Sum Catholic?

When John F. Kennedy was in West Germany in June of 1963, he included this, now famous, phrase in his speech: "Ich bin ein Berliner!" It was an expression of solidarity with all free peoples. (Later that year we all remember where we were when we heard that President Kennedy had been shot. I was in study hall.)

I recall the rumblings of disapproval in my community when Kennedy was elected to be our first Catholic president. He certainly did not resemble or represent the Pope in his role as leader of the free world, but his tragic death certainly elevated him to an esteemed place in history, and hopefully, to heavenly sainthood, as well. Hmm...POTUS, not PONTUS!

Last week, as soon as I heard the news flash that white smoke was rising from the Vatican, I watched the proceedings in Rome from my living room. Who had been elected to be the new Pope? I wanted to join in and be part of this historic occasion. For just that moment in time I wanted to be Catholic--sum catholic!

But, I am a Protestant, belonging to a denomination with a long history of separation from all things Roman Catholic. There were no Catholic churches in the rural town that I called home. I celebrated my first birthday exactly at the mid-century point and I remember that my church community was not all that Catholic-tolerant. Since then I have developed a more ecumenical spirit. I believe, as my husband recently articulated, that there is more that binds us together than divides. I believe that we should support all Christian efforts--in solidarity against the steamrolling secularism that is increasingly marginalizing people of faith in our society.

But, because of the early warnings I received from my church regarding the false doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, and my denominational teaching that it is through Christ alone we have salvation, I entertained these thoughts of being a capital C Catholic (even in spirit) with a bit of trepidation!

I updated my Facebook status and then quickly removed it, realizing that I might not be understood.

While I have come to respect the Catholic Church for its strong stance on moral issues i.e., abortion, I am not exactly ready to genuflect to the Pope--as wonderful a servant of God he appears to be. I do love his life story and his choice of the name Francis.

But, for one day, and in some way, I wanted to share in the excitement and ceremony!

Since the Reformation, my church has been stripped of this kind of pomp and circumstance, although our churches have been gradually adding things back in--acknowledging the church year calendar, seasonally changing the colors of the wall hangings, pulpit coverings and draping cloths. Masses (of flowers), lilies and poinsettias--help to create a festive atmosphere for our favorite holy celebrations. All sorts of diverse musical expression--and even (very rarely) dance is encouraged in the more progressive city churches.

And yet, my current pastor's only "vestments" are an occasional colorful scarf, artfully wrapped around his neck and paired with designer jeans.

So, the celebrative over-the-top wardrobes of the cardinals & company, the backdrop of the historic Vatican, and even the smoke, all have a kind of exotic allure for me.

In my formative years I was accustomed to the minimalism of one solid and solitary symbol hanging front and center--a wooden and empty cross. The simple furnishings were also symbolic--a pulpit placed centrally to represent the preaching of the Word; the communion table and the baptismal font--for administration of the two remaining sacraments. Catholics have seven.

All things in my small-town church were watched over by a row of male elders sitting in the front benches--all dressed up in dark suits and white shirts. Part of their job description included an oversight function--protecting the purity of the Calvinistic doctrines of the faith and the accurate interpretation of the Scriptures. I guess they had to sit up front to do that job well--they certainly couldn't snooze as easily!

Incidentally, I attended a public high school. One of those austere church elders was assigned the duty of sitting in the balcony for the proms and dances to make sure that students from our church did not actually dance at the dance!

Protestants gave up (or threw out) many things during the Reformation, including many symbols and sacraments. I will not make value judgments or any more commentary on that here.

 I am reminded that John Calvin encouraged only unaccompanied singing in church. It can still sound good when that (occasionally) happens. Now we no longer use the (pipe) organ which Calvin was concerned about--we have keyboards, drums, guitars, strings, brass and handbells!

(I am also reminded that I have a friend who is a very conservative, Reformation scholar. He will likely never see this post, but I shudder just a little, imagining what he would think of me and my thoughts of sum catholic...)

Nonetheless, I share my thoughts here without apology. For one day, I should be allowed to stand in solidarity with all my Catholic friends and relatives and recognize what is good about this historic church with my declaration: Sum Catholic! (Capital "C")

And, *with all due respect, the Pope seems to be a pretty cool dude, under all those fancy vestitures!