Things Not to Say Out Loud When You Work for Mennonites

I passed a few uncomfortable moments at coffee break this morning. The topic of Catholicism and mass came up, and we talked a bit about some of the traditions. I love the beauty of liturgy and mass, and without thinking about what I was saying before I said it, made the first comment that came to mind. I said that I felt it was quite likely that I would one day convert to Catholicism.

The looks on the faces of the three co-workers with whom I was chatting were rather priceless. Shock, followed quickly by horror and disgust.

I forget that others see the Catholic church differently than I do.

Another coworker who had been listening as the four of us talked stopped by my desk on his way out for lunch. “Big ‘C’ Catholic or small ‘c’ catholic?” he asked before going on to inform me that if we throw out anything that’s been added to church tradition by papal edict since 1060 AD we’d be okay, because then we’d essentially have the “new testament church.”

Sigh.

Another lesson in things not to say out loud when you work for a tiny Mennonite insurance company.