The Pope has retired, for the first time in over 600 years. It has been interesting to observe the palaver. But what has become apparent to me has been the difference of the population toward the attitude of the Catholic faith. My sister in law and brother, Irene and Dave, gave us for Christmas, the series of Murdock Mysteries, which takes place around 1900 in Toronto and Hamilton. A major theme throughout the stories has been the anti catholic attitude in Toronto. The detective was denied promotion because of his catholic religion. Thankfully, times change. Maryland was started as a state because catholics needed a place to live without being harassed for their religion. That is why it is called The Free State.
My grandmother Houghton tells the story in a diary telling how her family, the Bowlers, left the Catholic church when the church declared that the Pope was infallible, so they left the church and joined the Anglican Church. She was a child but she recalled that their own family was ostracised by the rest of the family. Imagine. I could have been a catholic!
I moved to Toronto in 1953 and The Orange Lodge was still important politically. In the hot tub this afternoon, a lady who was born and raised in Timmins, Ontario, tells of the divide between the protestants and catholics in her town. They went to different schools and they certainly did not play together. But not any more. Fortunately, we have made progress. Perhaps I am naive but it seems we all get along. I certainly have enjoyed the Pope departing his task.
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