This ties into the Catholic experience thread for me. While my short stint
in Catholic school was quite untraumatic (they were relatively progressive
and very kind - no rulers or mean old nuns) they did place an over-emphasis
on ensuring that we be vigilant against any and all venal and mortal sins.
While explaining the meanings of the Ten Commandments to us, they fudged a
bit when it came to the one about adultery. I'm sure they thought we were
too young (and they were too proper) to have the real definition explained
to us. Instead they used the example of "speaking bad, naughty words" as
falling under the category of adultery. Shortly thereafter my parents
dutifully dropped me off at the church one Saturday to go to confession. At
that age, I was always racking my brain to come up with something so I
thought, "oh yeah" and confessed to committing adultery three times. The
priest was very silent and seemed to cough a bit and asked "what exactly did
you do, my child?" I was embarrassed to tell him I'd said the word "pee"
three times. Another long pause and then he said "my child, you have not
committed adultery" and then he let me off with a minimal penance. As we
were driving away I told my parents that I was confused in what I learned
from Sister and related what had just transpired. My father nearly drove
off the road and my mother doubled over they were laughing so hard. When my
mother was finally able to talk coherently she said "I bet that priest about
fell out of the confessional booth laughing" and then they both started
cracking up again. They did not explain to me what was so funny but I
figured it was something "adult" and was glad it gave them a good laugh.
The next year they enrolled me in public school. ;-)
Kakki
