Kids, Raised Catholic

[1]

The parents who contributed to Commonweal's "Raising Catholic Kids" [2] symposium offered their accounts of bringing up children in the faith, describing challenges and presenting their hopes for the church their children might inherit. We asked some younger Catholics to compose responses to the stories in our symposium; their reflections are collected here.

'Hiking Down Another Path' [3]

Joanna Gardner [4]

[3]

As a 22-year old with a college degree, I am far more likely to have been a “none” than the invested Catholic that I am, but it’s hard for me to really comprehend the fact that I...

'The Freedom to Love It' [5]

Erin O’Luanaigh [6]

[5]

When I was eight, I imagined that purgatory was something like a large hotel. Some distinguished guests, like my grandfather or my Aunt Annie, would check in only for a night or two. Your average Joe...

'A Faith that Could Be Our Own' [7]

Colleen Gibson [8]

[7]

I must confess: I am a twenty-something practicing Catholic. Yes, I am young. And yes, I have plenty of friends who are Mass-going Catholics, too. And if you must know, I am also twenty-something...

'In Spite of Myself' [9]

Kaitlin Campbell [10]

[9]

When I was in high school, before I made my obedient and insincere confirmation, I fought with my parents every Sunday morning. I didn’t believe what we say in The Creed, I told them. Mass was...

Topics:

U.S. Catholicism [11]

Secularism and Modernity [12]

Spirituality [13]

Web Exclusive [14]