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Archiver > AUS-SAGEN > 2003-09 > 1063698016


From: Gil Hardwick <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-SAGEN] German Catholics
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2003 15:40:16 +0800
References: <5.1.0.14.0.20030915180330.02cc5a80@mail.giant.net.au>
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20030915180330.02cc5a80@mail.giant.net.au>


At 04:07 PM 15/09/03, Cheryl Briody wrote:
>Hi Listers,
>
>Just a short query.
>
>Where would German Catholics have worshipped if they moved to the Barossa
>in the 1880's, or would they have changed to Lutheran??? in order to speak
>German.
>
>I have found rellies in the Vital Records of Western Europe and they are
>baptised and married as Catholics. I know that on arrival in SA they
>practised as Lutherans. Was it common to change religions, or should I
>disregard these Catholics in the records as not mine, even though they fit
>perfectly??

Hi Cheryl,

There is some danger in making too much of these apparent
differences between Catholics and others. There have only
ever been passing antagonisms mostly brought about by the
shenanigans of some ruler or power-broker from time to time,
when to most ordinary people it simply does not matter that
much.

Especially here in Australia, to where many people came to
get away from all that nonsense, you are far more likely to
find that people sorted things out as they went along.

Most committed Christians were quite happy enough to have
any church nearby, no matter what the denomination or style
of worship, and if one parent was Catholic and the other, say,
Congregationalist, they would usually agree on how the kids
were to be raised between themselves.

Or just as likely avoid the Catholic Church because of a bad
priest, or the Anglican because the gentry in the congregation
looked down on them, or some other because the Deacon was
"a bit queer" as they used to say in those days.

A good story related to us on DPS a couple of years ago was
about a vicar being too strict on his parishioners over tythes,
and ending up himself in prison for bankruptcy and only being
allowed out on Sundays to preach his sermon.

And as you say, your own people probably attended worship
with the Lutherans because they spoke German.

You have to look at each situation separately.

Gil

=========================================
"If you are going to argue with someone there is no point
doing so on the basis of your own assumptions. They will
have no idea what you are talking about."


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