I went to a kinda fundamentalist Protestant private school (which was chiefly attended and operated by United Church members), and as one of the few people from a Catholic background, I can remember two occasions where I was explicitly mocked and derided for my family’s faith from staff members there. I will never forget that. It was so humiliating and insulting. Overzealous, insecure adults going on power trips about how their only somewhat different brand of the same religion is superior to 10 and 12 year olds. Super pathetic.

Other students there never cared for anything like that, because most of the kids there couldn’t even tell you what denomination their family was. But lemme tell you as a Catholic at a Protestant school, it was no distinct pleasure being there and in the crosshairs when those over-religious nutjobs showed their true beliefs.

I’m an atheist now though, and have firmly been for about 15 years. I was always hesitant and sceptical — I even remember in Grade 1 we were read a cartoon, kid-friendly version of the Adam and Eve story in the school library, and I distinctly recall thinking it was nonsensical and far-fetched. Obviously one can’t adequately express that at all at such an age, but I never firmly believed. Of course I had to keep that shit a tight secret. Regardless, what will irk me until the end of my days is the lengthy rap sheet of crimes the Catholic church committed over centuries. It is truly and deeply disgusting. I am so glad to no longer be affiliated with that horrible institution, which is all lovey-dovey now, but only is because it can no longer arrest, torture, or execute us for not believing in its dogma.