1st Holy Communion : a rite of passage too far?

national | gender and sexuality | opinion/analysis

Wednesday May 20, 2009 20:12

by ipsiphi

at link the Irish commission into inquire into Child Abuse Executive Summary May 2009

This story comes without a summary. It is indeed such a lengthy story that it could deserve the soundtrack of the popular movie "never ending story".

& So are you invited to read the main text or simply skip an opinion with what might pass for analysis and simply peruse at the Irish commission into inquire into Child Abuse Executive Summary of May 2009 the gist of which is being read more than U2 lyrics throughout the catholic speaking world.
http://www.irishtimes.com/focus/2009/childabusecommissi...x.pdf

"little white dresses"

Irish as well as many international people who aren't Irish can't help but notice how the not unsizeable Roman Catholic community are in the new again for their treatment of the little kiddies. As any concerned parent who is plugged into the twitter, bebo, flickr, facebook, indeed as any parent who is clued-in & does not even have to mention or peek at that legion of websites of Bylerussian hosting & no doubt Belgian entrepreneurship, will have noticed -

That rite of passage from being "a generally irrational being full of innocence, wonder & learning experiences so intense that generally only the most traumatic or exciting are remembered" to being a kid who can tell the difference between dating & rape, which is the 1st Holy Communion gig -

is getting very expensive.

Kids who show no common age ( for unlike their franchise or escape from the restrictions of the child labour and chimneysweeping acts the first holy communioners are selected by nothing other than a tiny kind of naive cuteness ) are yearly expected to go through the rigours of not only their first confession.
(c/f "the light is on for you - Confess" http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81155 ) but also their first taste of the host or wafer as the communicant non-conforming & protestant churches of the eucharistic tradition would winsomely term the thing that sticks to any seven year old's mouth and leaves an unpleasant taste .

& then we expect them to parade around their extended families with no regard for modern habits of marital breakdown, estrangement, prison visiting hours, divorce or that awkard relative who can't afford to lodge money into the bank account.

Yes indeed, the first holy communion age is one complete with the worst lessons in class conscience and the pivotal awareness of the difference between right & wrong or if you must make it all infantile : "a good touch and a bad touch".

roll out the little dollies.

It is my opinion that the RC church in Europe and north America ought move forthwith to inculcate in their faithful and membership the idea that the first holy communion is not really like the sacrament of marriage & so doesn't merit the whole wad There are many parents (chuffed no doubt at their childrens' innocence as well as appeal in little white dresses or sailor suitsand keen roman catholic practicants) who may resent such an inteference.

Inteference let us make no mistake in the rite of passage which they & we really know is all about ensuring a non-traumatic memory : of being the centre of attention, spoilt with sweeties and money, sitting on many a friendly lap for a photo, eating a nice dinner, getting a medal, experiencing in that immature way the cerebral emotions which many confuse for mystic ectasy & getting that damned (sorry) sticky mess off your hard pallate without anyone seeing you and making you all guilty like as you think about going to hell.

But it's about time we had the debate.

That's my opinion & I'm not changing it. I only wish I knew how to write letters to people and complain.