For example, every night neighbors would hear females voices screaming from a nearby house. They all interpreted it as spousal and/or child abuse, and after a week finally called the authorities. Turns out, a woman and her daughter were practicing their parts for a community theatre production.

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From the outside, the neighbors’ interpretation seemed very reasonable. They had little doubt about what was happening. But the family knew exactly what the screaming meant.

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Likewise, from the outside looking in, it seems reasonable to assess that Catholics worship Mary, the saints, the pope, and a piece of bread. Practices witnessed from those on the outside looking in are easily misinterpreted as such. That’s not at all what Catholics do….. but sometimes you have to be part of the family in order to fully see.