Nuttiest Things Non-Catholics Have Said or Done Around You Because You're Catholic

[maltmom]

It’s a fascinating bit of research.
In the 19th century to be an Irish Catholic was pretty much synonymous with being poor (the lower classes). To be Irish Protestant was synonymous with the upper classes. Whether this stereotype was true was immaterial. It was believed by many Irish immigrants.
My own ancestors settled in the south side of Pittsburgh (called Pittsburg at the time) and lived in boarding houses that are still standing today. Many of the children died before age forty and living conditions were terrible. More than a few died of typhiod. But there was work and it was still better than the workhouses in England at the time.
I found the Naturalization papers of my great-grandfather. My daughter was interested in that it stipulated a renouncement of the Queen of England. If told her for an Irishman, he would have relished that.

I have 2 books on my mother’s side of the family. The research was done in the 70’s. I’m going to dig them out later and see what I can find.

 

[MrsE1022]

Thank you for the Green vs Orange history lesson. I am 1/4 Scot/Irish. When I was 16 I had a teacher who was Irish Protestant. On St Patrick’s Day she wore orange. Someone asked her why she wasn’t wearing green. She explained that only Catholics wear green on St Patrick’s Day. Irish Protestants wear orange. So as a Protestant of Irish decent I’ve worn orange for the past 36 years. Like her, I’ve had to explain it every year. Now that I’m Catholic…next year I get to wear green.

I work at a Catholic Parish and every St. Patrick’s Day I have a Catholic co-worker who wears Orange. She says her mom was “Orange Irish” and became a Catholic after marrying her dad, so she wears orange because she isn’t “green” Irish. Unfortunately she doesn’t really understand what wearing Orange on St. Patrick’s Day means to real Irish people, and she doesn’t understand nor does she care to know the history behind the relations between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland and how the color orange fits into that. I think she just likes to go against the grain to be honest.

 

[TypesAndShadows]

I work at a Catholic Parish and every St. Patrick’s Day I have a Catholic co-worker who wears Orange. She says her mom was “Orange Irish” and became a Catholic after marrying her dad, so she wears orange because she isn’t “green” Irish. Unfortunately she doesn’t really understand what wearing Orange on St. Patrick’s Day means to real Irish people, and she doesn’t understand nor does she care to know the history behind the relations between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland and how the color orange fits into that. I think she just likes to go against the grain to be honest.

Hmm. This appropriating of a conflict in someone else’s country, on the basis of where your ancestors lived, makes me very uncomfortable. Like when certain Americans who call themselves Irish support the IRA: there is a whole messy conflict going on, and they are not helping.

My grandparents eloped to England, because my grandmother’s brothers said they would kill my grandfather if he didn’t stay away from her. And they meant it. Everyone involved was Catholic, living in Eire before it was the Republic. My grandfather had been a member of the Garda (the police), and hence was considered a traitor. Of course, once they were married and had babies, there was a sort of enforced truce (not that they ever moved back, hence me being English). And the Troubles are still going on.

It is a messy situation, about so much more than Catholics and Protestants, and the thought of people “hilariously” wearing orange (like the Orangemen!) on St Patrick’s Day (wrong season!), because they’re “Irish Protestant” makes me feel queasy.

Oh, this is probably off topic. Sorry, how about:
A colleague momentarily forgot I was Catholic, and started telling me about how she had visited the local Catholic school and (imagine tones of “you’ll never believe it”) “there was the cross with Jesus on it and everything, right in front of the children”. Before she had finished recounting this, I saw a sort of ‘light’ come on in her eyes, and she suddenly had to talk about something else to another person. We never did finish that conversation…

 

[MrsE1022]

Hmm. This appropriating of a conflict in someone else’s country, on the basis of where your ancestors lived, makes me very uncomfortable. Like when certain Americans who call themselves Irish support the IRA: there is a whole messy conflict going on, and they are not helping.

My grandparents eloped to England, because my grandmother’s brothers said they would kill my grandfather if he didn’t stay away from her. And they meant it. Everyone involved was Catholic, living in Eire before it was the Republic. My grandfather had been a member of the Garda (the police), and hence was considered a traitor. Of course, once they were married and had babies, there was a sort of enforced truce (not that they ever moved back, hence me being English). And the Troubles are still going on.

It is a messy situation, about so much more than Catholics and Protestants, and the thought of people “hilariously” wearing orange (like the Orangemen!) on St Patrick’s Day (wrong season!), because they’re “Irish Protestant” makes me feel queasy.

Oh, this is probably off topic. Sorry, how about:
A colleague momentarily forgot I was Catholic, and started telling me about how she had visited the local Catholic school and (imagine tones of “you’ll never believe it”) “there was the cross with Jesus on it and everything, right in front of the children”. Before she had finished recounting this, I saw a sort of ‘light’ come on in her eyes, and she suddenly had to talk about something else to another person. We never did finish that conversation…

I agree the whole idea of trying to take sides in an argument that you have nothing to do with is ridiculous really, especially when you know nothing about it, hence the annoyance at the Orange shirt of my co-worker, she was insisting on being confrontational. But here in the US, Irish-Americans very fiercely hold onto what the Grandparents lived, as I’m sure you feel very connected to the sad story of your grandparents having to run away. I think the only way the people in the US will give up the old grudges is when they no longer exist, and I think we all know that unfortunately may never happen.

We should all pray for lasting peace.

 

[Lochias]

A colleague momentarily forgot I was Catholic, and started telling me about how she had visited the local Catholic school and (imagine tones of “you’ll never believe it”) “there was the cross with Jesus on it and everything, right in front of the children”. Before she had finished recounting this, I saw a sort of ‘light’ come on in her eyes, and she suddenly had to talk about something else to another person. We never did finish that conversation…

I find it strange and saddening, how many people are willing to white-wash and play down just what it was that Jesus did for us. An empty cross misses the point, in most cases.

 

[JustaServant]

I work at a Catholic Parish and every St. Patrick’s Day I have a Catholic co-worker who wears Orange. She says her mom was “Orange Irish” and became a Catholic after marrying her dad, so she wears orange because she isn’t “green” Irish. Unfortunately she doesn’t really understand what wearing Orange on St. Patrick’s Day means to real Irish people, and she doesn’t understand nor does she care to know the history behind the relations between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland and how the color orange fits into that. I think she just likes to go against the grain to be honest.

I knew a Reformed preacher who did that, he made sure he explained it to everyone in the church.
Because otherwise they wouldn’t have noticed or even cared.

 

[IanGE]

The late Leon Uris wrote a “novel” (Trinity) which puts the whole history of Protestant v Catholic in very palatable form. I believe his wife wife was Irish. A “can’t put it down” book I recommend.
I am an Anglo-Indian, born in British India; when I emigrated to the UK I was ignorant of the Catholic - Protestant thing in Northern Ireland. Until I was posted there in the RAF. I bought myself an Irish Tweed (thornproof) suit and an orange tie which went nicely with the suit. Once I took my little family, wife and two girls, on our usual sunday drive; we made a pit stop in Dungiven, which I discovered later to be a Catholic hot-spot. My wife took the girls to the Ladies while I visited the Gents. As I walked in, two young Irishmen said to one another: “well, looky here, then, someone wearing an orange tie on St. Pat’s day!”. The other said, “shall we kneecap the bxxxxxx?” I nearly screamed, “I’M A CATHOLIC!!” but The other said, “nah, he’s a wog - they don’t know nothing!” I’m glad I said nothing: by admission might have revealed I was a British Serviceman. Then I might have got it in the HEAD!

 

[ChrissyB364]

The whole situation in Northern Ireland is very sad. Years ago my parents were part of a “Irish Childrens Program for Peace”. Every summer for six weeks we hosted children from Northern Ireland. Our family being Catholic we would get a Protestant child, and Protestant families got Catholic kids. We even got one of each once. There were all kind of activities for the kids and they learned to get along and it got them away for the summer when tensions were higher.

 

[IanGE]

The Belfast woman opened her door. The man asked, “Mrs. Murphy?”; “yes?” “I understand you have 17 children?”; “yes?” “The Pope has sent me to present you with this Vatican medal to honour your achievements as a good Catholic.”
“But I’m a Protestant!”
“YEW DORTY SEX-MAD BEAST!”

 

[Darran]

Thank you for the Green vs Orange history lesson. I am 1/4 Scot/Irish. When I was 16 I had a teacher who was Irish Protestant. On St Patrick’s Day she wore orange. Someone asked her why she wasn’t wearing green. She explained that only Catholics wear green on St Patrick’s Day. Irish Protestants wear orange. So as a Protestant of Irish decent I’ve worn orange for the past 36 years. Like her, I’ve had to explain it every year. Now that I’m Catholic…next year I get to wear green.

Next year you stop dressing like a bigot. I’m assuming you might not have known, though.

 

[FRANK1046]

When i moved to Boiling Springs SC back in 09 ,My neighbor came over to me and asked what church to i go to.I said ST. Paul ,located in Spartanburg And she said ,oh your one of them.One of them i replayed.Yes Catholic she said.and we have another one in the house in back of you.Of cause she was Southern Baptist .Only 1 % of the population is Catholic in SC.

 

[maltmom]

Next year you stop dressing like a bigot. I’m assuming you might not have known, though.

I am not a bigot. Never have been, never will be. I was raised to love all people regardless of race, religion or national origin. I wore Orange all of those years b/c I was simply told Protestants wore orange. It has never been a political statement for me. As I said, I thanked her for the history lesson. It’s something I’d never heard before. I’ll be sure to ask all of my non-Catholic, non-Irish friends if they are making a political statement by wearing green on St Patrick’s Day. I doubt they will say yes.

 

[Darran]

I am not a bigot. Never have been, never will be. I was raised to love all people regardless of race, religion or national origin. I wore Orange all of those years b/c I was simply told Protestants wore orange. It has never been a political statement for me. As I said, I thanked her for the history lesson. It’s something I’d never heard before. I’ll be sure to ask all of my non-Catholic, non-Irish friends if they are making a political statement by wearing green on St Patrick’s Day. I doubt they will say yes.

Oh I know you’re not a bigot, I didn’t get that impression from what you said, I had thought that you didn’t know the origins of it.

Wearing green on St Patrick’s day isn’t a political statement as it’s simply honoring the patron saint of Ireland. Wearing orange on the other hand is, as it is flaunting English rule. It’s usually the heavily hardcore bigots that do that move though.

EDIT: I stand corrected! It seems orange IS alright to wear depending on where you live as it really isn’t seen in the same context. Here on the otherhand you would have to be VERY careful where you find yourself wearing bright orange on St Patricks day. You learn something new every day I suppose.

 

[maltmom]

Oh I know you’re not a bigot, I didn’t get that impression from what you said, I had thought that you didn’t know the origins of it.

Wearing green on St Patrick’s day isn’t a political statement as it’s simply honoring the patron saint of Ireland. Wearing orange on the other hand is, as it is flaunting English rule. It’s usually the heavily hardcore bigots that do that move though.

EDIT: I stand corrected! It seems orange IS alright to wear depending on where you live as it really isn’t seen in the same context. Here on the otherhand you would have to be VERY careful where you find yourself wearing bright orange on St Patricks day. You learn something new every day I suppose.

Thank you for that. I had to have one of my dogs put to sleep last night and I didn’t sleep well. When I saw your post it did upset me. I’m sorry I took your post so personally.

One day I’d love to visit your beautiful country. We may even be distantly related.

I love to learn something new every day. The wonderful thing about a forum like this is that one can meet and become friends with people all over the world. The bad thing is that sometimes due to cultural differences things can be lost in translation. Even then it can be a learning experience. :hug1:

 

[Boulder257]

When i moved to Boiling Springs SC back in 09 ,My neighbor came over to me and asked what church to i go to.I said ST. Paul ,located in Spartanburg And she said ,oh your one of them.One of them i replayed.Yes Catholic she said.and we have another one in the house in back of you.Of cause she was Southern Baptist .Only 1 % of the population is Catholic in SC.

I moved to Greenville, SC in 2004 and have had the same experience. It’s a little difficult being in the backyard of Bob Jones University, LOL!

 

[Darran]

Thank you for that. I had to have one of my dogs put to sleep last night and I didn’t sleep well. When I saw your post it did upset me. I’m sorry I took your post so personally.

One day I’d love to visit your beautiful country. We may even be distantly related.

I love to learn something new every day. The wonderful thing about a forum like this is that one can meet and become friends with people all over the world. The bad thing is that sometimes due to cultural differences things can be lost in translation. Even then it can be a learning experience. :hug1:

Indeed so! Don’t worry, I didn’t take anything from your reply anyway. I’m sorry to hear about your dog, will keep you in my prayers!

 

[aicirt]

I moved to Greenville, SC in 2004 and have had the same experience. It’s a little difficult being in the backyard of Bob Jones University, LOL!

Well, I certainly hope you Catholics in SC are giving it your all to raise that 1%. :extrahappy: Cheering ya on!!!

 

[MaryLouItalia]

A pentecostal sister (wonderful woman) while an old nun passed in front of us while we were outside our church
She: OH, POOR THING
Me: (if I remember well) why poor thing? Maybe she loves Jesus more than you an me
Silence
She: maybe you’re right

 

[ChrissyB364]

Well, I certainly hope you Catholics in SC are giving it your all to raise that 1%. :extrahappy: Cheering ya on!!!

I received “Surprised By Truth 2” through an inter-library loan from Bob Jones! I was shocked, and glad to see some well read dog eared pages

 

[TimothyH]

A little southern girl saw one of the Dominican Sisters who teaches at our parish school in the grocery store. They are from the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, and wear full white habits.

The little girl saw Sister and exclaimed in a perfect southern drawl, “Look mama! It’s Mary!”

-Tim-