Catholics are ethnic creatures

Yes, Catholic definitely cling to whatever ethnicity (or ethnicities) they belong to. For the record, I'm mostly Irish, followed by a good part German, with a little Cherokee, Dutch, and English thrown into the mix. I've met few Catholics who aren't ethnic creatures. Guess what? Most are converts. I'm obsessed with all things Irish, though the church I attend was historically German. Three generations of my family have been baptized there. I'm only third-generation American-born. I can't explain the tight grasp on my ethnicity or anyone else's. Its not unique to Catholics, but it's strong amongst Catholics. I still can't understand how my great-great grandmother on my maternal grandfather's side got away with marrying an Englishman or how she found an English Catholic to begin with. Great-great Granny McGuire must have been one tough lady. I've got Irish coming in from 3/4 of my grandparents. I'll go to German things, but my heart is only really in what's Irish. Red hair could be either German or Irish, though mine looks Irish to me anyway. I've met only two people (both European) who pegged me as German. Everyone else (including others from Europe) sees an Irish girlie. As well they should. I'll have to ask Ewa again to see if she thinks I look Irish or German.