Teaching the Cat to Sit by Michelle Theall

Author:Michelle Theall
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

FEBRUARY 2010: BOULDER, COLORADO

JILL, C ONNOR, AND I SLIDE into a pew at Sacred Heart and try to keep Connor from chewing the button off his sleeve. He is spiffed up and coiffed and so are we. Father Bill steps to the lectern. I’m still angry with him, which makes it all the more important to me that we be here, as a normal family in his parish. Over a month ago, we took Connor out of Sacred Heart. After interviewing five different preschools, we chose Mapleton Montessori because they encourage diversity and independent learning and curiosity—all things Father Bill seems to be trying to exterminate at his school. He gazes out over the pews and smiles.

“Anything goes in Boulder,” he says. “Live and let live, right?” He shifts his weight forward, leaning out. “Many people believe that the only acceptable path of love means never speaking the truth about anything that would upset another person.

“So I ask you, would it not be far more loving to confront a loved one than to be silent about his or her pursuing, for instance, a destructive addiction or inappropriate sexual behavior? The parties involved could say that they derive some sense of ‘happiness’ from their choices. Nonetheless, the wisdom of the Church tells us that wrong sources of this supposed ‘happiness’ are ultimately harmful.”

I steal a look at Jill, who is grinding her teeth. A muscle pulses along her jawbone. Father Bill steps in front of the podium now with the mic attached to his vestments. He makes eye contact with the front row.

“This also extends to the more recent political and cultural debates on how we define marriage and family. Denver Archbishop Chaput has said that the Church teaches that sexual intimacy by anyone outside marriage is wrong; that marriage is a sacramental covenant; and that marriage can only occur between a man and a woman.”

A man across the aisle from us clears his throat. When I glance toward him, he nods his head and smiles as if to say, “Well, this is awkward.”

“These beliefs are central to a Catholic understanding of human nature, family, happiness, and the organization of society. The Church cannot change these teachings because, in the faith of Catholics, they are the teachings of Jesus Christ.” Father Bill’s voice is loud. It overtakes the hum of a few parishioners who mumble in dissent or agreement with his homily. I stare straight ahead. Connor squirms next to me. “Mama, I’m hungry.”

I whisper, “In a minute, buddy, this will all be over.” This will never be over.

Father Bill wraps up. “In Boulder, I see a lot of love, but a lack of discipleship. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. He does not say it will be easy or that we will be praised for it. But the word of God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow, and it cannot bend to the whims of the times.”

When Mass is done, Jill and I

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