Am I catholic?

 Am I Catholic

By Bruno Betancourt

My name is Bruno Betancourt, I´m a Mexican student 17 years old, and I work hard to understand the society and the whole world. For years I´ve been asking myself this question; Am I catholic? Do I really believe?

The Catholicism as we know it is the church that was made by Jesus with the purpose of helping everyone travel and surpass the pathway to God and glory throughout love and sacraments. For centuries, this religion has basically controlled almost all of the spiritual beliefs of every “European” based society, this means that all the countries and nations that had or have been under European control are almost completely ruled by this religion. Now, why are we affiliated with this religion? Why do we HAVE to be catholic? Are our thoughts really our own?

I think that religion is also a tradition. It´s obvious that if our parents believe in God and in the Catholic Church, they´ll do whatever they can to make us think what they think is right, and they´ll make us believe from our childhood that what they believe in is correct and true, is actually correct and true. I have lived a truly catholic life since I was a baby, I´ve went to church a lot of Sundays, and I´ve been educated to respect Jesus and God. I know how the Church works, and I´ve even read the Bible. But even though I have always been educated to follow the Catholic rules and never question the Church, I do question a lot of things.

For example, I´ve always been confused when they tell us that we are all the same, and that we have been created the same way by God, but I can´t understand why the Church has clerical levels. I can understand that every institution has to have a boss that puts things together, but inside the Church, there´s no democracy. We, as Catholics, don’t get the opportunity to choose the representor of God, the Pope, and he has incredible power over a lot of people, and money. Which brings me to another question. Why does the Church has to spend millions and millions of dollars in cathedrals and golden thrones, when all that money is supposed to be donated or spent in social acts. If you are Catholic, you are taught from very little that you have to be caring and open minded, and principled. Then, why are there no black people inside the church, or Asian, or even women. Why can´t women be priests? Did Jesus said they couldn´t? Did God?

To conclude, I think that God exists. I really believe that there´s something above us that created things to be as they are, but I cannot stand with the incoherence of the Catholic Church, or with the sacraments. I really don´t find a reason to them, to achieve love and glory as we are taught. So, no. I´m not catholic at all.