WTF??

[candyland]

It's not exactly a secret that although I was baptized and confirmed Catholic, I don't really consider myself to be of that particular faith. It's also no secret that I don't really hold with organized religion. Neither of those things really jive with my personal beliefs. This is fine--it's what I believe.

Since show choir camp runs into Sunday, we provide the kids with an optional ride to worship services. We either drive them to churches in town (mostly Catholic, a few Lutheran) or there's an eccumenical (sp?) service here on campus that some students choose to attend. This is also fine. Those are their beliefs.

Traditionally the counselors provide the rides to the churches, and this year I was asked to drive to the Catholic Church. Now, for the past two years I've held my tongue and done the on-campus service...and hated every minute of it. Again, I make no complaint against those who practice organized religion. Agree to disagree, I feel. But then I asked the woman in charge of this if I had to go inside because I don't consider myself Catholic and I don't believe in organized religion.

And this woman looks me in the eye and tells me that I have to go in because "you need to be a leader."

...what the FEK??

So apparently choreographing the finale for the show doesn't make me a leader? Teaching 100+ kids a routine at Mach-2 doesn't make me a leader? Herding kids around campus, answering questions, running errands, and doing whatever the hell else they ask me to do doesn't make me a leader? Where is the correlation between me going into a church and sitting through something I don't believe in...and being a leader?

Come to think of it, aren't the best leaders frequently people who refuse to do things they don't believe in, in spite of whatever the norm happens to be? I'm sorry, but these are high school kids. They're almost adults--whether or not I go into that church has absolutely no bearing on what they think, I'm quite sure.

Anyway, then she comes back and tells me that if I can get Cassie (another counselor) to drive, then I don't have to go--I can stay here and do the eccumenical service again. HOW THE HELL IS THIS AN IMPROVEMENT?? The issue isn't that I don't want to drive--the issue is that I don't want to go to a service for something I don't believe in!

And to be perfectly honest, I don't understand why the counselors are required to participate. I really don't. It's optional for the kids--why shouldn't we have a choice? I understand that we do need some to get the kids to and from the churches and such, but what if a counselor comes through who's an atheist? Non-Christian? Would they make them go sit through a Christian service? Haven't people gotten sued for that?

I know I'm probably blowing this way out of proportion, but dammit, I'm not Catholic, I don't believe in organized religion, and I'm offended that apparently whether or not I'm a leader hinges on me doing both of the above.

What the fuck...

Comments

[writergurl.livejournal.com]

hear hear!

[spirit-sage-333.livejournal.com]

Fuck them all in the ear with a spork! You should have told them youd be happy to lead them to the service and maybe even pick them up afterwards, but that your religious context was in no way marked as a requirement for this position, and should be included if they have such expectations next year. Hence why i didnt stay for church durring choir tours. I love you :)