All too familiar with some of these scenarios, unfortunately.
I experienced a ton of homophobia (a lot of mini-aggressions, close male peer bonds that were monitored with a stern eye from youth leaders, etc.) kept me in the closet much, much longer than I wish I’d been. I had known I was gay since a wee lad when watching scantily clad Magnum P.I. with Dad or Dirty Dancing with Mom. I fed into so much of the goody two shoes Angel boy bullshit that my “godly perfectionism” just wouldn’t allow me to open the door until I was 26 in NYC. I had a soft coming out via parallel of online coming out via blog and a cousin who accidentally spilled the beans by leaving a page open on computer at home where my aunt monitored.
The last time I was in Nashville I got talked into attending a service with a former abuser that I had forgiven and the pastor went on an anti homosexual rant that did not sit well with me. I am extremely picky about churches and temples these days. I won’t go in unless I am absolutely certain.
I was raised Catholic and bought into most of it till my husband and I went back to grad school at Ohio University just as the gay rights and women’s lib movements were emerging. Both really opened my eyes about the toxic patriarchy of the church leadership, the misogyny toward women, the homophobia while many of the priests were gay themselves. I’m much more interested in spirituality than any organized religions which have damaged many of my counseling clients and myself.
OMG, When I saw the movie Spotlight, I was so enraged! The Catholic Church not only knew about the priests molesting the young boys, they just sent them to a different parish when discovered. So many young boys lives, their childhoods, ruined. They lost the basic healthy, safe, loving, and nurturing foundation that is so necessary for a thriving, joyful and magical life. Disgraceful!
I was raised Catholic and bought into most of it till my husband and I went back to grad school at Ohio University just as the gay rights and women’s lib movements were emerging. Both really opened my eyes about the toxic patriarchy of the church leadership, the misogyny toward women, the homophobia while many of the priests were gay themselves. I’m much more interested in spirituality than any organized religions which have damaged many of my counseling clients and myself.
Unbelievable hypocrisy.
✅
OMG, When I saw the movie Spotlight, I was so enraged! The Catholic Church not only knew about the priests molesting the young boys, they just sent them to a different parish when discovered. So many young boys lives, their childhoods, ruined. They lost the basic healthy, safe, loving, and nurturing foundation that is so necessary for a thriving, joyful and magical life. Disgraceful!