The Rules of Religion

We live in a world filled with rules. Sometimes you follow the rules, sometimes you brake them, ignore them or just live life without them. But when it comes to religion, I've been brought up to be told that you NEVER question anything when it comes to our religion. It's like asking the forbidden question! But now, people ask questions without any hesitation and I'm one of those people.

Very recently, I found out from a cousin of mine that she was unable to baptize her son in the catholic church because of the fact that she and her husband were married in court. She was very disturbed about this and this also came as a surprise to me. I guess I was surprised because the church was turning down the sacrament of baptism for this child. What was the point of turning him down? Did they not want him to be baptized as a catholic??? I didn't think that was right at all. I was taught that God loves everyone no matter what and he welcomes all into the church. So much for an all-omnipotent love.

It's been a while now that I've had very ill feelings with the way the catholic church handles itself and the process of receiving the sacraments. I just think that they manage the church as if it were a business and when it comes down to the holy stuff, it's never consistent. Here's a perfect example: I've seen an unmarried couple baptize their child in the catholic church, but yet a couple married in court cannot baptize their child in a catholic church? Wait a minute...why is that?

I'm not sure how the formalities are around the world for preparing to receive one of the holy sacraments, but on the island that I come from, everyone must go through "lutrina" as they say in Chamorro (or catechism school) so that the teachings of the Roman Catholic church are taught to the child....at least that's how it was when I was growing up. Believe it or not, I was excited to learn the prayers and actions (such as the sign of the cross and genuflecting). I mean, when I was in mass, I wholeheartedly said the prayers from the heart and I was proud to. But as I grew up I obseved others in church and saw that many things were phasing out. Some didn't kneel, some didn't genuflect, some didn't bow their heads.....why was that? Are they not teaching that like I've been taught? Aren't there rules in church about that? And so I bring you back to my point of inconsistencies.

So my latest issue with the catholic church is that we're REQUIRED to take a 6-month prepatory class in order to receive the sacrament of holy matrimony. WOW! That just blew me out of the water! And honestly, that did turn me off when I found out about that. Did this mean they didn't want me to get married in the catholic church? I would think they would welcome it with open arms, but instead they had rules about this. I mean, I WANT to get married in the catholic church, but now I feel like there's a stop sign in front of my face.

Why do I have to go through something like that?

Were they going to grill me about how my fiancée and I practiced our faith?

Were they going to count how many times I went to church?

So you mean to tell me, if I don't go through this 6-month preparation stuff, I won't be able to get married in the catholic church?

There are too many rules for this religion, sometimes I feel like I'm being pushed away instead of being embraced. I love God, but why is it so hard to abide by the rules? Are these even HIS rules to begin with? Did Joseph and Mary have to go through a 6-month preparation class before THEY got married??? Hmmmm...I don't think so.

So when does the madness all end?!?!???