Ah you're a Catholic!

[Appleday11]

I moved to England to work last year. I'm Irish.

When I arrived at my workplace, one of my colleagues said "Ah you are Irish, this is a nice city, there is a Catholic church down the road that you can go to".

I think she was trying to be helpful but I thought it was quite bizarre. I'm not Catholic and I told her so.

Second time - I was out in the pub with a mixed group of people. Some of them I had never met before. One man said "ah you're Irish, you're a Catholic!" I told him Im not.

Third time- I was at another group. A woman said to me "you are Irish. Ah so you like such and such. And you are a Catholic". I told her I am not.

I found it strange as I have never really thought about religiom. Do some people here think that all Irish people are Catholics? My family were not religious at all and I was never brought up any religion

I think it’s a common assumption amongst the older generation because religious observance was very high in Ireland (highest in Western Europe) until relatively recently. Obviously Ireland has changed a great deal in the last 40 years though.

No, I hate cats

My colleague, who said it, is 38! That is not very old.

It’s a very weird thing to come out with that assumption in this day and age, imo.

It is right! Even if a country has a majority religion , I have never assumed what religion anyone is. I was born at time when the Catholic church were popular but families still did their own thing.

Spain has been traditionally Catholic, but my good Spanish friend has no religion. Her family didnt believe in it. Never baptised.

I'm also Irish and living in London and I think this is quite bizarre.

Then again, I don't know many Irish or English people who are particularly religious, or who tend to talk about religion.

It's a common assumption, based on the past, when it had a strong chance of being true. I've worked with many Arabic people over the years who pretty much all assumed I'd be a Christian (which I'm not) - I just took it as their assumption based on probability.

How old are you?
Were you christened and then didn’t practice or literally raised no religion?
Were your parents raised catholic/ other religion?

I think London is more multi cultural anyway and also more busy. People have barely said hello to me when Ive been in London, let alone comment on my religion.

Its very different in the smaller cities and towns in England. I find that people often comment on anything thats slightly different to their way of life

This is bizarre. I'm Irish in London with a very Oirish name and in 20 years no one has said such a thing to me. I wonder if you're in a town with a particular history of anti Irish/Catholic sentiment and people try to compensate?

I would assume you were probably from a Catholic background but not that you were actually a Catholic

I can't imagine mentioning it to you though

Im 42. I was never christened, I was raised no religion.

My family were not religious in the slightest.
My father was raised no religion. My mother was raised Catholic, but she didnt like it. She told me that she didnt think that any religion should be forced on a child. She told me that she always thought that people should be able to decide for themselves as an adult if they wanted a religion or not.

I tend to not assume someone's religion (or even if they have a religion) unless they're wearing something that explicitly (or potentially) marks them out as of a particular faith.

It is a little strange that people assume you must be Catholic. Just because something is the majority viewpoint doesn't mean that everyone adheres to it.

I don't think they mean anything by it and are just trying to be friendly and helpful. I'd suggest just politely correcting their assumption.

London is a VERY different place to small town/small city England.

I think its quite bad really to say it at work. If my boss said to me. Here is a new person, Mary is starting here. She has moved from Ireland.

And I said "ah mary you're from Ireland, you are a Catholic! Im sure i could get into trouble for being offensive and stereotyping

I’m the same age and Irish. I know hardly anyone who was raised no religion and only a handful of people who were raised a different religion.
Most people I know were christened Catholic though most of them rarely if ever go to Mass. Even now, most of the people in my community automatically get their kids christened even though they don’t really practice otherwise.
I haven’t had my dc christened. There’s only 2 others in her class at school who won’t be making their communion and people are still asking me would I not just get dc christened.
If someone assumed I was Catholic I wouldn’t bat an eyelash.
It is interesting to me that you’re surprised by it.
It must be different in different parts of Ireland.

Do you have a first name that might traditionally be associated with Catholicism e.g Assumpta, Magdalen, I'm sure there are more ordinary names with similar associations. I have a friend called Miriam who is often assumed to be Jewish, largely due to her name, but isn't.

My father's family are Irish (ROI) and, as it happens, are largely practicing Catholics; but I'd never assume it of a random Irish person I met in a non-religious context!

No I don't have a religious name. Why would my mother do that when my mother was very non religious. :)

I don't have an Irish name. I have a name that is common in both Ireland and England. One like Jane, Laura, Sarah

That's a bit weird for a number of reasons:

1. To assume you are religious based the country you come from.
2. To assume what your religion is based on the country you come from.
3. To bring it up in conversation as if it's normal small talk or relevant in any way.

My grand parents were Irish and Catholic and I wouldn't make that assumption about anyone from Ireland.

Yes Im sure its different all over Ireland. The Catholic church presumably had more power in some parts than others.

I remember in my school there were a good few of us that weren't Catholic. We got out of doing religion class and had extra study at that time.

Do some people here think that all Irish people are Catholics?

Yes

Some people here also think Irish = supporting the IRA and that NI & ROI are the same country

Oh just chill would ye. My DH is a Dub - Northsider with a working class accent and he's often clocked as an Irish Catholic at home and here in the UK. He's actually Presbyterian.

Funniest episode was in a Unionist area in Northern Ireland when he went into a pub and ordered a pint...but that's for another day.

So it does happen to him in the UK.

No I won't just chill, thanks

I have worked throughout Britain since around 2010 and have absolutely NEVER had anyone verbalise an assumption about my religion.

That may be because specifically, I am from Northern Ireland and it may be seen as a total ‘no-no’ subject to even mention 🤣

I wonder if they are trying to open up conversation. I wouldnt think anything of it.