Liberal Democrat and Becoming Catholic?

[quam]

I'm looking into starting Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and I honestly do not know much of Catholicism. This inquiry is initially starting because of my interest in a woman who is Catholic. She is a very open person, also a liberal.

I am familiar with political views associated with the Church about abortion, contraceptives, prayer in school, etc... and my political views are not the same. I do feel my political views are my views; my beliefs of government and how it should govern the masses should remain separate from my religious beliefs. If I was Catholic and the entire nation was Catholic, then sure, I understand how my political and religious views should match. I just don't feel it is the government's place to dictate social norms.

Recently I reviewed materials for RCIA and there was talk of contraceptives. Certainly there are liberal Catholics, but generally I'm nervous of talk/lectures of the Church's political views while I'm completing RCIA and eventually as a Catholic.

Any experiences or insight into converting to Catholicism as a liberal? Or what it is like to be a liberal Catholic?

I hear answers may depend on the church one is attending. I'm in Austin, Texas - suggestions of specific churches would be appreciated.
Thank you.

[NewJeffCT]

1. he's away for the weekend...

But, Chavez (of chavez speaks the truth fame) is a devout Catholic & liberal. He & his fiancee would be good ones to ask.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. After I became Catholic, I taught in the RCIA program.

In our parish, and most others, as far as I know, RCIA is team taught. We were having a team meeting in the rectory one night and the young seminarian who was heading the team said that birth control was an issue we still needed to discuss with the class. Before any of us could say much of anything, our priest walked in from the sacristy and said, "No, we're not talking about birth control." The seminarian kind of went "But,but,but" but the priest just smiled and said "No, we won't do that" in a way that indicated he wasn't changing his position.

It's hard to say what you'll find in your RCIA program but it'll probably be a mix of conservative and liberal views.

Since you don't have a donor star, you can't post in the Catholic group but I could repost this there if you like so that you'll get answers from practicing Catholics. You can read there without a star and you might want to read some of the old threads.

[quam]

4. Thank you

I didn't realize there was a DU Catholic and Orthodox Christian Group, I'll read the messages.

It is becoming more clear to me I need to research who/where in Austin I would likely be comfortable with. I want to be comfortable and that will eventually lead to RCIA becoming a success - I want it to be a success.

Your insight into teaching RCIA is reassuring, particularly for an issue personally important to me, >thank you<

[rug]

3. The way I see it

Catholic teachings on sex are personal, not political. They are meant to save you not condemn others. If you become Catholic you follow them in your own life if you can. The political aspect is when the state makes laws about sex. There is nothing Catholic about putting a woman or doctor in jail because of abortion. That is what conservatives don't realize.

The Catholic Church is free to preach sexual sins but oversteps its bounds when it tells the state to incarcerate people for abortion, impoverish surviving gay partners because they are denied domestic benefits, or fire pharmacists for dispensing pills.

Any church aligns itself with any state at its own peril. If it views the state as an extension of its own beliefs it has lost its own authority.

So, I wouldn't worry about the Catholic Church's political agenda. To the extent it has one, it ceases being Catholic. The real difficulty is actually following the Catholic teachings in one's own life.

Meanwhile, there is much in Catholicism to embrace, especially its teaching on the poor.

Vaya con dios.