Still no word on the car or the criminal. Dad spent more time on it today. Mom, Ann and I went to church.

I used to go to church all the time with my mom and sister. Every Sunday morning or every Saturday evening. I went to a Catholic grammer school. My mother is fairly religious.

I'm not. Not anymore.

Nothing in particular stopped me from going to church. I'm no more offended by the hypocricy of the Roman Catholic church that I ever was. I just was old enough to tell my mother no. I wouldn't say I'm not a spiritual person. I just choose not to talk to God (or gods) through a Church I can't respect fully. I also don't agree with assigning an 'image' or 'likeness' to God. God is the all-powerful force that drives all life and all matter. How could we see that? I just associate a feeling with God. That warm fuzzy feeling you get when you do something good, or someone does something good for you. I don't believe we need a 'middle man' to talk to God.

For the rest of this entry, please assume I am talking about the Roman Catholic church and/or religion. All of my observations are based solely on my own experiences and information I have read or been told. I don't want to offend anyone. I know very little about other religions and will try to leave them out of this.

Don't get me wrong. The Church is a wonderful place for people to get together and share their beliefs. I have nothing against that. I just don't feel the same way. I respect the Ten Commandments, good words to live by. I don't respect the Church's interpretation of them. How did "Do not commit adultry" turn into "Don't use birth control", "Don't have pre-marital sex" and whatever else they may say regarding sex? As far as I know there still are no female priests, and I remember the fight I put up to be allowed to be an altar server at my Church (who used to be called Altar Boys until they finally left the middle ages three years ago -- well after my chance was gone).

I'm a recovering Catholic. I find myself wondering if I'll go to hell for certain things, then shaking my head at myself in disbelief for even worrying. I'm no murderer, nor am I thief, adultress, or any other such thing. I'm just a young woman who tries very hard to not harm others. And I do a darn fine job most days, if I do say so myself. I could never believe that people who are good at heart go to hell, of there is such a place.

One of my favorite things to do over the summers is volunteer at my Church. I work as the Arts and Crafts instructor at the Bible school. Not much, but it's what I can do. This year will be my tenth year working at the Bible School. I offered my services to help with the Parish Web Site, but found it impossible to contribute from so far away. I used to be active in the Youth Ministry, before I realized how hypocritcal the head honcho of the whole thing was. I dislike him personally, I have nothing against the rest of it.

I feel the Roman Catholic church is forgetting about women's rights in general. I feel that Pope John Paul needs a swift kick in the rear (And I'm sure I won't go to hell for believing it). Get the church out of the Middle Ages. Go ahead, have a problem with abortion. I have some moral complaints about it's misuse as well, but not as a medical procedure with medical purposes for the good of both child and mother. But if you have a problem with abortion, don't have a problem with birth control. It probably isn't stopping many people nowadays with the threat of AIDS and all, but its probably stopping a few. The differences between men and women are purely physical...women and men have the same minds and the same souls. Anyone who says anything otherwise is a fool. Priests should be made of both genders, from people who believe they feel God calling them.

As soon as the Church pulls its head from its ass, I'll be the first to jump back in. But until then, I'll speak to God in my own personal way, and do my volunteer work quietly.

Please don't be offended by me. I'm just trying to be honest.