People don't belong in boxes

So, I've been thinking about the labels connected to certain belief systems.   For instance, I am a Catholic.  I hadn't been a practicing Catholic for many years and have re-committed to attending church regularly with my son.  I considered going to another church but there is comfort in knowing what expect.  I was a little annoyed that they changed some of the responses because I have to follow along in the guide now. 

There are some things that go along with "being a Catholic" that should define who we are but do they?  For instance, did you know that 98% of Catholics use birth control.  Clearly, the Catholic church is against birth control.  They actually protested Obama's plan to guarantee a health care provision for birth control.  I'm thinking that Catholics married or not are against unplanned pregnancies so they take birth control despite the Catholic churches stance.  I'm not suggesting that an entire religion should change it's belief system because we don't want to follow the rules but the world has changed.  There was a time when the mortality rate for babies and children was very high.  It was important to encourage procreation to insure the survival of our race and our religion.  Today, we have become adept at saving babies, children and mothers.   Clearly, the Bible is against pre-marital sex and adultry but it might make sense to condone birth control for married couples.  In fact, I know this isn't possible but the church requires classes before couples are married by the church maybe they should require classes before you can have sex without birth control.  Don't get all up in arms people!  I'm just saying that I can name at least 5 BIG cases where people should clearly NOT have children--EVIL people not the guy that spanks his son in Walmart.  Keep in mind, this is a forum for MY opinion only.  Seriously, there are people that do not have the ability to place their children's needs before their own at an extreme level and they should not be parents.

The other belief box that bugs me are Republicans versus Democrats.  Honestly, what does abortion and same sex marriage have to do with politics?  These are MORAL and PERSONAL issues.  I am a professed Republican but I have taken the quizzes encompassing the candidate that matches your views and for 2012 there isn't one.  Should I vote for a Democrat?  OMG--I don't know.  So the box I don't fit into--I would not have an abortion but I do NOT believe that this is a political issue.  I beleive that all individuals should be able to love and spend the rest of their life with their soul mate if they are of age and if they are the same sex--that's OK.  I don't believe that we should open the immigration flood gates but they do need to be monitored and we should ALWAYS give people the opportunity to become a US citizen especially if they will pay taxes.  On that note, we have a government that needs to be funded in some way and I believe that everyone should pay a fair portion of their income to help run our country.  I do think that the upper middle class is getting screwed but the rich people don't want to let go of more than they have to and they have the money and influence to make sure that doesn't happen.  I believe that we should promote the growth of business and industry as much as possible however I do not believe that we should put our natural resources in peril. 

Last but not least, I hate the term feminist.  If I want to be independent and have the same rights that men do why do you have to put a label on me that has become a negative connotation?  I know it's hard to believe that all women do not like to cook and clean.  (Gasp!)  It's true--cooking and cleaning sucks.  It really sucks in the Summer when it's hot outside.  I also hate to do laundry and fold clothes so I have a lot of clothes so I can go a long time without washing clothes.  This does not mean that I don't want to be with a man.   It doesn't mean that I don't like to work with men.  It just means that we want to be the same--as much as possible. 

So, I am a Catholic and I am a registered Republican.  I am an independent woman who is married and I am a Mother but I don't fit in the belief boxex.  Does anyone?