Father Art

Picture - St. Malachy School, Creston

Father Art McCann made my week last night at mass. Paul and I are Catholic - something that often pains me, thanks to the history, politics and actions of the church hierarchy. I'm so wishy washy on the faith that it's surprising I still go to church at all. But I do.


I was raised somewhat Catholic by my mom Patricia Morehead Bullock who was also raised that way. We liked to say Dad was Country Clubian - on Sunday mornings he went to the Country Club to play golf (or pitch in the winter). Mom had to sole chore of raising us to be little fish eaters - making sure we got to church (with doilies on our heads pre-vatican 2), Cathechism, and did all the sacraments. Dad went along for midnight mass at Christmas.


Something happened along the way - by the time I got to high school, Mom ran out of steam. I believe she got disillusioned with church stances on birth control, women's rights, and more. She continued to donate to church but didn't attend or make us go. So we didn't! While attending college, I only went to St. Thomas Aquinas once or twice.


Paul Goldsmith was raised in the Catholic stronghold of Earlville. His parents lives and all extended families' lives were based on the church and church activities. It was the center of their world. They did the rosary together and didn't miss church except upon their death bed. Paul attended Catholic school through 12th grade.


When I began dating Paul I realized how important faith was in the Goldsmith family. Every one of his married siblings except 1 had married a Catholic in the church. The one that bucked the system caused a major ruckus! When I moved to Sioux Falls, I even checked out the church in my neighborhood on my own. Paul and I usually attended when he visited. Then we were married in my home church Ss Peter and Paul in Atlantic. When we lived in Osage we didn't attend there too much as we were often traveling. Plus the priest was kind of a jerk. But Amy was baptized there.


Once we got to Creston, we've been very active in the church - Holy Spirit, and mostly the school, St. Malachy - which I'm a huge fan of for various reasons. Jud was baptized here by a wonderful priest and man, Fr. Gerald Stessman. Our baby Patrick, who only lived 6 days, was the reason we became friends with Fr. Howard Fitzgerald (Creston's priest) and Fr. Art McCann (the chaplain at Iowa Methodist Hospital who baptized, confirmed and gave Patrick last rites).


Despite all these things I has serious issues with the church. I know all churches have issues and politics going on. You don't get a large group of people together without that. I'm in line with the church's teachings on capital punishment, though Paul isn't. I understand the reasoning behind their stance on birth control, though I don't believe most of us can make natural family planning work. Sex is a powerful urge, and most of us have to have such control in so many other parts of our lives, that we won't take the time and use the restraint necessary.


But to go to Africa, where AIDS is rampant and preach against the use of condoms is criminal! Those people have NOTHING except their bodies. Women can't refuse their husbands, but they might get them to use condoms if they didn't have the excuse that the church forbids it. It's disgraceful. Just the idea of a bunch of celibate men making these decisions is wacky!


The church's stance on gay marriage is also something I don't understand. How can you base anything in today's world on strict interpretations on bible teachings? It's a book written by men long ago. So to use the bible as the reason two people should not be allowed to be legally wed is stupid. Yet many Iowans are all up in arms about the recent Supreme Court ruling that gays can be legally wed in Iowa. This law does not say that every church must allow this. It's a legal ruling, not one for religions (separate, remember??).

And don't get me started on choice issues - I contend that places like Planned Parenthood make the world better and safer. But they are considered the crux of all evil to the church. And so my best friend Deb, Planned Parenthood manager recently left the church. It makes me very sad, and confused. She and I share many beliefs. She has always seemed much more Catholic to me than I am! Except for her career choice of course. And now she's chosen to go somewhere that is more welcoming to her. If our church isn't for Deb, is it for me?


So of course the Catholic Church came out spewing against the same sex marriage ruling, calling for a state vote. Priests have railed against it from the pulpit. I disagree! Our local newspaper has had a few letters to the editor condemning homosexual love and marriage. I decided to share my views and that letter was in the paper Friday May 1. I told Paul that I'd probably get some dirty looks in church - and our present priest seems pretty conservative.


What I didn't know is that Father Art McCann was visiting priest last night. We shook his hand warmly on the way into church. (One of my earliest blogs shows him with me and Deb when we attended Sing along Sound of Music - we in nun garb, he in penguin suit (he moonlighted as an usher there). He was so sweet and caring when Patrick died, I'll always love him. I've always thought his views were probably too liberal for the Des Moines hierarchy - he's not been a parish priest for many years.


His homily was on a speaker he saw this week who lived through the Holocaust. It was very touching. Then, during the sign of peace he came down the steps and shook the hand of the people in front of us. Next he shook Paul's hand and mine and looked me in the eyes and said "thank you for the letter you wrote to the paper this week". I got tears in my eyes. That's why I stay Catholic. There has to be people like us and priests likes him to fight the good fight for our side and our beliefs! Thanks Fr. Art for re-affirming my faith that there are other Catholics like me.