Ann Rice Quits The Catholic Church (Again)

[fabucat]

I figure that many of you are fans of hers, as I am. Here's what she's been up to lately:

Writer Anne Rice Leaves Catholicism In Protest Of Catholic Churches’ Anti-Gay Agenda
by TeenAdvocateDan [Subscribe]
Share this on Twitter - Writer Anne Rice Leaves Catholicism In Protest Of Catholic Churches’ Anti-Gay Agenda Mon Aug 02, 2010 at 02:42:35 PM PDT
Crossposted on Amplify

I am a person who grew up with the saying that all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing"

-Anne Rice

Today, Rice followed through on that statement as she publicly left the Catholic Church over frustration with their social agenda, particularly their stance on gay rights.

TeenAdvocateDan's diary :: ::
Anne Rice, author of Interview With The Vampire, has had an interesting relationship with religion in her life. She was raised catholic, but renounced the church when she was 18. She became an atheist and wrote novels with a markedly anti-christian tone. But in 1998 she made headlines by converting to Catholicism writing exclusively Christian-themed novels, like Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt.

Due to the Churches active stance against gay marriage, Rice could not in good conscience stay a member of the church. Today she posted to her facebook: “It's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else.” And Today on NPR she cited gay marriage as the last straw that prompted her to leave:

"I didn't anticipate at the beginning that the U.S. bishops were going to come out against same-sex marriage," she says. "That they were actually going to donate money to defeat the civil rights of homosexuals in the secular society." (NPR)

I say kudos to her for not remaining silent. The Catholic Church is a source of inspiration, hope, and meaning for countless people, and Rice said the decision to leave was a very painful one. But even though it was difficult to turn her back on her faith, she did what she thought was right. The Church has a right to take an anti-gay stance, but when they publically advocate for anti-equality measures in regular society, I think they are crossing a line. As a young person, I am inspired by Rice’s actions to speak out. It is too rare these days to see someone living out their principles in such a profound way, and I hope Anne Rice serves as a role model to others. As she said, "all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing," and I am moved by her bold decision to speak out.

Dan Jubelirer is a 2010 Netroots Fellow at Amplify, a youth-driven community dedicated to promoting sexual health and reproductive justice.

[maryals]

Turning one's back on one's Church and or Religion does not always equate to turning one' back on one's Faith. Just my opinion, based on experience and meditation: Faith doesn't necessarily need a Church or Organized Religion. Religion/Church can be a terrific thing for some people, and terrible for others.

Mary and Bessie

[aaradia]

Thank you Ann Rice.

Mary, I agree and disagree with you. I get your basic point, but to be a Catholic, you have to respect the hierarchy of their Priesthood- particularly the Pope's roll as the head of that Religion. You can't separate that from being Catholic as it is part of the very definition of what being a Catholic is.

Can she still be Christian? Yes. Still have faith? Yes. Catholic? I don't see how.

[fabucat]

I'm sure that Ann Rice still believes in God and probably still reveres Christ. A lot of folks who have had bad experiences with religion become hardcore, crazy fundamentalist atheists, like Sam Harris. I don't think that Ms. Rice has abandoned her spirituality.

BTW, there's a great book by Frank Schaeffer called "Patience With God," in which he lambasts both Christian fundamentalists and atheistic fundamentalists. I'd recommend it to all Coasties, as the issue of spirituality often pops up.

[maryals]

Thank you Ann Rice.

Mary, I agree and disagree with you. I get your basic point, but to be a Catholic, you have to respect the hierarchy of their Priesthood- particularly the Pope's roll as the head of that Religion. You can't separate that from being Catholic as it is part of the very definition of what being a Catholic is.

Can she still be Christian? Yes. Still have faith? Yes. Catholic? I don't see how.

No, I think we are in full agreement. Ann Rice may still be CHristian, as you say, but not Catholic. For myself I'm leaning more and more to just calling myself Christian, with no particular Religious affiliation.

May and Bessie

[Judee]

Just my two cents... 'God' had nothing to do with man-made religion. I was in a convent -- trust me, I know!

[aaradia]

Just my two cents... 'God' had nothing to do with man-made religion. I was in a convent -- trust me, I know!

Oh Judee, I know! My dad remarried someone who was a Nun. I only know a little, but it is enough!

[sunshine]

Now when you get into the whole convent/priesthod nunnery aspect of it things go bad fast. If you take people and put them into such extreme, away from society and society's norms conditions- there will be a few who take to it naturally and lead the contemplative life, others will resist temptations successfully and deal with their pent up emotions. But there is going to be a group that does not deal with it well and can not. Trying to control them with the guilt and fear (damnation for all eternity how can a loving God let that happen to any of his childre?) only exacerbates the problem.

[fabucat]

Just my two cents... 'God' had nothing to do with man-made religion. I was in a convent -- trust me, I know!

AMEN! The stories that you could tell. You are no doubt familiar with Karen Armstrong's autobiography "The Winding Staircase"? She was in a convent from the age of 17 to 30. It appears that Ms. Armstrong didn't really discover "God" until she left the convent.

[fabucat]

Now when you get into the whole convent/priesthod nunnery aspect of it things go bad fast. If you take people and put them into such extreme, away from society and society's norms conditions- there will be a few who take to it naturally and lead the contemplative life, others will resist temptations successfully and deal with their pent up emotions. But there is going to be a group that does not deal with it well and can not. Trying to control them with the guilt and fear (damnation for all eternity how can a loving God let that happen to any of his childre?) only exacerbates the problem.

I think that there's room in this society for the contemplative life. But it's no life for a young person, let me tell you!

[sunshine]

There are times when I could see myself going into a cloister, retreating from society and leading a comteplative life. I can see where those few who are truly called to that life would benefit greatly from it. Certainly not for everyone. I grew up Catholic and had an aunt who was a nun. She began her instructionentry into the convent in the 8th grade. My uncle was supposed to become a priest but then his training was interrupted by WWII. He later fell in love and got married and had 4 children but I think he always fekt a bit guilty for not fulfilling his duty in becoming a priest. Back in those days it was very common in large catholic families (is that redundant), especially wealthier ones, to send at least one child into the convent or the priesthood- give on back to God, as it were. I can't imagine the psychological implications of that situation being imposed upon someone who was not naturally of a contemplative inclination. Add to that the guilt of noncomplicance and you have the recipe for disaster. It's a good thing that the numbers of those entering Catholic religious life are declining. It should be only for those who are truly ready for that life.