"You're Catholic?"

Many times in my life I've heard this question. Sometimes from someone with a tone of curiosity and wonder, and other times with disgust and judgement. These people that passed judgement are the people that fuel my passion and love for Catholicism. Many people don't understand that being Catholic is not at all like some have made it out to be. Catholics aren't partying it up, sinning without care, and then confessing sins on Sunday and we aren't praying to saints because we don't believe in God. Catholics aren't people that are separate from Christianity. So here I'm about to break up some myths that I hear the most and do my best to explain them.

1. Catholics aren't Christians.

This is my ultimate pet peeve. When someone assumes that just because Catholicism is a little different than others that it's not Christianity. Well the main portion of being Christian is the belief in God and Jesus Christ, which Catholics do. Our way of worship just differs from most.

2. Catholics pray to the saints instead of God.

This again is not true. Yes, there are prayers to various saints, but these prayers are more for additional help when someone really needs it. For instance, the one I use all the time is a prayer to St. Anthony. (This prayer is for when you lose things, for those that are curious.) Now before you read on, no, I am not saying that St. Anthony is now my new savior. I say this prayer so that he will hear my need for help, and in addition to my prayers to God, will also pray to God for me. It's like a built in prayer circle for someone's various needs.

3. The Catholic Church is anti-women.

This myth comes from many of the traditions of the church. For example, only men can become priests, bishops, cardinals, and the pope, all of whom have differing degrees of power. The only thing a woman can become is a nun, who is more seen as a servant. Yes, this looks bad to a feminist eye, but this is more of a tradition. As a tradition, if you are a part of the church with power, it is said that you are "married" to the church. That's why traditionally, priests are unmarried. The Catholic Church is all about procreation. Well, if lots women became "married" to the church, there would be no way for procreation without committing adulterous acts upon the church since someone in that position is technically "married." So yes, it looks anti-women from the outside, but in reality it's not.

4. The Catholics added books to the Bible to be different.

OK, anyone that has taken a history class and paid attention knows this isn't true. Many other denominations use what is known as the King James Version of the Bible. Before the King James Version, there was just the Bible. King James took out books from the Bible when he broke away from the Catholic Church to create his own. So no, the Catholic Church has never changed the Bible. We've left it alone for many centuries.

5. Catholics don’t think for themselves.

The basic idea is that Catholics should never try to rely on any external authority, only authority that comes from within the church. This is definitely not true because Catholics are encouraged to question and test things. Having an adult faith means we have to know it, but we should always examine it and test it. As St. Paul says, “Test everything; retain what is good.” 1 Thes. 5:21.

6. Catholics think they can accomplish their own salvation through good works.

Not at all. Catholics are just the same as everyone else. We sin, confess our sins, and do a penance for our sins. Our path to salvation is based on faith and how a person's life was lived.

7. Catholics can sin all they want because they just confess their sins and move on.

This is another one that I cringe at when I hear someone say it. Yes, Catholics have reconciliation. This is the time Catholics go to the priest and confess their sins. The priest then in turn gives a penance. The priest the tells the sinner to do their best to not sin again. Catholics don't believe in living it up on Saturday night to go confess your sins on Sunday morning. Reconciliation is a way for Catholics to face their sins head on and use the penance as a way to make up for their sins.

Catholics are indeed Christians. Don't assume that just because we are different, we don't have the same beliefs. We're just trying to do the same as everyone else: To live a good life and one day meet our savior at those pearly gates.