I usually prepare myself to be disappointed when celebrities begin to share their religious beliefs and opinions. As a fan of Elvis Costello’s music, however, I was happy see to him speaking respectfully about his Catholic upbringing in a recent interview:
You were brought up Catholic?
Yes, I was. I don’t go to church, or have the beliefs I was brought up in. But I grew up just after the scare-you-out-of-your-wits era, and didn’t encounter any of the unfortunate people for whom, perhaps, the demands of the prohibitions were too great for their nature, and hence these horrendous abuses of the power that they had over children. I had friends who did experience it. But I won’t just fall in with the demonization of the clergy, because I have in my life kind experiences [with priests and nuns]. I mean, nuns taught me to read, That was my fortune, and somebody else will have a totally different experience. And that’s the danger of making these broad statements, that ‘all those people over there, they’re all this thing.’
The interview was a part of Costello’s promotions for his latest CD, National Ransom, which features some religiously and politically themed lyrics.
I can’t vouch for the contents of the CD, as I haven’t listened to it yet, but I do find it refreshing to hear a celebrity speak respectfully about Catholicism, even if it is a faith he has largely abandoned. Costello is absolutely right when he says that Catholicism and especially the clergy are easy targets for criticism these days, and I am grateful to see that at least one popular singer is refusing to get on that bandwagon.
(Of course, not every “former Catholic” is a celebrity giving interviews. You might even have some in your own family or neighborhood. A great resource for evangelizing fallen away Catholics, celebrity or otherwise, is Catholics Come Home. With education at the parish level and national media campaigns, Catholics Come Home reaches out to inactive Catholics and invites them to “come home” to their roots of faith.)
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Something else in common with us - my dh introduced me to Elvis Costello’s music and I’m a fan now as well. His rendition of ‘She’ (heard on the soundtrack of “Notting Hill”) is one of our favorite songs as a couple. I am also grateful for another artist who - while no longer practicing - is not raging against the Church as so many ex-Catholics do (Rosie O’Donnell, Charlotte Church and Sinead O’Connor come to mind).
WOW I agree it is nice for someone to realize his growing up Catholic was not a death sentence.
It’s pretty sad when the best we can hope for is that “former Catholics” don’t completely trash their upbringing
I always chuckle when I listen to Elvis Costello’s “The Angels Wanna Wear my Red Shoes” because I imagine he’s singing about Pope Benedict!
Rachel: Notting Hill is one of my wife’s and my favorite “couple” movies. We can still be heard to mutter, “Not bad, not bad at all. Well chosen briefs I must say. Chicks dig grey.” And we liked the soundtrack as well. We did, at least, we did until, in typical purile fashion, we changed the lyric in “She” to “cheese.” E.g., “Cheese… may be the reason I survive; The why and wherefore I’m alive .... The meaning of my life is… cheese!” You wouldn’t believe how that changed the effect the song has on us.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Elvis Costello’s music and it is nice to hear this respectful view of his Catholic upbringing. I also pray that someday he returns to the practice of his faith. He sounds like an intelligent and thoughtful man…
I’ve never heard his music but then again i’m not a big fan of any music really. I think that its a shame when he speaks about being ‘brought up catholic’ then the conversation turns to clergy, nuns, abuse and tolerance. Why not its: Good, True and Beautiful?
@ Marilyn, Me too! and I blast it and sing out, “Why, Why, Why, Why?” and then, of course, there’s “Blame it on Cain”...
I saw him 9th row, center about 20 years ago. He said goodbye after three songs, when he came out for an encore he stayed for nearly two hours—everyone stood the whole time thinking each song would be his last. Crazy Declan.
Why don’t we all pitch in and send him some Catholic’s Come Home stuff?
For whoever is not against us is for us. (Mark 9:40)
Good for us that Elvis is not against us, but not good enough for him to get into heaven.
Amy Joy has the right idea.
-Tim-
It is great to learn of Elvis upbringing, but it is sad that he has distanced himself today. May he come home to his roots.
He may have largely abandoned the faith and he is very much a immersed in British left wing politics but he always spoke well of his Irish Catholic background, maybe if nothing else it made him feel some sort of a rebel against British conservative society(which in his youth was still overtly anti-catholic).
I think his faith will become more valuable to him as he continues to age and is able to reflect on the last several decades.
“I don’t go to Church or have the beliefs I was brought up in.” “I grew up just after the scare-you-out-of-your-wits era…” and you find him speaking respectfully of the Church? He is trying to let pedophile priests blame the Church. He has rejected the sacraments and grace. You should rethink your position on this one Danielle. We should be grateful he doesn’t lump all priests together? That’s not respect.
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