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<p>I 100% agree with at least this much. Just like the people who believe that women be allowed to work outside the home (and at a career other than teaching or nursing!), have credit, get advanced degrees, own property and vote–but insist that they AREN’T feminists. I can never understand that. </p>
<p>I think it’s true that being reared Catholic is a holistic cultural experience that persists regardless of actual church membership. The Church talks about “cultural Catholics” a lot (though usually in the context of people still in the church, but only for the traditional component not the teaching). Especially if you’re reared in a predominantly Catholic area.</p>
<p>Though it’s not a particularly apt metaphor, in some ways, it’s like city folk and country folk. Sure you can move from one to the other in adulthood, and have a wonderfully fulfilling time and be a terrific asset, but the odds are good that you will never experience it the way someone who grew up there does, even if that person has moved away and is only back for a visit.</p>
<p>This effect may fade in the US as the Church grows more mainstream in general (assuming the new Pope doesn’t make any radical changes) and Catholics as a group have moved away from being an oppressed people on these shores–and also as other government and religious institutions have arisen to take the place of vital community services that were once provided in many areas primarily by the Catholic church (to Catholic and non-Catholic alike.) All of these things contributed a lot to the experience of being reared Catholic in America.</p>