Ask a Catholic

[Thumpalumpacus]

Like any parent, I taught them what I thought was true.

No, not like any parent. I'm a parent too, and I didn't train him to be atheist. I didn't "teach" him what I thought to be true. I did answer his questions, without pulling any punches, just as his mother did. Just so you know, at that time his mother was Catholic.

He came to his atheism on his own, because I taught him how to smell bullshit.

And his mother converted to atheist Buddhism, more as a result of cancer causing her to doubt your god's goodness than anything else.

However, after they reached the age of 15 or so, I did not require them to attend mass with my wife and me.

Translation: I didn't teach them what I thought was true; I shopped that out to the guy I follow blindly like a sheep.[/i]

Thus far, they have not chosen to attend on their own. I went through that phase myself when I was in my teens.

How odd that you cannot even convince your own children of the truth of your beliefs ... and good for them. Maybe they will escape the harness that has stultified your life.