Thursday, July 20, 2006
There are other non-Catholics at the retreat!
A new couple joined us tonight... fun people from the valley. They were a little cagey until I asked if they were meeting with Father Warren or one of the sisters and the guy said, "Well, we're not actually Catholic." I was so excited... it was like running into someone from Venice Beach after wandering around China for a month, wondering what everyone is saying.
The guy in the couple admitted that he felt a little out of place, too, but that "once you get past all the Jesuses, it's a wonderful place." Which makes me think that Catholics might be able to win a few more converts if they got a little marketing help. A little logo change; some new catch phrases; less blood and original sin...
I told the couple that a few of my Jewish friends had expressed interest in the place and the woman laughed. She said, "I'll bet they have a special guest room all ready for that! A life-size, porcelain, full-color crucifixion weeping blood and staring at you from the ceiling." I'm so sad they're leaving tomorrow.
I do have to say, though... most of the people I've met have been great spokespersons for the Catholic religion. With the exception of the peppy Texan whom I successfully dodged again at dinner, everyone else (including a very young priest and a very old Irish nun) talked about moving the church in a more progressive, interactive direction. I doubt they're jumping on the pro-choice/sex is okay! bandwagon just yet, but it was nice to hear opinions like that from the people spreading the gospel.
Okay... time to pass Mel Gibson's house again and then get back to writing.
A new couple joined us tonight... fun people from the valley. They were a little cagey until I asked if they were meeting with Father Warren or one of the sisters and the guy said, "Well, we're not actually Catholic." I was so excited... it was like running into someone from Venice Beach after wandering around China for a month, wondering what everyone is saying.
The guy in the couple admitted that he felt a little out of place, too, but that "once you get past all the Jesuses, it's a wonderful place." Which makes me think that Catholics might be able to win a few more converts if they got a little marketing help. A little logo change; some new catch phrases; less blood and original sin...
I told the couple that a few of my Jewish friends had expressed interest in the place and the woman laughed. She said, "I'll bet they have a special guest room all ready for that! A life-size, porcelain, full-color crucifixion weeping blood and staring at you from the ceiling." I'm so sad they're leaving tomorrow.
I do have to say, though... most of the people I've met have been great spokespersons for the Catholic religion. With the exception of the peppy Texan whom I successfully dodged again at dinner, everyone else (including a very young priest and a very old Irish nun) talked about moving the church in a more progressive, interactive direction. I doubt they're jumping on the pro-choice/sex is okay! bandwagon just yet, but it was nice to hear opinions like that from the people spreading the gospel.
Okay... time to pass Mel Gibson's house again and then get back to writing.
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