Christian counselor is trying to get fiancee to leave me because I'm a Non-believer (1 Viewer)

[Chaka]

Thanks for sharing.  I highly doubt my SO would reach a point where it bothered her that I'm not Christian.  It doesn't bother her now and she's making a conscious decision to move forward despite our differences.  If her faith did become a bigger part of her life I'd try to support it in any way I could.  It sounds like you're doing the same.  

Like most in here I don't want to tell you that it is outright a mistake to marry her but, essentially that is what I am going to do.

She is fine with your religious preference now (or lack thereof) and probably sincerely so. But I would bet my last dollar that in her heart of hearts (ie even if she does not consciously see that now) her intent is to try and "save" you. Eventually you will either need to embrace her religion or your relationship will falter.

Just one fools opinion.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

Like most in here I don't want to tell you that it is outright a mistake to marry her but, essentially that is what I am going to do.

She is fine with your religious preference now (or lack thereof) and probably sincerely so. But I would bet my last dollar that in her heart of hearts (ie even if she does not consciously see that now) her intent is to try and "save" you. Eventually you will either need to embrace her religion or your relationship will falter.

Just one fools opinion.

I might echo this. As other noted, I think the place it is most likely to surface is with kids, if you eventually have them.

It's one thing to be all hunky dory and explore your separate spiritualities together when it's just you. Throw kids into the mix and it becomes a whole other ball of wax. It may start from just wanting your kids to have the same holiday traditions your SO grew up with, it may manifest during certain age milestones (baptism, confirmation, Bar Mitzvah, whatever), or it may manifest simply as a change of heart and wanting your kids to have a singular spiritual identity (i.e. one religion).

But kids in my experience are a forcing function that bring these differences out -- and often to a head.

As always, proactive communication and understanding (even knowing that feelings may change over time) now and ongoing will help ease these conversations and how viewpoints may change over time.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

You seem to know a thing or two about this.  Are you in the profession?  Also, you say "first" individual sessions.  Does that mean there are more to come?  

Sorry, didn't notice this.

Not a counselor or therapist.  But have been in marriage counseling with an EFT certified therapist and I tend to read everything I can find about anything I get involved in.  Sue Johnson has published a lot.  Both for general audiences and for professionals.  

I don't think that individual sessions after the first ones are considered part of the program, per se.  In my experience, they come up because sometimes one or the other can't make a session.

 

[Chaka]

Sorry, didn't notice this.

Not a counselor or therapist.  But have been in marriage counseling with an EFT certified therapist and I tend to read everything I can find about anything I get involved in.  Sue Johnson has published a lot.  Both for general audiences and for professionals.  

I don't think that individual sessions after the first ones are considered part of the program, per se.  In my experience, they come up because sometimes one or the other can't make a session.

Maybe I'm a pessimist or a cynic, and more power to @Captain Cranks if he's not, but I just don't see how counseling helps in this situation.

If she's a true believer and he's not then isn't there truly only one solution? One of them eventually converts (I guess they could pretend to). Otherwise as @Stompin' Tom Connors perfectly stated if children are involved they are a forcing function and, this is my opinion not necessarily Tom's, if the parents aren't aligned on something so deeply personal it will be an ingrained source of friction. I am deeply skeptical that counseling can help overcome that unless one parent sincerely concedes to the others wish.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Maybe I'm a pessimist or a cynic, and more power to @Captain Cranks if he's not, but I just don't see how counseling helps in this situation.

If she's a true believer and he's not then isn't there truly only one solution? One of them eventually converts (I guess they could pretend to). Otherwise as @Stompin' Tom Connors perfectly stated if children are involved they are a forcing function and, this is my opinion not necessarily Tom's, if the parents aren't aligned on something so deeply personal it will be an ingrained source of friction. I am deeply skeptical that counseling can help overcome that unless one parent sincerely concedes to the others wish.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by true believer.

Obviously, my marriage isn't perfect or I wouldn't have the experience with the therapy.  But my wife is a believer (if not particularly churchy) and I'm obviously a big ol' atheist and that isn't really a source of friction at all.

 

[Captain Cranks]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by true believer.

Obviously, my marriage isn't perfect or I wouldn't have the experience with the therapy.  But my wife is a believer (if not particularly churchy) and I'm obviously a big ol' atheist and that isn't really a source of friction at all.

This is us.  Religion is not an issue for us at all.  She prefers that I'm not the ultra Christian type and I prefer that she's fairly naive and innocent due to her Christian upbringing.  

I asked her last week what kind of Christian she wants to be and she said she wants to be like her mother:  Doesn't go to church and keeps her faith private, but is kind and loving.  If that doesn't qualify as a Christian to some, she doesn't care.  

Secretly I think she knows the story is a bunch of bubkus, but she's happy with her mindset and gets comfort when she thinks about going to heaven one day.  I've agreed not to press her thinking too hard as she prefers the fantasy.  

 

[Chaka]

This is us.  Religion is not an issue for us at all.  She prefers that I'm not the ultra Christian type and I prefer that she's fairly naive and innocent due to her Christian upbringing.  

I asked her last week what kind of Christian she wants to be and she said she wants to be like her mother:  Doesn't go to church and keeps her faith private, but is kind and loving.  If that doesn't qualify as a Christian to some, she doesn't care.  

Secretly I think she knows the story is a bunch of bubkus, but she's happy with her mindset and gets comfort when she thinks about going to heaven one day.  I've agreed not to press her thinking too hard as she prefers the fantasy.  

Very much appreciate your response. You hit on my trigger words "true believer", I should have emphasized that it is always a matter of degree.

My statements apply to devout, church going believers who are optimistic enough to date the heathen (it's a joke, devout don't date heathen and heathen don't care). Eventually it comes to a decision point and someone is going to have to decide to change.

But this is probably not that type of situation. Sounds like the GF is closer to one of those "spiritual not religious" types. Different situation.

 

[Otis]

Haven’t read the rest, but an observation: I’ll never understand the couples therapy thing before you’re even married. If things are that complicated then, you probably shouldn’t be getting married. Because after you’re married, and god forbid you have kids, life ain’t getting any easier. Without knowing any other details, my default answer here is a quick and firm “move on.”

 

[Otis]

We’re raising our kids catholic mainly because all their friends are, and because of family pressures. Neither one of us really into it. Went to mass together for the first time a couple weeks ago.  I went weekly as a kid and teenager, this is probably my first real mass since. I had forgotten how looney these people were.  But the one thing they’re really good at is asking for your money. Catholic Church basically has perfected that art over the centuries. 

 

[El Floppo]

Haven’t read the rest, but an observation: I’ll never understand the couples therapy thing before you’re even married. If things are that complicated then, you probably shouldn’t be getting married. Because after you’re married, and god forbid you have kids, life ain’t getting any easier. Without knowing any other details, my default answer here is a quick and firm “move on.”

Wrong.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

What Floppo said.  Couples therapy isn't just to fix things that are wrong, any more than a regular doctor's visit is.  

 

[[icon]]

My fiancee and I have been having a difficult time 'hearing' each other at times and decided to go to an Emotionally Focused Therapy counselor to get us in touch with what might be causing the disconnect.  The therapist is Christian and, at the outset, asked whether it was ok that she use her faith perspective when she thought it applied.  Despite being an atheist, I was fine with this because my fiancee is Christian and I know how to ignore that type of stuff.

This made me laugh a bit.

At the same time, it does pinpoint a disconnect that may be contributing to some issues. I’m an atheist too, however I was raised Catholic and understand Christianity. I think if faith is important to your wife, you should embrace that side of her, and engage/validate her when she brings it up.

You don’t have to believe, but “ignoring” that component of discussions could be leaving a good sized hole in your “hearing” your girl. 

That said, leave the counselor. Her job is to help you two grow together. She currently is actively driving a wedge between you. 

 

[El Floppo]

This made me laugh a bit.

At the same time, it does pinpoint a disconnect that may be contributing to some issues. I’m an atheist too, however I was raised Catholic and understand Christianity. I think if faith is important to your wife, you should embrace that side of her, and engage/validate her when she brings it up.

You don’t have to believe, but “ignoring” that component of discussions could be leaving a good sized hole in your “hearing” your girl. 

That said, leave the counselor. Her job is to help you two grow together. She currently is actively driving a wedge between you. 

It's a good answer in the abstract, but thoroughly covered in a different direction in the thread.

 

[[icon]]

It's a good answer in the abstract, but thoroughly covered in a different direction in the thread.

Yeah sorry a bit of a hippling there. Half awake and didn’t realize the thread was this deep already. Carry on

 

[bigbottom]

We’re raising our kids catholic mainly because all their friends are, and because of family pressures. Neither one of us really into it. Went to mass together for the first time a couple weeks ago.  I went weekly as a kid and teenager, this is probably my first real mass since. I had forgotten how looney these people were.  But the one thing they’re really good at is asking for your money. Catholic Church basically has perfected that art over the centuries. 

As a non-Catholic raising a son who is Catholic, I’m curious what you mean when you say you’re raising your kids Catholic if you only went to mass for the first time a couple weeks ago. Were they baptized in the Catholic Church? Are they working toward First Confession and First Communion?

 

[shadyridr]

Haven’t read the rest, but an observation: I’ll never understand the couples therapy thing before you’re even married. If things are that complicated then, you probably shouldn’t be getting married. Because after you’re married, and god forbid you have kids, life ain’t getting any easier. Without knowing any other details, my default answer here is a quick and firm “move on.”

This seems pretty ignorant

 

[jon_mx]

A good counselor inserts their issues into a relationship which wasn't there before.  

 

[matuski]

Haven’t read the rest, but an observation: I’ll never understand the couples therapy thing before you’re even married. If things are that complicated then, you probably shouldn’t be getting married. Because after you’re married, and god forbid you have kids, life ain’t getting any easier. Without knowing any other details, my default answer here is a quick and firm “move on.”

We would have benefited from it I think.

Not because anything was "complicated", but because we were 25.  Just from an advice or gaining perspective standpoint it would have been worth the small effort.  We didn't really have people around us for that.

It never crossed our minds.

 

[Godsbrother]

We’re raising our kids catholic mainly because all their friends are, and because of family pressures. Neither one of us really into it. Went to mass together for the first time a couple weeks ago.  I went weekly as a kid and teenager, this is probably my first real mass since. I had forgotten how looney these people were.  But the one thing they’re really good at is asking for your money. Catholic Church basically has perfected that art over the centuries. 

We raised our kids as Catholic and once all were confirmed we began to missing mass and then eventually stopped going altogether.  I am more of an agnostic now but I can't deny that being raised in a Catholic family and has shaped me into who I am.

That said if I did go to mass I would have problem giving much money to them considering the widespread scandals but that is another topic.

 

[Bossman]

I don't see this ending well either.

Gonna be some difficult conversations and situations when kids get to the asking questions age.

3-5 years old "Daddy, why don't you believe in god?" ... "Is mommy wrong or are you wrong?" ... "pastor says your going to Hell ... I don't want you to go to Hell daddy"

7-10 years old "If dad doesn't have to go to church Sunday then why do I have to?" (as wife struggles to get him to put down the xbox controller)

Probably best to just not have kids I guess.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

I don't see this ending well either.

Gonna be some difficult conversations and situations when kids get to the asking questions age.

3-5 years old "Daddy, why don't you believe in god?" ... "Is mommy wrong or are you wrong?" ... "pastor says your going to Hell ... I don't want you to go to Hell daddy"

7-10 years old "If dad doesn't have to go to church Sunday then why do I have to?" (as wife struggles to get him to put down the xbox controller)

Probably best to just not have kids I guess.

Probably should read more of the thread. She doesn't go to church, she probably falls more under the "spiritual" rather than "religious" label going by what the OP has posted. 

 

[shadyridr]

I don't see this ending well either.

Gonna be some difficult conversations and situations when kids get to the asking questions age.

3-5 years old "Daddy, why don't you believe in god?" ... "Is mommy wrong or are you wrong?" ... "pastor says your going to Hell ... I don't want you to go to Hell daddy"

7-10 years old "If dad doesn't have to go to church Sunday then why do I have to?" (as wife struggles to get him to put down the xbox controller)

Probably best to just not have kids I guess.

Ive gotten some of these questions from my 9 year old...

My wife and I were both raised Catholic. I couldn't care less if my son is while my wife wants him to receive all his sacraments so he can get married in a church. I told her I have no issue with it but do not expect me to go to church every week. Basically, I tell my son I choose not to goto church and when hes old enough he can choose to do the same but it is important to mommy and so he has to continue going to CCD and going to church  with mommy (when she feels like taking him, its not often) until he receives confirmation.

They're kids. Do as I say, not as I do

 

[Otis]

This seems pretty ignorant

Why is that?

 

[Otis]

Wrong.

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

We’re raising our kids catholic mainly because all their friends are, and because of family pressures. Neither one of us really into it. Went to mass together for the first time a couple weeks ago.  I went weekly as a kid and teenager, this is probably my first real mass since. I had forgotten how looney these people were.  But the one thing they’re really good at is asking for your money. Catholic Church basically has perfected that art over the centuries. 

Not picking Otis out specifically but I see this a lot.  "Catholicism/Christianity is nuts but yeah my kids are being raised in it."

That's a big disconnect IMO, and one I struggle with personally as stated upthread.

 

[General Malaise]

I think your wife is likely different from mine.  But sure..

I live in south Texas.  My whole family is Christian.  I was raised Lutheran and still "believed" when we got married.  My wife's whole family is Christian (Catholic).  Her dad is a deacon.  Of that group only my wife knows I'm an atheist.  We have 2 daughters that are being raised Catholic.  I go to church with them to keep up appearances.  It just feels so weird standing there not saying all the stuff and in my mind thinking all these people are mostly ignorant sheep (admittedly not fair on my part).  My wife laments that she can't pray with her life partner and make religion part of our marriage.  Had I come to this atheist conclusion prior to marriage, I don't think we'd have gotten married.  I don't know that it leads to divorce..not in the cards for now for sure but who knows.  Back to the Jay Z concert analogy, when it comes to religion neither one of us is on the fence so it makes it sticky.

I wish you all the best..don't want my post to come across as a don't do it type of thing.  Every person and every relationship is different.

What do you do for communion when the time comes?  Always find that a bit awkward the few times I've attended a Catholic service. 

 

[Otis]

Not picking Otis out specifically but I see this a lot.  "Catholicism/Christianity is nuts but yeah my kids are being raised in it."

That's a big disconnect IMO, and one I struggle with personally as stated upthread.

I struggle with it too.  Part of me thinks there is benefit to it, a nice moral grounding, community, socializing with friends in a positive environment. And it’s a thing to turn to and get comfort from when life is hard.  All of this is true.  Which is why, even though neither my wife or I are very religious, we sort of allow it to go on.  Well, that and the momentum of it all.

 

[Otis]

What do you do for communion when the time comes?  Always find that a bit awkward the few times I've attended a Catholic service. 

I didn’t take communion last week.  I used the excuse that I haven’t gone to church in a while and need to go to confession first.  My wife isn’t catholic, so theoretically she never will take communion (though I think she’s done it once or twice out of the awkwardness).

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

What do you do for communion when the time comes?  Always find that a bit awkward the few times I've attended a Catholic service. 

Good question GB.  I mix it up.  Just depends if I'm hungry at the time.

 

[Otis]

On the counseling point, I dated a lot of women seriously in my 20s and 30s.  It turned out something wasn’t right with any of them.  With a couple of them I struggled quite a bit about the idea of proposing to them, feeling like maybe I should just go with it, and maybe life is complicated and not all relationships are simple.  I could have imagined staying in one of those, getting engaged, and then seeking some kind of couples’ counseling for our relationship.  

In the end I waited, and ended up finding a person who was perfect for me.  I got married at 34 or 35 as a result.  But dating was so clear and easy, life was so simple.  Nearing 10 years later, I can say that life after that, and a bunch of kids, can be a whole lot more stressful.  And I can’t imagine my marriage with those other women would have lasted, or been happy, the way my current marriage is.  Bottom line — it’s not that we needed counseling, it’s just that the relationships weren’t right.  No amount of work or counseling would have changed that.

 

 

[El Floppo]

Wrong.

 

 

[General Malaise]

I didn’t take communion last week.  I used the excuse that I haven’t gone to church in a while and need to go to confession first.  My wife isn’t catholic, so theoretically she never will take communion (though I think she’s done it once or twice out of the awkwardness).

Other denominations take communion too, I just think it's weird that if you aren't a catholic, you aren't supposed to take it in their home stadium.  I found that out awkwardly in college.

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Other denominations take communion too, I just think it's weird that if you aren't a catholic, you aren't supposed to take it in their home stadium.  I found that out awkwardly in college.

https://i.imgur.com/qSFqyvj.gif

 

[El Floppo]

On the counseling point, I dated a lot of women seriously in my 20s and 30s.  It turned out something wasn’t right with any of them.  With a couple of them I struggled quite a bit about the idea of proposing to them, feeling like maybe I should just go with it, and maybe life is complicated and not all relationships are simple.  I could have imagined staying in one of those, getting engaged, and then seeking some kind of couples’ counseling for our relationship.  

In the end I waited, and ended up finding a person who was perfect for me.  I got married at 34 or 35 as a result.  But dating was so clear and easy, life was so simple.  Nearing 10 years later, I can say that life after that, and a bunch of kids, can be a whole lot more stressful.  And I can’t imagine my marriage with those other women would have lasted, or been happy, the way my current marriage is.  Bottom line — it’s not that we needed counseling, it’s just that the relationships weren’t right.  No amount of work or counseling would have changed that.

 

no imagine you talk to somebody to help make things less stressful in your perfect relationship. to help make your perfect relationship even perfecter.

this topic was covered earlier in the thread... 

 

[ChiefD]

Wife is Christian. I was raised Catholic but have always had questions that really cannot be answered. So that "faith" thing is tough for me. My wife likes to go to church once in awhile and the kids go with her. She is basically responsible for their religious upbringing.

But, I do back her up on it. I don't go to church with them, but I don't disagree with what she is teaching them. Which is basically that God exists and its always good to be a good person and live up to God's teachings.

And who am I to say He doesn't exist. I don't know. That's one of my questions. I lean toward not believing that God exists, but he might. And that's enough for me to back her up in such things. 

 

[General Malaise]

Our kids have been raised without any religion and there are no plans to change that with the little ones now.  However, my 6 year old is very curious and the death of my mom has given her a lot of questions over the last few months that are difficult to answer since she's 6.  Part of me wishes there was some sort of religious belief to fall back on so I could simply tell her "Nonny is in heaven" and be done with it.  Instead, I find myself just telling her what I think and then try to balance it out with what her Nonny believed, which was that she was in heaven.  It's not easy; every answer I have is met with more questions, which is good because it shows she's really thinking deeply at an early age, but it's hard not to be blunt with your own personal beliefs and scare a child.  :(

 

[El Floppo]

Other denominations take communion too, I just think it's weird that if you aren't a catholic, you aren't supposed to take it in their home stadium.  I found that out awkwardly in college.

at the first wife-related catholic church thing I attended- a wedding or a funeral- I was with her in the front row, and had no idea what to do when the guy in the outfit handed out the crackers... felt rude to decline, so ate the thing- whispering to the wife "it burns, it burns"

 

[Gally]

This is us.  Religion is not an issue for us at all.  She prefers that I'm not the ultra Christian type and I prefer that she's fairly naive and innocent due to her Christian upbringing.  

I asked her last week what kind of Christian she wants to be and she said she wants to be like her mother:  Doesn't go to church and keeps her faith private, but is kind and loving.  If that doesn't qualify as a Christian to some, she doesn't care.  

Secretly I think she knows the story is a bunch of bubkus, but she's happy with her mindset and gets comfort when she thinks about going to heaven one day.  I've agreed not to press her thinking too hard as she prefers the fantasy.  

I was so hoping the answer was going to be "Cafeteria Christian"   hahahahah

 

[Captain Cranks]

I was so hoping the answer was going to be "Cafeteria Christian"   hahahahah

  She's not that quick witted but that would have been great.  

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

Our kids have been raised without any religion and there are no plans to change that with the little ones now.  However, my 6 year old is very curious and the death of my mom has given her a lot of questions over the last few months that are difficult to answer since she's 6.  Part of me wishes there was some sort of religious belief to fall back on so I could simply tell her "Nonny is in heaven" and be done with it.  Instead, I find myself just telling her what I think and then try to balance it out with what her Nonny believed, which was that she was in heaven.  It's not easy; every answer I have is met with more questions, which is good because it shows she's really thinking deeply at an early age, but it's hard not to be blunt with your own personal beliefs and scare a child.  :(

God's not real and neither is Santy Claus.  Go clean your room sweetie.

Luff you GB.

 

[El Floppo]

Our kids have been raised without any religion and there are no plans to change that with the little ones now.  However, my 6 year old is very curious and the death of my mom has given her a lot of questions over the last few months that are difficult to answer since she's 6.  Part of me wishes there was some sort of religious belief to fall back on so I could simply tell her "Nonny is in heaven" and be done with it.  Instead, I find myself just telling her what I think and then try to balance it out with what her Nonny believed, which was that she was in heaven.  It's not easy; every answer I have is met with more questions, which is good because it shows she's really thinking deeply at an early age, but it's hard not to be blunt with your own personal beliefs and scare a child.  :(

when floppinha was 3, her best buddy chippy-cat died. she was devastated. even though we had discussed not to, the wife brought up the topic of kittycat-heaven which I had to support (or destroy a 3yo's heart). I also painted it more in line with what I think (not an actual place where dead people go to hang out and watch their loved ones.. but more of a spiritual memory that stays inside you to comfort you- so their presence is always there guiding/watching/etc.). she was a little young to have deeper conversations about it at that point- but it allowed us to talk to her 7yo brother a little more about our ideas of god. 

 

[General Malaise]

when floppinha was 3, her best buddy chippy-cat died. she was devastated. even though we had discussed not to, the wife brought up the topic of kittycat-heaven which I had to support (or destroy a 3yo's heart). I also painted it more in line with what I think (not an actual place where dead people go to hang out and watch their loved ones.. but more of a spiritual memory that stays inside you to comfort you- so their presence is always there guiding/watching/etc.). she was a little young to have deeper conversations about it at that point- but it allowed us to talk to her 7yo brother a little more about our ideas of god. 

My wife told my daughter that her nonny was around in spirit and was still watching over her, smiling down from above.  My daughter paused and then asked my wife "Is Michael Jackson watching over me?" 

 

[El Floppo]

My wife told my daughter that her nonny was around in spirit and was still watching over her, smiling down from above.  My daughter paused and then asked my wife "Is Michael Jackson watching over me?" 

"he watches over all little boys and... well pretty much them".

the hardest part of the heaven thing with floppinha was that because it was now a place, she wanted to go there to hang with chippy-cat, and her grandpas, and everybody else. took a long time to get her to understand it wasn't a place she could actually go to.... until much later (thanks wife).

 

[Drunken knight]

Well presented CC.

 

[dhockster]

Tell the counselor to pound manna and move on.

My wife is a Christian and I consider myself undecided. We went through pre-marital counseling with the minister who married us, and we talked about a lot of stuff. And he gave us some good advice, two of which I will never forget:

1. Solve whatever problem is between the two of you immediately. If it festers, you end up glossing over the original problem and then other stuff builds on top of that and never gets resolved.

2. As a man, don't feel like you need to "fix" everything. Men are fixers - they want to solve every little thing or issue that affects the family/wife/whatever. Sometimes your wife just needs you to listen and keep your mouth shut.

15 years and 3 kids later things are good, and religion is not an issue with us. We love each other and just live our lives trying to be happy and raise good kids. 

Love trumps all. 

To point #2. Google "It's not about the nail". Two minute video that teaches men how they need to listen and not fix. It's awesome and funny and true. YWIA

 

[bigbottom]

I struggle with it too.  Part of me thinks there is benefit to it, a nice moral grounding, community, socializing with friends in a positive environment. And it’s a thing to turn to and get comfort from when life is hard.  All of this is true.  Which is why, even though neither my wife or I are very religious, we sort of allow it to go on.  Well, that and the momentum of it all.

Not sure if you missed my question upthread, but I’m curious how it is that you’re raising your kids Catholic if you’ve only gone to mass once since college. Is your wife taking them to mass?  Were they baptized in the Catholic Church?  Are they getting ready for First Communion?

 

[bigbottom]

I didn’t take communion last week.  I used the excuse that I haven’t gone to church in a while and need to go to confession first.  My wife isn’t catholic, so theoretically she never will take communion (though I think she’s done it once or twice out of the awkwardness).

I always just cross my arms which is a sign to the priest to give you a blessing in lieu of communion. 

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Other denominations take communion too, I just think it's weird that if you aren't a catholic, you aren't supposed to take it in their home stadium.  I found that out awkwardly in college.

Did you find out that they really use wine rather than Welch's Grape Juice?

 

[General Malaise]

Did you find out that they really use wine rather than Welch's Grape Juice?

No, just that when I turned around to see a bunch of my fraternity brothers snickering at me I realized that the communion in a catholic church was only for catholics and not former presbyterians turned godless heathen.  

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

No, just that when I turned around to see a bunch of my fraternity brothers snickering at me I realized that the communion in a catholic church was only for catholics and not former presbyterians turned godless heathen.  

At least you didn't burst into flames.