I personally find myself becoming very angry with the Catholic Church since this election. Chicago Cardinal Francis George is leading a group of bishops to pressure Obama on the abortion issue and recently, in Columbia, SC a Roman Catholic priest told parishioners who voted for President-elect Obama to “refrain from taking communion because of his stance in support of abortion rights.” I am not Catholic, though I am married to a Catholic, and I do not concern myself with the theology of a church I do not attend… UNLESS, that church, whether Catholic or Fundamentalist Protestant, imposes itself on my rights and into my government. When churches start telling people which candidate to vote for, they need to lose their tax exempt status immediately.

Very nice interview, Maria Shriver appears to be a very thoughtful person.

I love Maria Shriver and think she has been the best First Lady that California has ever had, bar none. She’s straightforward, honest, very hard working and dedicated….and…what’s the secret with that hair?! Like her I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school and while love visiting many of the beautiful old churches and especially the gorgeous California Missions like the “Queen” of the missions in Santa Barbara and the one in Carmel…I am not a practicing Catholic because of all the sins of the Church in the past and present including the insanity of encouraging large families all over the world when the planet is overpopulated. BTW—Speaking of powerful women. This weekend I went to see the Point Pinos Lighthouse [“Point of the Pines”] on the nothern most tip of the Monterey Peninsula. Fascinating for so many reasons, learned a lot about lighthouse’s from the excellent docent, and expecially loved the story about the lighthouse’s most famous keeper, Emily Maitland Fish. She was married to a prominent Oakland/San Francisco/UC Berkeley doctor who taught and practiced medicine and was a community leader.Three years after he died his wife became the “Socialite Lighthouse Keeper” of Point Pinos….a fascinating story, and a must see if you come to the Monterey Peninsula. It was the first building in Pacific Grove, and is the oldest continuously operated lighthouse on the West Coast. In 2006 the operation was turned over by the Federal Government to the City of Pacfic Grove, except the workings of the actual light and offshore bouys that are maintained by the US Coast Guard. More info: PBS on Emily Fish and lighthouses: http://www.pbs.org/legendarylighthouses/html/calgs.html http://www.ci.pg.ca.us/lighthouse/default.htm These pictures don’t do the location justice….it’s a beautiful setting http://www.pgmuseum.org/Lighthouse.htm In the same area is the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and the Pacific Grove Natural Museum. I never spent time in Pacific Grove when I lived next door in Carmel….and it is a fascinating small town. Most of the homes in Pacfic Grove were built in the late 1800s early 1900s….many of the restaurants are in these old structures. Really an interesting/scenic place.

I love Maria! I think she is such a wonderful and strong woman. She is such a great role model to women and young girls. What I don’t understand is her attraction to AND the fact that she married a man who is so not her equal…. Arnold. She could have done so much better. It can’t be the physical because he isn’t handsome. It can’t be intellectual because he lacks depth. His voice is like nails on a chalkboard. Their political views are like oil and water…..What is it?

Oh that is hilarious…..did Maria really tell him that? I love it! He is just so opposite to what I respect, admire and look for in a man, I just don’t see the attraction.

Maria Shriver does seem like a very thoughtful woman. However, she shouldn’t be receiving communion with her pro-abortion stance or even calling herself a Catholic at that. To be a cafeteria Catholic, and for her even to know that’s where she stands is to be a Catholic in name only. The Church is in the mess it’s in because of luke warm and cafeteria Catholics.

maria should consider leaving the catholic church as should ted kennedy,the kennedy clan who are of the same opinion, arnold as well. think about it. if they disagree with church teaching to the point of supporting homosexual marriage and abortion then then church and the dissidents would be better off without each other.the church’s recent problems caused by allowing homosexuals into seminaries was a direct result of liberal policies of some of it’s leaders.maria and others like her are trying to change the apostolic church. she , i am sure remembers “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”

I don’t how much of a good standing Maria could be in when she maintains beliefs that are so drastically different from what the Catholic Church teaches. “I don’t believe that if someone’s divorced they shouldn’t get Communion; I don’t believe that people who are gay shouldn’t be accepted into the Church… I’m pro-choice, I believe women should have that right.” She also said “women should have a larger role in the Catholic Church.” If she dislikes it so much, maybe she should leave and become Anglican or Episcapailian because she certainly does not represent the Catholic Church.

It’s hard to hear that she has indoctrinated yet another generation of Kennedy kids to be lukewarm in their faith and strong in their dissent of Catholicism. Why doesn’t one of those Kennedy’s just take the bold move and just announce that they have ceased to be Catholic! Make the break finally and leave the rest of us Catholics, who “get” that the “choice” that she is advocating is abortion, alone! BTW, the rosary is not a piece of jewelry. And wearing one doesn’t make Ms. Shriver holier than anyone else.

To all those who diss the Catholic faith: There are many practicing Catholics that are at odds with the catholic church. This does not mean that they should get out of the church, this just means that they are at odds with certain things. I myself am a practicing Catholic, I practice my faith through music and singing, and attending church and listening and reflecting on the Word of God. It does not mean that I am not at odds with many man-written rules of the Catholic Church. When people are at odds with certain things, it is perhaps an opportunity to make some changes happen for the better, not just give up and walk away to something easier. Are all other religious denominations easily accepted by their followers?  Certainly, in ALL denominations and religions there are rules to follow, and one does so to the best of his or her ability, but most importantly is the love of God for all humankind and the messages that Jesus was sent to us to teach us. Being spiritual or a believer does not just mean that you must find the ‘right’ church just because you need to meet all the beliefs that conveniently ‘work for you’  - being spiritual must also allow for challenges in your faith and beliefs in order for you dig deeper and grow stronger with your faith.

One example of disagreeing I have is with excomunication: Some people seem to believe that because someone has sinned in a way or another, whether through divorce, abortion, etc.. they must be excommunicated, refused to be given the Bread of Life. I believe that the sinner is actually the one who REFUSES to give communion (or Jesus) to the one that has sinned. Jesus has never refused someone because he or she had sinned. He challenged sinners to change their way and repent! Not in social limelight but in their HEARTS! One must be in a state of grace (pure of heart, or repentence- in their heart and towards God) when receiving communion, and only in one’s heart God will find whether grace is truely there or not. The relationship is between Man and God. We who refuse someone to become one with Jesus are no better than the  person who has sinned.  As Jesus said: May the person who has never sinned cast the first stone.

Maria was taught as a Catholic. She taught her children the same way, it is their decision whether they want to follow same or not as adults. For having given her children that opportunity says way more than those parents who think that by excluding all religious teachings, their children will eventually be able to choose for themselves. How will that be possible? Do you have a more successful life and career without getting your degree or education? Also, I believe that her way of speaking about her faith indicates there are more things that she may agree with than disagree.   Pro-Choice actually means that you have the ability to make the decision yourself, and are fully aware that you may have to live with the consequences of your decision. It also means that you have the ability to choose to have unprotected sex, or choose to be responsible. Instead of forcing one issue over the other, let’s get kids fully aware of what these choices mean, so that less abortions need to occur.

Perhaps Maria wears her rosary as a symbol or reminder of her belief and faith. At least she is not afraid to demonstrate her faith.  Monks and Nuns wear rosaries around their belts at all times. I also have a rosary ring for the finger. Who are you to judge why she wears one? Isn’t it better to hold the rosary close to your heart rather than simply forgetting about the one you might have left dangling from a rearview mirror, or collecting dust on a bedside table? 

One last thing: stating yourself as a Catholic that does not attend church because of the church’s past sins is a strange thing indeed. Have you come to earth to take on your shoulder the world’s sins? I have breaking news for you: JESUS is the Saviour. He took our sins on His cross. He also asked us live our faith and become re-acquainted with our Father.  Why not just admit you do not attend because you are lazy or do not have the time for God at least once a week - even a month -  to visit him in His house, while he takes the time to be with you at all times, but perhaps you do not know it. It is like saying ‘I do not eat because children in third world countries are starving.’ If we waste opportunity to live our faith because of someone else’s sins,  as we waste our food because of man’s corruption and greed- and do nothing about it, you will end up starving yourself, both physically and spiritually.

 

I can’t write a better response than Marie Nuyen. Jesus was about love, especially loving sinner. Live by His example.

Thank you, Maria for sharing your Catholic faith…I have always appreciated the example of your grandmother, Rose, and your Mother…I am 63, a convert from 15 years ago….and share many of your thoughts, and the individuals whom you read.  I will keep you in my prayers…Laurie (in Ketchum)