Talk:Altar Boyz

Catholic or not?

I have a question particularly about the denominational affiliation of the Altar Boyz. When I saw the show, the group struck me as ecumenical. Somebody changed the description to "Catholic," but I changed it back because I thought "Christian" was more inclusive and that's how the official site describes them.

Mark was clearly Catholic. I know that Mark felt accepted and was brought into the fold by Matthew, but is it isn't necessarily a Catholic church that Matthew and Mark were in. Mark had to reveal his "secret" that he's a Catholic in song. Why is it a secret? I know it's a direct parallel to his homosexuality, but it's still something he had to come out with.... Anyway...—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.98.85.98 (talk • contribs) .

They're definitely Catholic. The impression I always got from Epiphany was that he really was about to come out as gay, but chickened out at the last minute and changed it to be about being Catholic. Earlier songs have strong allusions to Catholicism, long before Epiphany. Episcopalian and Eastern churches share some of these characteristics, but I'm confident that Mark's attitude toward the former and the many other differences present in the latter (and the obscurity of Eastern Christianity in the West) rule these out. Quick run-down of what comes to mind, based on the soundtrack and my memory of the show:

• Wasn't Juan raised by nuns? Furthermore, Protestantism is nearly unheard of in Spanish-speaking countries.
• Abraham references a crucifix in the church during the "Genesis of the Altar Boyz" segment. Catholics make heavy use of the crucifix, but Protestants are far more likely to use a simple cross.
• Confession, featured prominantly, is a major sacrament to Catholics, but a much more private affair to Protestants.
• In We Are the Altar Boyz, there's a line "...and we can even name the saints." Saints are a large part of Catholicism, but play a lesser role–or are even condemned as a form of idoltry–among Protestants.
• "We love the wafers and the wine." Catholic communion uses special wafer-like bread. At least in my experience, Protestants always use pita bread or even leavened bread. Many protestant denominations also forgoe wine in favor of non-alcoholic grape juice, which also factors into Luke's "exhaustion".
• In Rhythm in Me: "God put Mass in English so we know what it's about." I've never heard the word 'Mass' used for a Protestant service. The bit about putting it in English a reference to how Catholic Masses were in Latin until 1962.
• In Church Rulez: Kneeling during the service is an integral part of Catholic Mass (and again, the word 'Mass' is specifically used), but far less common in Protestant services (if there are any denominations that do it at all–I'm not familiar with all of them)
• Mark references a 'Priest,' whereas Protestants favor the word 'Pastor'.
• The last line of Church Rulez is the same wording used at the end of a Catholic Mass.

Clearly, they have a rather ecumenical bent, regardless of their personal faith. The Gideons (mentioned by Mark in the first song–"if you look, you can find it in Gideon's Bible") are Protestant, for example, and Everybody Fits goes so far to say that "it doesn't matter if you face Mecca when you pray"! But, based on the evidence, I believe that it was the writers' intention for the boys to be Catholic, except of course for Abraham. I could take a few guesses at why, but this analysis is already skirting dangerously close to being original research so I'll give it a rest now! --Icarus ^(Hi!) 08:21, 12 July 2007 (UTC)