How could I raise my children if I were not Catholic?
There have been some significant events in my life as well as discussions that have had me reflecting on this question recently. Since we are moving to the country and will obtain a neighbor-free status, one of my brothers hinted at putting the children in school. I thought it over for about a second. I understand why my brother made the suggestion because I have had the same thoughts. The kids need to be occupied. I am hoping living in the country where they can run free and have a list of chores will remedy some of that. They also need some “normal” friends. I kind of agree with that too because the world is not comprised of Catholic homeschoolers, so exposing them to a variety of people makes sense. So there is the conundrum.
Sadly, none of you St.Bloggers with kids live anywhere near me. Oh no! You have to make life difficult by living off in the Washington area and California-except for Alicia the Midwife, but her kids are older. So here we are, public school types or homeschooling types.
In NJ, I was blessed to be surrounded by orthodox Catholics who happen to homeschool. We were blessed though because Fr. John [McCloskey] really set the tone and charism for orthodox Catholics in that area. Without strong leadership like that, things get weird.
So when I was thinking about my normal secular friends, I was thinking about how they reflect American culture. Many have some moral “stops”, for example cheating on a spouse is wrong for the most part-yet I know people who have cheated for simply “falling out of love”, murder is wrong-but abortion is OK in the light of a serious situation, drugs are bad-yet smoking weed for the most part is OK because “everyone does it” and it is “not a serious drug like crack”. The biggest thing many people I know do that upsets me is lying. Please do not think I am being horribly judgmental, I am not. I think many people are not murderers or adulterers, but many will lose their souls and a chance for a more fulfilled life in the little things, and I am trying to protect my children from this school of thought.
Here is an example, I had a conversation yesterday about renting moving trucks:
Me: I am thinking we might rent a smaller truck for local delivery and make a few trips back and forth. That might be cheaper.
Other Person:Oh yeah, until you rack up the miles. Maybe you can take out the fuse [I forgot the exact word he used] to the odometer so they won’t know.
Me: Um, no, that is like illegal and immoral.
Other Person: It is if you get caught.
I have conversations with people like this all the time. “White” lies are OK if they save money, so is “minor” theft. It seems that wrongdoing is not wrong unless you get caught. I am afraid of dropping my children in such a moral environment. Maybe I am being overly judgmental and scrupulous, but I think this type of thinking is more dangerous to our children than letting them read Harry Potter(to be honest, I think when you let the little things slide, that is when stuff like Harry Potter becomes a danger). I do not think I would see the difference were I not Catholic. I wish I did not have to be so extreme to get by in what my conscience tells me is right.