T
ToeInTheWater
Guest
This may wind up being a very short topic, but I have noticed that many discussions about feminism, ABC, NFP, etc. involve some posters assuming the average “cafeteria” Catholic is a selfish materialist, who lives, or at least aspires to live, a “luxurious” lifestyle with yearly vacations, a McMansion, a car for everyone over the age of 16, a giant flat screen TV in every room, closets full of clothes and shoes, etc.
And that either this lifestyle itself, or the sins committed to achieve this lifestyle (whether that be ABC, “NFP with a contraceptive mindset”, both parents working, etc.) that is somehow against Catholic teaching. (I also realize there is much debate as to whether these are sins in the first place).
Many on CAF seem to long for the “good ol’ days” where the majority of Catholics had at least 7 children, lived in tiny houses and had all the boys bunk in one room and all the girls bunk in another, or perhaps lived in a one room cabin with no running water or electricity, sent all the kids to Catholic school, and in general were much holier and devout than is the case now.
Well, I am not Catholic, and am a single woman, not using ABC as I have no need to prevent pregnancy as I am not engaging in acts that could cause it. I could afford to buy a house but I am still renting as I am reluctant to commit to buying and therefore commit to living in a certain location for at least 4-5 years to make that investment justifiable. I very rarely eat out. I go on vacation once a year and spend about $1500 on it, if that. I liked Whole Foods when I was younger but decided I’d rather risk a 0.05% increased risk of cancer from conventional groceries than spend so much money there. (Though I do go to farmers markets and some stalls sell organic produce.)
I have a 36 inch flat screen TV, in the living room, I have an all inclusive cable TV/Net/Phone package that costs a little above $100, I also have 2 cell phones, one cost about $100/month, the other is a Tracfone that is my back up phone, I rarely use it, and I “top off” with $50 every 3 months, so $200 a year.
My furniture is very cheap, either IKEA or equivalent, plus some “vintage” goods I sourced from eBay, my own parents, and various garage sales. Oh, and HomeGoods as well.
I have owned the same car for the last 10 years.
I do not think I live in luxury, I have a lot of money saved and I do think that if I ever marry and have children I might cut back my work hours, as I fortunately work in a field where that is quite feasible. Maybe my only luxury is buying cosmetics at Sephora instead of a drugstore, though I also use eBay a lot to buy the same cosmetics at 50% off or more.
But perhaps I am a deluded modernist woman corrupted by feminism, who should just quit her job so a man can take it to support his family, and move back in with my parents until I am married? I do send them money every month and visit them about every other week. I do not think living with them is an option for me as my father used to be very verbally and emotionally abusive, though he has mellowed with the years.
I personally doubt the “Christian patriarchy” model of women being “perpetual minors” who should NEVER be independent of a man, and should go directly from her father’s “mantle of protection” to a husbands, and rely on either an adult son or brother to support her in her old age if she is widowed, to be at all Catholic. But some Traditionalists seem to see such a model as ideal and God-ordained.
And that either this lifestyle itself, or the sins committed to achieve this lifestyle (whether that be ABC, “NFP with a contraceptive mindset”, both parents working, etc.) that is somehow against Catholic teaching. (I also realize there is much debate as to whether these are sins in the first place).
Many on CAF seem to long for the “good ol’ days” where the majority of Catholics had at least 7 children, lived in tiny houses and had all the boys bunk in one room and all the girls bunk in another, or perhaps lived in a one room cabin with no running water or electricity, sent all the kids to Catholic school, and in general were much holier and devout than is the case now.
Well, I am not Catholic, and am a single woman, not using ABC as I have no need to prevent pregnancy as I am not engaging in acts that could cause it. I could afford to buy a house but I am still renting as I am reluctant to commit to buying and therefore commit to living in a certain location for at least 4-5 years to make that investment justifiable. I very rarely eat out. I go on vacation once a year and spend about $1500 on it, if that. I liked Whole Foods when I was younger but decided I’d rather risk a 0.05% increased risk of cancer from conventional groceries than spend so much money there. (Though I do go to farmers markets and some stalls sell organic produce.)
I have a 36 inch flat screen TV, in the living room, I have an all inclusive cable TV/Net/Phone package that costs a little above $100, I also have 2 cell phones, one cost about $100/month, the other is a Tracfone that is my back up phone, I rarely use it, and I “top off” with $50 every 3 months, so $200 a year.
My furniture is very cheap, either IKEA or equivalent, plus some “vintage” goods I sourced from eBay, my own parents, and various garage sales. Oh, and HomeGoods as well.
I have owned the same car for the last 10 years.
I do not think I live in luxury, I have a lot of money saved and I do think that if I ever marry and have children I might cut back my work hours, as I fortunately work in a field where that is quite feasible. Maybe my only luxury is buying cosmetics at Sephora instead of a drugstore, though I also use eBay a lot to buy the same cosmetics at 50% off or more.
But perhaps I am a deluded modernist woman corrupted by feminism, who should just quit her job so a man can take it to support his family, and move back in with my parents until I am married? I do send them money every month and visit them about every other week. I do not think living with them is an option for me as my father used to be very verbally and emotionally abusive, though he has mellowed with the years.
I personally doubt the “Christian patriarchy” model of women being “perpetual minors” who should NEVER be independent of a man, and should go directly from her father’s “mantle of protection” to a husbands, and rely on either an adult son or brother to support her in her old age if she is widowed, to be at all Catholic. But some Traditionalists seem to see such a model as ideal and God-ordained.
although I do have an annulment – and I work in the public schools 
