance around insisting that the previous verse refers to a young woman, not a virgin, but

"25
He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus."

is rather blunt.


IMO, the notion that Mary and Joseph never had relations was tacked on later by people afraid of human sexuality. I think the Virgin Birth is a very powerful event and that the meaning of that event has been distorted to suppress women when in fact it empowers women.