So, what is a Southern fried Catholic? Well, I hope I can explain it here to your satisfaction!
First, why I chose the "Southern fried" part: I live in Kentucky. Some would say I live in the extreme eastern part of central Kentucky, some would say I live in the extreme western part of eastern Kentucky. I just say I live in the "Gateway to the Bluegrass", as this area is called.
Also, there would seem to be some argument as to whether Kentucky is Southern or Northern. We rest next to that famous Mason/Dixon line for sure. Some who live further south than Kentucky say it is a northern state (given that distinction during the War Between the States), but many from Ohio and on up call us southern. So, it depends on who you talk to. I call us southern because we eat southern. And if you doubt it, here is what I mean. We eat fried anything! You fry it, and my extended family and many of my friends will eat it! Fried chicken, fried pork chops, fried steak (sacrilege! I know), fried burgers, fried potatoes (in several different incarnations!), fried eggs, and the list goes on. Also, we like our milk gravy! Use those wonderful drippings from what ever you just fried, add flour and let it brown, then pour in the milk and stir until thick! Yum! Also, we eat grits. Now, some have asked the difference between grits and polenta. Someone once told me that the difference was that "up North" polenta costs $6.95 a serving, and "down South" grits cost $2.50! All I know is I've eaten a lot of grits, cheesed, with sausage, or with sugar, or plain, and liked them. The one time I had polenta, at a $35.00 a plate fancy "do" it was a congealed mess that might have once been smoother than grits, but was not tasty at all. Perhaps someday I'll get to try some better. Anyway, you get the gist of our eating habits!
Also Southern can be our way of just "being". To some, we live a slower life, although if you talk to my family and friends, I'm sure they would laugh at that. Bless them, they always seem so busy! I also feel like we often live a more genteel life here, but some might argue that as well. But I have rarely failed to wave at someone I don't even know, and had them not wave back! Here comes in the "Southern Catholic" part. As Catholics in this area, we are a decided minority. Some of us have experienced bigotry due to our faith. Some have experienced opposition to it (as did I when I converted). But, we love it, and defend it.
All Catholics have blessings and prayers . As southerners we have a few more. (I say with tongue in cheek) For instance, we often bless each other's hearts! Around here folks can pretty much say what they want about someone else, as long as they say "Bless their heart" at the end. My grandmother used to use that one a lot! When you are really upset with them, you might use "bless their little heart". My grandmother often let you know what she thought of others, but in a Christian way. Now, she wasn't Catholic, but I've known many "country" Catholics just like her.
We have a lot of Pot Lucks as well, with everyone bringing their best dishes. I'm sure other "northern" churches do as well, but we can guarantee we will have certain foods at them all. And those foods will have come down for generations, and are like a special kind of "communion" for us all, and will be decidedly "southern in their make up. Are you catching a theme here? We like our "vittles"!
I think, living where we do, we as southern Catholics tend to respond to overt bigotry a bit differently. When a local minister (now deceased) came up to me in my wheelchair and informed me that, "if I had the faith I should, I could get up out of that chair. I needed to 'get right' with God", I was shocked to say the least. But, told him how I, as a Catholic, saw it. He told me he would pray for me. I thanked him and told him I would do the same for him. He didn't much care for that, but what can you do? Some of us find it hard to evangelize those who think negatively of our faith, but we try anyway. We do what we can, trying to respond with love and not in kind to their bigotry. Many of us are converts who grew up hearing negative things about Catholics. As such, we have a unique opportunity to evangelize to our non-Catholic families. Some understand, some don't. We just bless their little hearts and go on about our business.
Well, hopefully I've explained a little bit of what a Southern Fried Catholic is. As time goes on and I add more posts, I'll try to flesh this out a bit more. In the mean time, may you all experience the love of God, and be blessed!
