Faith in Catholicsm here to stay

by Jaclyn Roco
LV Life Editor

For eight years of my life, I attended a Roman Catholic school. And even though I have not been up to date with my Bible studies or hardcore prayer, I have diligently gone to my parish every Sunday - yes, I mean every Sunday - and have continued to uphold my faith for my religion, my hope and my church.

Although I have been disappointed in the way the Catholic Church has handled all the tragic mishaps that have occurred, I know that without a doubt my faith will remain strong and firm.

It does not matter what the press reveals, or what those in the upper-hand of my church's hierarchy have to say, because I alone know where my faith and my beliefs come from - my heart.

I do consider myself a Catholic and I do attend church and follow all the rules - well at least I try. But I do not try to be perfect in my faith. I am not a nun.

And because this is true, I do not consider myself wrong in veering away from some of the practices my church sometimes deems imperative.

I do not feel the urge to go to reconciliation or anything. I believe asking for forgiveness comes from Him alone, and although I trust the priests I have known all my life, I am sure that they respect my beliefs because they are my friends.

They were there to hear my first prayer. They held out their hands to me when I received my first communion.

They listened with sympathy when I did choose to share my secrets with them and they always encouraged me to do better - to work harder.

All these reasons and more are why I choose to stand by my faith - no matter what anyone else says. No matter what billion dollar cathedral is built in Los Angeles and no matter what "fake" priests messed up the rest of the honor-bound clergy's image that I have always loved and respected.

Although I respect the Pope and the bishops, cardinals, brothers and sisters who try to run things behind the scenes somewhere in Rome, I whole-heartedly believe the Roman Catholic Church consists of better people to look up to and respect.

Sometimes I ask why we choose to dwell on the horrible things, rather than the good, regarding any particular religion or formidable group out there.

I turn my back on those members who have tried to think that money would solve it all - that money could pay off the hurt and the sins set up against those innocent children.

But I gladly face those like mother teresa for example, who gave up everything to show the world what the Roman Catholic Church should be like - full of people who work hard and who strive to be one with Him.

I said in my last column that "money does make the world go around," and again I say this is true.

I am hurt that Princess Diana, who did wonderful deeds on her part, could have taken precedence over Mother Teresa throughout all the world.

These two influential women died around the same time, yet Princess Diana, who could afford attention and whose glorious life fascinated most, took all the glory away from the saint who worked amid the slums of India.

Perhaps, however, Mother Teresa intended this to be so. She didn't want the attention, nor did she ask for anything else except for people to believe, without seeing.It is because of Mother Teresa, and those who remain humble in their faith, that I stay true to my Christian beliefs.

Say what you want; that the Catholic Church is greedy, bad or done for, and I would agree in a way.

Then again, there is not one person out there who is perfect; there are only people who try to be, and these are the people I look up to.

Jaclyn Roco, a senior journalism major, is LV Life editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at rocojax@yahoo.com.