Catholic

What does it mean to be Catholic?

99% of my extended family is Catholic. By that, I mean that they go to church at least once a week and are very active within the church community. In the minds of some of those people, anyone who is Catholic and goes to church regularly is a good person.

By that definition, I am NOT a good person, because I practically never go to church. As a matter of fact, I don't even know all the parts and responses in a regular mass ceremony.

In the span of five days, my family of 11 people went to about five different churches. Within that, we attended at least 3 masses. Within that, 2 were in French. Within those, I could follow with one prayer, while everybody else did not understand a single word. Yet, some people insist that we go and sit there and pretend to know what's going on.

So tell me...does going to a mass where I do not understand a single thing make me a better person?

99% of my family is very devoted to charity. By that, I mean that they donate money to the Catholic church. But by that, I also mean that they ONLY donate to the Catholic church and have this mentality that all other non-profit organizations are just trying to steal money.

By that definition, I am NOT devoted to charity, because I choose to donate money to organizations like World Vision or Red Cross or whenever/wherever there is a need.

So tell me...does God only help/love those that are devoted to the Church and condemn everyone else?

How can anyone claim to be Catholic or religious or a good person when they are so superficial and so ignorant and so close-minded that they talk behind people's back and cannot even accept people that are just a little different?

By definition, the word "catholic" means inclusive, inviting or all-embracing.

So tell me...are you the real Catholic? Or am I?