I attended a catholic school. Every Monday the priest would come into the class and ask who did or did not attend mass on the Sunday. Of course he always seemed to know who didn't go before even asking and the ones who didn't go (and I'm talking about 13 year old kids here) would be brought to the front of the class and have their heads held under a cold water tap. Also at weekly assembly we would be told by the headmaster not to associate with the "animals" from the surrounding "non-catholic" schools. ie protestant schools. Some of my best friends attended those schools and anyone who socialised with other "nons" were victimised by the visiting priests. There was an instance onetime where all the secondary schools in Scotland were having fund raising days to raise money for the Ethiopian famine and my school and many otyher catholic schools refused to take part because some of the funds would be used to supply contraceptives to these unfortunate people.
I completely agree with you JP that not all catholics and priests are evil and many peoples lives are improved by the faith that the catholic church brings them but for myself and countless others a catholic upbringing is a thoroughly miserable experience. The world would be a better place if kids were allowed to wait and make their own minds up as to which faith they choose to follow instead of being brainwashed (quite a harsh term but thats basically what it comes down to) at such an early age by one particular religion.
Precisely why my youngest daughter is being brought up in my faith [Catholic] and the faith of her father, [Methodist] so she can make her own choice when the time is right.
Amity I feel for you, I went to Catholic grade school and then Catholic high school and we didnt have any incidents like what you describe. Someone should have turned your school in to the Bishop and failing that, the law.
I went to catholic school my entire life. There are benefits to the environment. Less distractions for the outter world. You also look younger because facial hair and hip clothing are not allowed. We used to go out to the mall after school and all the public school kids looked so much older. We looked like middle school students.
But, as much as I hated my catholic school experience, I would not be the lovable, arrogant, upper class ******* I am today. So, take that for what you will.
If your parents want you to go for the religious aspect of it, then they are fooling themselves. The best way to get your child to resent the catholic church, send them to catholic school. That is assuming you are capable of thinking for yourself.