Me to colleague: So on Sunday, while we have the readings, the children go off to the sacristy for a Sunday school thing.
Colleague: Gosh, that’s brilliant, isn’t it?
Me: Yes, and there’s a church outing, on Saturday week – all of the families are going to some kind of park. And, wait for it, the church are going to pay for us to get in.
Her: Um, are you Protestant?
And this is funny because a) I am Catholic (I have a Catholic name, Irish people can spot your religious background at 20 paces) and b) she’s right, all these luxurious family friendly initiatives were traditionally a feature of the minority faith in this jurisdiction. A powerful church does not need to woo its members; at least that’s always been the tradition here. No longer.