As you see yourself, I once saw myself; as you see me now, you will be seen. - Richard Rodriguez

Q: Why do I stay in the Catholic Church?

Every generation of Americans since has had to reenact the loss of our innocence. Smog over L.A. was the loss of our innocence. Vietnam was the loss of our innocence. Gettysburg was the loss of our innocence. Ingrid Bergman’s baby was the loss of our innocence. Oklahoma City was the loss of our innocence. The World Trade Center was the loss of our innocence. Other nations are cynical. America has preferred the child’s game of “discovering” evil—Europe’s or Asia’s, her grandfather’s, even her own.

I am speaking of those years before the middle class took professional wrestling away from the working class and made of our morality play a mockery of ambition.