How Catholic Is Boston? How Religious Are Its Catholics?

[InchingWest]

Originally Posted by robr2

IMHO, that would be safe to call them. I like to call them EC (Easter Christmas) Catholics.

Or CEO's.

Christmas & Easter Onlies!

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by richardwhitman

When you say "raise[d] with religion" do you mean you celebrate Christmas together, or do you mean that the kids are told that God's always watching, never commit sins x y or z, Jesus died for us, etc.?

Actually CCD classes, confirmation, baptism, talking about God and hell and heaven.

They make the honest effort despite their lack of beliefs mostly to appease family members who may be full believers.

Originally Posted by richardwhitman

I said this in reply to BostonMike7, and was wondering if that's is what he meant be "raising his kids with religion". I also identify as an atheist, and can see why maybe someone might describe celebrating Christmas as raising children with some religious elements in their life.

Also as an atheist, I feel comfortable saying that my life (particularly my winters) would be significantly less enjoyable if I didn't celebrate Christmas.

I think some of my response was miscommunicated. I don't raise my children under any sort of religion. We traditionally "celebrate" Easter and Xmas, but it's more about family, and less about the religious aspects. In other words, "Easter is when the easter bunny comes and we have a family dinner" or "Christmas is about being good to others, and coming together as a family and when santa comes". It's not that hard to dance around the religious aspects and focus more on family and goodwill. And like you said, my winters would be much less enjoyable without Christmas. It's my favorite holiday to celebrate...and I'm an atheist.


But what I meant when I said "raising with religion" was friends who are atheist/agnostic, but from traditionally Catholic families sort of "going through the motions" of sending their kids to CCD, or catholic schools and talking about God due to the historically religious nature of their family.


My family is like that, but I can't tell my kid one thing, while I believe another.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by Northeasterner1970

No, there are a lot of Catholics but they are not very religious for the most part. Also understand that much of the catholic population is now coming from Hispanics, not so much the Irish or Italians anymore.

Hispanics yes. Brazilians no. Most were raised Catholic, but convert to Baptist, Pentecostal or another Protestant faith when they get here. The Baptist church in West Acton has evening services in Portuguese for the Brazilian community.

[stanley-88888888]

most of the ethnicities in the boston area are heavily catholic. irish, italian, haitian, domican, salvadorian, ...

[intheclouds1]

Boston is just as religious as any other north eastern city. Nothing to crazy lol.