A Case Study in Writing Catholicism (Collab with Stefanie Lozinski)

I know y’all probably weren’t expecting a dose of theology today, but rest assured, this post is about writing. You see, in my post about faith in historical fiction, I mention how accurately portraying the religion of your chosen era can often mean learning new things, understanding different perspectives, and pushing aside your personal beliefs to better write those of your characters.

So today, we’ll be talking about the most controversial one of all: Catholicism.

I’m seeing more and more authors these days gloss over religious issues, doctrines, and representation in their novels because their characters would’ve been Catholic. Whether the story is set in an Irish community in 19th century New York or medieval Europe, there are many books where history, culture, and more dictates that the character would’ve been some form of Catholic or Orthodox Christian–and that scares Protestant writers. So they dilute faith elements or have their characters convert or even go so far as to make their characters Protestant (at least in thinking) when that would’ve been unlikely or even impossible.

As easy as it is to err on the side of Protestantism when writing and as simple as it may be to just cut back on some religious/faith content, it’s not right. If you want your story to be accurate, authentic, and impactful, then you must stay true to real life, no matter the time period.

But with the Christian publishing industry dominated by Protestant fiction and the world itself full of misconceptions and myths about Catholicism, it can be hard to work past our own inhibition and figure out what faith would have looked like for those in the past…which is why I’ve invited my new friend, fellow author, and Catholic, Stefanie Lozinski to answer a few questions and provide some valuable insight into Catholicism and how authors can portray it accurately and graciously in their novels!

Be Intentional and Authentic

The concept of “preachy” fiction isn’t rooted in too many Bible verses or written-out prayers. Despite common misconceptions, it actually refers to when an author basically pauses the story to get on their proverbial soapbox and rant about something that doesn’t really pertain to the story or impact their characters. This is where intentionality comes in. If you’re not careful, you can end up on your soapbox or seem preachy to readers when you ramble for multiple paragraphs about infant baptism or when the Rapture will occur.

Be intentional about what you say, how you say it, and where you say it. Not only that, but be mindful of the themes in your story and how the characters’ beliefs foster the themes or grow with them!

Moreso, be authentic. Rants and info-dumps don’t just stick out because they disrupt the flow of the story, they’re also unrealistic (unless, of course, you’re going the Hugo route and it’s totally all right if your book has random essays on cloistered religious orders and sewer systems). Instead of diluting your faith content or being willy-nilly about it, be authentic. Learn more about Catholicism and how Catholic believers think, and apply that to your characters. Be aware of their lifestyles, culture, backstory, and more, and make sure their faith plays a part in all of it!

When in doubt, just make sure you haven’t turned your novel into an exposition on theology, that you’re not forcing faith elements or doctrines where they don’t belong, and that you’re staying true to the essence of Scripture and Catholicism!

Stefanie, how can authors be authentic in their portrayals of Catholic believers?

I think this is a complicated question and a simple question! For the complicated part of it, see my answers below. ;) For the simple part, I think it helps to remember to approach your writing with a firm understanding that you are not just writing fiction, but writing fiction that impacts the hearts and even souls of real people. This is true for me as a second-world fantasy author, but it’s even more true if you’re looking to include elements of a real religion and faith community in your story.

What does authentic faith look like for you–both in your personal life and in what you read?

For me, authentic faith is something that influences a person through every part of their lives. Catholics and non-Catholics can agree that Jesus Christ isn’t just an abstract “idea”, He’s the Word made flesh. He dwelt among us so that he could bring us into His body and transform us to be like Him!

That’s how I try to live my “real life”, too - my faith isn’t just a label, or something I do on Sunday, but something that elevates everything else.

Now, for how this applies specifically to writing about Catholics, I think some of the misunderstandings about the Catholic faith can play a role… and therefore this element becomes even more important to get right.

Use Common Sense

I haven’t had the chance to write Catholic characters beyond a short story and a few minor characters yet, but based on what I’ve read/heard, I had a good idea of what Catholicism was like in the past–specifically medieval times–and how it might play out in future stories.

Then I started talking with Stefanie, and she broke down a few common misconceptions and myths about Catholics/Catholicism that were literally like no duh when I heard her explanations!

A lot of times, we assume that we know it all (guilty) and that everything we hear or see is true (also guilty). As with anything, we cannot rely on television, social media, other people, or even books to give us a well-rounded and real view of the world. Instead, we’ve got to do our research…and use common sense.

When Stefanie explained these things to me, I was honestly ashamed of myself for not seeing them sooner! Had I thought things through and used common sense instead of just assuming, I would’ve discovered that not everything I’d believed was true or even realistic.

And naturally, if something is important in real life, it’s bound to be important when writing! Whatever you do, don’t rely on what you’ve heard or seen, and don’t just roll with the punches. When it comes to real history and religion, you’re better off doing your research, talking with trusted sources, and using your noggin to process information and cross-reference whatever you hear with what you know is true!

What are some myths about Catholicism throughout history that people are quick to assume are true?

This could literally be a book-length answer, and books like that have been written, haha. I think that as a general rule, Protestants underestimate just how many blatant falsehoods and misrepresentations about Catholicism exist in our general culture. Even worse, they’re often parroted by otherwise extremely smart and knowledgeable people!

If you want to write honestly about Catholics, I think that it’s really wise to take that into account and really think about everything you hear, even if you’ve heard it all of your life. When you see something that seems really big and scary and awful, take the time to examine it charitably–in other words, examine the claim just as you would want someone to examine a claim made about someone in your faith tradition.

Off the top of my head…wow, I am not kidding when I say I could write a huge list. I am reluctant to, because each myth would require a refutation of its own, and I don’t want to throw a list out and say “trust me, these are myths”!

How can authors use common sense and be open-minded to better understand Catholicism in history?

A big problem I see is that there are a lot of non-Catholic Christians who assume that Catholicism =/= random Catholics they’ve met, and this can lead to them writing “Catholic” characters that are not particularly good representatives of authentic Catholicism. And in some stories, that totally works. If you want to write about an Irish petty criminal in 1950’s Boston, it could be really interesting to show this person as a “cultural Catholic”–someone who gets their kids baptized, goes to Mass a few times a year, maybe even hits the confessional or prays a Rosary when someone is ill. But if you’re going to present that as a character that merely needs the “true Gospel” of Protestant Christianity, you’re going to probably offend Catholic readers. Not necessarily because a character in your book left the Church, but because the character never actually practiced or understood Catholicism to begin with. (Which is, of course, largely the fault of other Catholics, sadly.)

When we get deeper into historical eras for our characters, this can be even more glaring. I think there is a very tempting tendency for us to take our modern perceptions of Christianity (Catholics can be guilty of this, too) and try to shoehorn them into history. It really makes me sad when I see books in medieval settings where the characters basically think and worship exactly like non-denominational Protestants, but wear habits and go to Mass. It’s just not accurate, and it’s the kind of thing that would lead to most Catholic readers simply dropping the book.

I think the key is to try your best to leave your own interpretive lens at the door (because we all have one!) and get to know your characters from the ground up. Don’t think “Okay, I want to write about a nun! Oh, I heard Catholics weren’t allowed to read the Bible, I’d better make a story about a nun who reads it for herself and realizes that Purgatory isn’t biblical!” Maybe a silly example, lol, but you hopefully can get what I’m driving at. As a matter of historical fact, Catholic and Orthodox conceptions of Christianity were the mainstream of ALL Christianity until the Reformation of Luther and then others (and the English Reformation and so forth, but trying to keep a crazy complex thing simple). If your characters are going to have this very innovative theological position, you need to explain that and make it make sense–you can’t just pre-suppose that your character is working from the same frame of reference you are!

For example, a nun in Assisi in 1315 would find the idea of picking up the Bible (which wasn’t so easy for many reasons, few of which had anything to do with the Church trying to hide anything IN the Bible…I’ll share some more info about this closer to the end) and interpreting it with her own authority to just be an unthinkable thing to do. To that character, the Bible was something intimately linked to the broader community and the authority of the Church. That’s where you need to start, even if you later have a character that may doubt that premise - you have to acknowledge what that basic lens of interpretation would have been before you can deviate from it.

Sure, you may not get everything right about the history–who can?!–but it will go a long way for Catholic (or Orthodox, who notice a lot of the same issues) readers when they see you are trying to paint Christianity in a historically accurate and charitable way.

I guess this only partly answered your question, lol! I would say that it all goes back to what I said above–the golden rule. Treat other faith traditions with the same “iron sharpens iron” attitude that you would want if someone else was portraying your community and your beliefs.

Do What You Can to Understand

In the same vein of applying common sense to what you’ve been told about Catholicism, you’ve also got to dig deep. Let go of your prejudices or personal beliefs and do what you can to understand what Catholicism is and why people believe it! After all, we live in a world where the Bible and the teachings of so many people are available at the push of a button–and yet people still wholeheartedly believe Catholicism. There must be a reason Catholicism has existed and endured longer than any other form of Christianity, so find that out! Discover the heart behind the doctrines and dogmas…learn how Catholics see the world and interpret their theology and others’...and then apply that to your characters! Sure, Catholicism has evolved over the years, and your characters aren’t going to have the same culture and views as Catholics do today…but the foundation is the same, and the farther you dig, the more you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the minds of Catholics from two, three, or even six hundred years ago!

What can authors do to better understand Catholics, especially those from bygone eras?

Read the best Catholic authors, listen to the best Catholic speakers, and visit the best Catholic Masses! While it *should* be the case that we can find good doctrine from any source that uses the name Catholic (it used to be much more like that, which may help you to make sense of why the Church has historically been much more authoritative rather than individualistic/libertarian than many modern Protestant communities) it simply is not. Don’t just ask a friend you know who is Catholic without checking and double checking their information. Don’t just google “do Catholics believe x” and find the first link and assume it’s accurate.

Try and imagine a Catholic reader who loves God and picked up your book reading it. I would hope that if you’re reading this, you would want that person to feel that you presented their deeply-held beliefs in a fair light even if you disagree with them. :)

What resources or methods do you have for authors learning more about Catholicism?

I really, really wish I could just recommend that you go to your nearest Church and walk up to the nearest friendly face. I find it deeply painful and embarrassing that in some cities/regions that might lead you to be even more confused about Catholicism than you were before! That’s not to say you shouldn’t visit a Catholic Church or go to Mass (you can learn a lot and it would be very interesting to witness just how deeply steeped in Scripture the entire Mass is), but I would personally advise that you should first reach out to a solid Catholic to direct you to a parish that will genuinely represent Catholicism rather than showing off terrible 1970s music, heretical sermons, or just plain irreverent and poorly done liturgy. I told Grace that anyone reading this is free to reach out to me - I have become a bit of a pro at finding all of the key things on parish websites that tell you whether or not it’s going to be a solid, authentically Catholic community where Christ is honored.

Phew, that aside, thank goodness for the many, many resources available on the internet.

Firstly, I want to recommend Catholic.com, otherwise known as Catholic Answers. While there are certain areas I feel that they could do better (especially with downplaying just how many problems there are in the Church today, with the bishops, with the Pope, etc.), as a whole they are a VERY accessible and fascinating resource. You can ask basically anything you can think of and find a wealth of info. They also run daily call-in shows where you can speak to a brilliant apologist and ask anything your heart desires, and you certainly don’t have to be Catholic to reach out to them. They also have dozens of playlists with clips on all kinds of topics, including hundreds of call-ins and the answers they gave here on Youtube.

Another great podcast is run by one of the apologists from Catholic Answers, Trent Horn–the “Counsel of Trent” podcast. He talks about allll kinds of topics.

For more traditional Catholic sources, I can’t recommend the channel Sensus Fidelium on Youtube enough. This channel is dedicated to sermons (many very short and easy to quickly listen to) from traditional-minded priests. Though it may *look* a little daunting with so much there at first glance, this is a GREAT place to get information on Saints, which will also help you get better context to write historical Catholic characters in an authentic way. It also is a great resource for understanding some of the more specific Catholic traditions, learning about Catholic feast days, how we understand certain passages of Scripture, and more.

ScriptureCatholic is another favorite. Like the title says, the author discusses how the Catholic faith relates to Scripture, but it’s so much more. You can find so many great articles, like “How do you become a priest?” “What are the Last Rites?” and it’s presented in a readable but still in-depth way.

Finally, there are books! Wonderful books! There are way too many to list, but I would highly recommend anything by Scott Hahn or Steve Ray. They are both former Protestants, so they really know the Bible incredibly well and know where non-Catholics are coming from. You can’t go wrong. Also, Dr. Brant Pitre! His talk on Youtube was life-changing for me in how I understood how the Old Covenant makes sense with the New. SO good. I also have his book “The Case for Jesus” which I recommend to anyone who needs help understanding or explaining to others why the Gospels are reliable.

Phew! That was a lot. Like I said, if you need specific resources on something, feel free to reach out to me and I am glad to help. :)

Be Respectful

Stefanie has already mentioned many times how important it is that you see your story from readers’ perspectives–specifically Catholic readers. And I know this one firsthand! I have many readers who are Catholic, and one of them was a beta reader for Bound and Determined. One of my characters made a short, thoughtless remark about Catholicism, and Hannah pointed it out and commented how she cringed reading it. That absolutely broke my heart, because my intention was not to offend her or anyone else, so I ended up taking it out.

Naturally, you won’t be able to please everyone…but you’re obligated to please the people you’re writing about, so whatever you do…be respectful. Even when working with prejudiced characters and persecution, make sure you’re giving everyone their due (not to sound like a socialist, of course). After all, why would we root for a character if the author herself is constantly undermining and poorly representing their beliefs?

If you wouldn’t want someone to write that Baptists are all judgmental snobs, or that Holiness or Amish Christians are all pious prudes, or that Pentecostals are just plain insane…then don’t be disrespectful to Catholics. Even if your character converts in the end, portray Catholicism honestly and respectfully. If anything, it’s the Christian thing to do!

And like I said in my historical fiction post, be respectful of the era and culture as well! There were certain things people didn’t know or understand in the past, but that didn’t make them any less intelligent or less of a Christian than we are now!

Conclusion

I know this post turned out long, but trust me. Stefanie and I were cutting it short this time! This topic is so broad and multifaceted, but hopefully this will get you started on your research and help you focus on the right things–portraying Catholicism intentionally, authentically, respectfully, and with common sense and understanding!

If you have any more questions, feel free to drop them in the comments or shoot me a message through the contact form here…or get in touch with Stefanie on Instagram, Facebook, or her website! Y’all, this lady is a wellspring of information and a delight to talk to, and she would be more than happy to answer any questions you have!

Do you have any Catholic characters? How have you been portraying them and their beliefs so far? How has this post helped guide you in representing Catholicism in fiction?