<p>Seems to be a flurry of news articles abt reports of religious intolerance at the AFA lately:</p>
<p>example this week--</p>
<p>Any similar issues reported at WP? Does anyone with some experience want to comment on any current religious tone or emphasis put on religion (if any) regarding the cadets at USMA?</p>
<p>Hey. There's definately some zealots applying to WP--I met one of them at the IAW (I think he was N Carolina). He and I discovered that we were both Catholic, and the next thing I know, he's ranting about homosexuality--how if America condones civil unions, we're going to lose our status as a world power...um, he also said that the fall of Rome is specifically attributed to a series of gay rulers..."oh, really?" I asked..."yes'm, we learned that in History."</p>
<p>Riiight. I wasn't all too comfortable with the line of discussion, so I innocently pointed out that my first cousin Michael, who I absolutely adore, is out of the closet and happily cohabitating with another man. They own a coffee shop in Chicago. NORMALLY, this shuts people up on the grounds of civility. This was not the case with Mr. Catholic. Doesn't he know it's a sin to hate?</p>
<p>Anyway, Mr. Catholic stopped dead and asked me, totally serious, "Your cousin? And you're okay with that?" I nodded, and he shook his head and said: "Well, that means you're going to burn in hell with him." And he refused to even look at me for the rest of the evening. Not that I shed tears over the incident, mind you, but it was rather disconcerting that this guy could be abjuring civilty for the sake of religious persecutions when he was miles and miles from home.</p>
<p>Having said all that, let me empasize that this was an isolated incident and easily ignored.</p>
<p>You're Catholic?! ME TOO!!! Woohoo! lol, you don't understand my excitement. It's hard to find many Catholics in Alabama, and I'm certainly looking forward to meeting more up at WP. I definitely want to participate in as many Church functions as possible. Have you ever heard of Lifeteen?</p>
<p>That kid you were talking to sounds like a real jerk. It really makes me angry to hear about stuff like that. I too have a gay relative (my uncle, actually), so I am MORE than tolerant of that kind of thing. I don't support it, but neither do I criticize it. Basically, I try to keep my mouth shut unless someone starts bashing.</p>
<p>Marines4me, I'm looking forward to seeing you at WP, too! Remind me to tell you what I look like before we go. No, I haven't heard of Lifeteen, but I haven't been a really adventurous Catholic teenager, either, although I'd like to be more involved at the Academy.</p>
<p>H&M-When you go to Mass at USMA pay attention to the Eucharistic Minister because it may well be the Commandant.</p>
<p>Really?! That's awesome! I'll definitely watch for it. Are Cadets allowed to be EMs and Liturgical Ministers? I do that all the time here, and I'd really like to at WP as well.</p>
<p>I was there for Easter Mass and a Cadet was the Cantor. I think I remember a Cadet was an EM but I'm not sure. I do know that there's an active Catholic Cadet group.
OMW2
Edit: The Supe is the EM not the Comm!!</p>
<p>Can cadets sing choir?</p>
<p>H- Go to the USMA homepage-->Cadet Life-->Cadet Clubs
You can see the choir in their dress grays and there's a club for cadets that teach CCD.
OMW2</p>
<p>Thank you, Mrs. Onmyway2. I do worry, though, that participating in a music club would interfere with my ability to play a club sport. Any insight on that--any way to make both work, or would one have to go?</p>
<p>H,
All most all women cadets are corp squaders or involved in club sports and they are choir members,too, so can be done. Everyone there is so busy but almost all end up doing what needs to be done and more.
I sent you a private message.
OMW2</p>
<p>I believe until the early 80s all cadets were required to attend religious services. When I visited I think they said about 80% of cadets attended religious services .....I imagin</p>
<p>......there is subtle cultural pressure to attend reliogious services.... if there is anything subtle at WP!</p>
<p>the old saying their are no athesists (sp) in a foxhole comes to mind</p>
<p>Mrs. Onmyway2,
Thank you very much for the message. I e-mailed your son, and he cleared some stuff up for me! In case this is of interest to anyone else, I'll paraphrase what he said:</p>
<p>Club sports normally meet in the afternoon whereas Church activities are normally evening. So you can do both as long as you work in homework somewhere.</p>
<p>H- I'm glad he could be of help. Make sure to ask him what to bring to Beast.</p>