Religion does not belong in politics. Politics, likewise muddy religion. Religion should be about spirituality, beliefs and how you treat your fellow human being. Not trying to be more conservative than the believer next to you. At my home parish, St. Stan's, in Wyandotte MI, I was turned off from a previously very involved life in my church by the COMPETITIVE nature at which the other parishoners there agressively pursued conservative piety. I knew it had gotten completely out of hand when "The Lady In Black" appeared. After installing 24 hour perpetual eucharistic adoration in our church, over-zealous fanaticism had reached a feverous pitch. Then suddenly a woman dressed completely in black wwould drive up in a Corola BLASTING 'Ave Maria' like some kids blast NWA. She would proceed into the church, saying nothing to anyone else there. When she would enter the eucharistic adoration chapel, she would promptly and silently prostrate herself in front of the blessed sacrament for about 45-65 minutes, and not MOVE WHATSOEVER. At the end of her "show of reverence" she would get up, and silently leave, blasting 'Ave Maria' at full volume. This was a young 20-something girl, mind you, who definitely looked out of place in black from head to toe, head covered in a black vail. We know she wasn't a consecrated nun, at least, because she had nothing to indicate an order. She was her own freaky, creepy, extreme order. That was when I realized that all of 'this' was no longer about worship, or God, but about looking more pious than anyone else. I promptly quit my youth group, gave my 3 weeks notice for the altar-serving group, and quit going to any special services that weren't ONLY sundays and holy days. Things had just gotten WAY too freaky for me. I feel much more comfortable at a St. Mary's Mt. Pleasant, or St. Cyprian's Riverview, but they have their extremists as well. I still have to come to terms with what Catholicism REALLY means to me. All I know is IT'S NOT THIS!Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Magazine / The Crusaders