Anti-Catholic workplace?

[mdleagedguy]

Recently a co-worker in another department was recognized for something with a party. One of the party decorations had a stern sister in a habit with a ruler, and a big ruler on top of another decoration. Pictures were posted on our internal website with a comment that “She’s still afraid of nuns!” A bunch of people, including a couple of executives commented, and no one seemed bothered by the anti-Catholic stereotype presented by that. I sent an email to our human resources department about this, expressing concern that this is mildly offensive, perpetuates negative stereotypes, and creates a false negative perception that Catholics are somehow traumatized by our faith.

Should I have just kept quiet?

 

[Brianmcg321]

You did the right thing. You will probably have a follow up interview with HR.

 

[Dwyer]

Thanks for speaking out.

As the Civil Rights activists used to sing in the 1960s: “Ain’t going to shuffle no more.”

 

[StGerardMajella]

Should I have just kept quiet?

That depends. How badly do you need this job? If you were to get fired, would you lose any sleep, or would it be just another day?

Few workplaces today are pro-Catholic. At my job in a major Fortune 500 company, I regularly see pro-gay marriage literature from senior management, reverse discrimination, bait and switch hiring tactics, questionable sales practices and policies, incompetent and inept management, and much, much more. If I were to voice objections, I would be putting a target on my back and putting my job in jeopardy. If I could afford to resign, I would.

Sometimes, it is better to protest quietly. The rosary does wonders in these cases, oftentimes removing people and obstacles that are creating havoc in your workplace and personal life.

Our culture has become so secularized and commercialized, that it is tremendously difficult for Catholics to feel welcome or even comfortable. The negative side is that exposure to the corporate environment grates at your soul and takes tremendous energy to combat.

 

[pianistclare]

They don’t have to be Pro-anything.
They just can’t make derogatory statements in way against anyone’s religion. It’s not just about being Catholic. It’s about doing things in poor taste.
You did the right thing.

 

[AllieT]

I think you did the right thing, and you are brave for speaking up. It sounds like your communication with HR was respectful and reasonable. Thank you for standing up - most people would have let it go.

 

[Lorelei12]

I’d be offended too, and I think it’s good that you spoke up. If this had been any other religion it would be on the news. I hope you’ll let us know how your conversation with HR goes.

 

[SilverLight]

I was always told to keep religion out of the workplace along with politics.

 

[mdleagedguy]

We will see what happens. Legally they can’t retaliate. I have a history of excellent performance reviews. I just hope that they remind people to be considerate. I am not looking for heads to roll or anything like that.

 

[dixieagle]

They don’t have to be Pro-anything.
They just can’t make derogatory statements in way against anyone’s religion. It’s not just about being Catholic. It’s about doing things in poor taste.
You did the right thing.

Exactly.

 

[CompSciGuy]

That depends. How badly do you need this job? If you were to get fired, would you lose any sleep, or would it be just another day?

The OP can’t legally get fired for making a report to HR, even if HR decides to act on it. Technically HR doesn’t even have to disclose who filed the complaint. It would be especially problematic for management to do something like that since this is over an issue of cultural sensitivity.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

Recently a co-worker in another department was recognized for something with a party. One of the party decorations had a stern sister in a habit with a ruler, and a big ruler on top of another decoration. Pictures were posted on our internal website with a comment that “She’s still afraid of nuns!” A bunch of people, including a couple of executives commented, and no one seemed bothered by the anti-Catholic stereotype presented by that. I sent an email to our human resources department about this, expressing concern that this is mildly offensive, perpetuates negative stereotypes, and creates a false negative perception that Catholics are somehow traumatized by our faith.

Should I have just kept quiet?

As I was terrorised by a number of such nuns with rulers rapping my knuckles in primary school I see no untruth here. I would have found it amusing.

Lets not get hung up on the rich tapestry in which Catholicism has been clothed (for both better and worse) which is not the same as Catholicism or even Christ.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

As I was terrorised by a number of such nuns with rulers rapping my knuckles in primary school I see no untruth here. I would have found it amusing.

Lets not get hung up on the rich tapestry in which Catholicism has been clothed (for both better and worse) which is not the same as Catholicism or even Christ.

All stereotypes have some basis in fact, but truth or untruth is besides the point. Stereotypes in the workplace are offensive and going to HR was the right thing. It has often been noted that anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice, and failure to push back against negative stereotypes just permits that to continue.

 

[schaeffer]

I think you did the right thing. Usually when someone registers a concern a memo goes out reminding people to keep the work place a conflict free zone and to refrain from language etc that is derogatory. We ALL need that reminder from time to time.

Unless the incident included direct sex, violence or insult that’s usually the extent of it. Otherwise people get the heads up about using poor taste/judgment.

Things get out of hand when people never speak up. It’s uncomfortable being the whistle blower or the one who points out the Emperor has no clothes, but often other people are glad SOMEONE said something, because they were too cowardly to have said anything themselves.

 

[mdleagedguy]

As I was terrorised by a number of such nuns with rulers rapping my knuckles in primary school I see no untruth here. I would have found it amusing.

Lets not get hung up on the rich tapestry in which Catholicism has been clothed (for both better and worse) which is not the same as Catholicism or even Christ.

I remember this happening in public school. I asked a co-worker next to me if she remembered this in public school, and she did. Her teacher hit them with rulers for using their left hand rather than her right, and she noted they would use their left hand until they saw the teacher might notice, then switch to their right. It’s like the whole sex abuse thing gets pinned on priests when in fact a child is more likely to be abused by a public school employee. I’m tired of seeing it.

 

[mdleagedguy]

Unless the incident included direct sex, violence or insult that’s usually the extent of it. Otherwise people get the heads up about using poor taste/judgment.

That’s all I’m hoping for.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

All stereotypes have some basis in fact, but truth or untruth is besides the point. Stereotypes in the workplace are offensive and going to HR was the right thing. It has often been noted that anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice, and failure to push back against negative stereotypes just permits that to continue.

This is not anti-Catholicism, it is just life.
Secure Catholics don’t need to be thin-skinned about these things.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

I remember this happening in public school. I asked a co-worker next to me if she remembered this in public school, and she did. Her teacher hit them with rulers for using their left hand rather than her right, and she noted they would use their left hand until they saw the teacher might notice, then switch to their right. It’s like the whole sex abuse thing gets pinned on priests when in fact a child is more likely to be abused by a public school employee. I’m tired of seeing it.

Correct! My sister was left-handed (“sinister”) and was duly stigmatised by the nuns just like her public counterparts seem to have done.

 

[mdleagedguy]

This is not anti-Catholicism, it is just life.
Secure Catholics don’t need to be thin-skinned about these things.

I’m a secure Catholic, and I’m not thin-skinned. However, there have been many incidents. My employer has a policy that REQUIRES us to report these things, so I did. Suppose they had a figure of a man in Arabic dress wearing a suicide vest? Or a white person in black-face holding a slice of watermelon? The outcry would be quite loud and the person would absolutely be terminated from their employment there. In fact, we terminated our contract with a vendor because they made a negative comment involving stereotypes of an ethnic group.

Personally, I think we’ve seen this sort of thing so much that we’ve come to accept it as normal. But it’s not normal, and if you apply similar circumstances to other stereotypes it becomes quite apparent. Underlying these negative stereotypes that we tend to laugh at and brush off are very hostile beliefs. Is a decoration at a party the same as reading the made-up memoirs of Maria Monk? Obviously not. It does come from the same set of cultural beliefs, though, and has a similar effect on how we are viewed, even if it is of a lesser degree.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

I’m a secure Catholic, and I’m not thin-skinned. However, there have been many incidents. My employer has a policy that REQUIRES us to report these things, so I did. Suppose they had a figure of a man in Arabic dress wearing a suicide vest? Or a white person in black-face holding a slice of watermelon? The outcry would be quite loud and the person would absolutely be terminated from their employment there. In fact, we terminated our contract with a vendor because they made a negative comment involving stereotypes of an ethnic group.

Personally, I think we’ve seen this sort of thing so much that we’ve come to accept it as normal. But it’s not normal, and if you apply similar circumstances to other stereotypes it becomes quite apparent. Underlying these negative stereotypes that we tend to laugh at and brush off are very hostile beliefs. Is a decoration at a party the same as reading the made-up memoirs of Maria Monk? Obviously not. It does come from the same set of cultural beliefs, though, and has a similar effect on how we are viewed, even if it is of a lesser degree.

Any update on what your employer did?