America's strength is in its diversity
By GARY J. CARUSO
St. Matthew's Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Washington, is my neighborhood church where I serve as a lector twice a month. Last Sunday, as I sat next to my fellow lector after communion, I could not help but think how we are the epitome of the odd couple. I am what television commentator John McLaughlin chides as a "Cafeteria Catholic," often ignoring Church dogma in favor of selective bits and pieces of my faith. My partner, on the other hand, accepts every Church teaching and is a conservative political activist who has appeared on ABC's nationally broadcasted program "Politically Incorrect."
Our director of lectors scheduled us together this year because we "balance each other out" and "cannot intimidate each other." I often wonder if that assignment was in part political expediency or a comment on our behaviors while in church. I arrive at the cathedral in a jovial mood and crack jokes before Mass with the priests and other servers. In contrast, she isolates herself in a corner of the sacristy reading scripture and meditating.
While both of us are perfectionists who strive to perform flawlessly during Mass, she becomes disturbed over small issues, like a server diverting from the prescribed procession route. At times I leave church upset and frustrated because my partner tries to force me to carry a song booklet during the procession or scolds me for not appreciating the readings as much as she does. I, in turn, frustrate her with my attitude and frequent response citing my "Cafeteria Catholic" leanings.
Our relationship and interaction, strained as it is at times, helps me appreciate diversity in our society. The intense frustration I feel after many Masses tempers my tendency towards intolerance. For a split second last Sunday during Mass, my mind raced in an attempt to logically translate these inconsistencies. Rather than analyze my dilemma, I drifted to Notre Dame.
Thirty years ago when I was a freshman, Richard Nixon was president and only a handful of students were conservative Republicans. Most students were opposed to the Vietnam war. A majority of students were Democrats. While the Notre Dame student body was predominately Catholic, politically it was more diverse than it is today. The Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade would for a time push many Notre Dame Catholics to the conservative side of the political spectrum. That is, until the birth of us "Cafeteria Catholics."
I agree with former New York Governor Mario Cuomo's position on abortion. Elected Catholic officials should decide the abortion issue using their own consciences. If they want to represent their constituencies which may have a majority of citizens who support abortion, they should be free from Church interference to influence their consciences ... unless the Vatican is the political district being represented.
To me, the Church abdicated its ability to lobby within the political system almost two decades ago when the pope decreed that none of the religious in the Church could hold public office. That internal policy decision made the Church dependent upon its lay followers who are elected to public office. That decision also single-handedly decreased the Church's political influence, politically split its members and led to the evolution of the so-called "Cafeteria Catholics."
I oppose school prayer and school vouchers, which absolutely infuriates my lector partner. As a product of the public school system, I attended second grade the year before the Supreme Court banned prayer in school. My Protestant teacher forced the entire class to recite the Lord's Prayer using "debts" and "debtors" instead of my Catholic faith's "trespass" and "trespasses," which for this seven-year-old was almost devastating. I would tightly close my eyes and attempt to tune out the words by repeatedly whispering "trespasses, trespasses."
As a result of experiencing that forced recitation for an entire year, I emphatically support the separation of church and state. In my opinion, as a formerly oppressed youth, I believe in absolute freedom of religion — regardless of the weirdest of beliefs. More importantly, I believe that no public funds should be used to further any religious education.
Granted, diversity within a religion is a bit more complex of an issue than diversity within a society. Permitting a "live and let live" philosophy in society is strictly a tolerance issue. Ignoring certain teachings, such as birth control or the interpretations of a religious hierarchy, becomes an issue of heresy in an atmosphere of right and wrong. Given the Catholic Church's history that includes the crusades and corrupt popes, maybe debate within our faith is better than blind acceptance. I will have to pose that question to my lector partner next Sunday and see which one of us is frustrated after Mass.
Gary J. Caruso, Notre Dame '73, is currently serving in President Clinton's administration as a congressional and public affairs director and worked at the U.S. House of Representatives for 17 years. His column appears every other Friday, and his Internet address is Hottline@aol.com.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Friday, September 24, 1999
