This picture got me thinking: What are the things our church is doing that says: “Church Members ONLY” or “Outsiders Unwelcome?”

One doesn’t have to have a sign to say certain people are not welcome- members or otherwise. Behaviour and words between two members in front of the one not welcome can do it too.

I remember one incident that took place about a year ago, during the ice storm. Although I just barely attended (maybe once or twice a year at best by that time) I needed a place with heat because my power went out. My older son stayed else where and I think I understand now. My younger son was in treatment for behaviours at the time.

Right on the phone, the person I was staying with said to the priest, “I know. If Joseph were with her, I couldn’t have put her up. No one could.”

Translation: If she had her autistic son, the two of them could have froze to death in the ice.

So, much for love and compassion. I didn’t go back to church and I haven’t spoken to any of them since then. My younger son isn’t as awful as they make him out to be either. OK yes, I had to get him more help than I was able to give him, but I thought is was cruel to talk about people like that, esp in front of them. To be so uncaring about a person with a mental illness or what have you, to the point you’d let them freeze to death after a State disaster, is inhumane. They could have helped us get into a shelter or something. OR were they afraid they’d be sicking a rabid dog on the other people who lost heat and electricity in their homes after that disaster?

Obviously, my family was not welcome and now I understand why my older son chose not to stay with me. I have no plans to return either, not even for help in a disaster. Wonder if the Wiccan member, who kept it hush-hush that he was Wiccan, told everyone I am a Humanist while he was at it? I never devulged his secret to those at church, but I suspect he eventually did mine, which is a bit unfair, IMO. I put up with his Wiccan superstitions, Wiccan symbols, and alike, not to mention all the saintly icons, for a freaking week and never complained once, devulged his little secret, or said he was a superstitious boob, yet I that’s the treatment I got before it was all over.

Nice welcome mat sign they all have. Even so, I’m not going to go up to the church and tell them that said member knows the saints are just pagan gods and that he claims to be a Warlock. What good would it serve me? They already shut me out anyway and for all I know, they’d probably throw in my face that since I don’t believe, I was just using them for social time. I can find that else where though and probably where my family and me would be more welcomed too. More than likely with other Humanists, IF I could find them.

Also, if I was the church, I would probably make the sign say, “Member parking only. All others will be sent to Hell.”