“Catholics are such hypocrites,” says a friend. “They have all these rules, they break them and then they show up for Church on Sunday.”

I think carefully.

“Do your parents have rules?” I say.

“Yes,” she responds.

“Do you break any of them?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says.

“Do you still show up at the dinner table?” I say.

“Yes,” she answers.

“Well,” I respond. “Our parents set a value system and raise us to abide by it. We go out into the world and we sometimes fall short of that. We keep growing and keep striving to become better people and stay centered around that value system. It really is not so different in the Catholic faith. We are a Catholic family that aspires towards growth, humanity and becoming better individuals.”

“I think I see what you mean,” she says.

3 Misconceptions About Catholics:

1. Catholics are seeking perfection – Catholics are NOT seeking perfection, they are seeking redemption. The Catholic faith is built upon imperfection and forgiveness. Jesus did not seek out whole people, he sought to make people whole.

2. Catholics are hypocrites – Catholics are NOT hypocrites, they are human. Every single person falls short in their lifetime. Every individual stumbles and is humbled. People make mistakes, people will sin. The Catholic faith acknowledges the human condition and forgiveness.

3. Catholics are condemning – Catholics are NOT condemning. The Catholic church has established value-based principles that guide us as Christians. It is a unified belief that binds us and guides us in an attempt to be better individuals and be better to all individuals.

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