One of my closest friends from highschool was born in Glasgow and moved to Canada around age 10.

He once told me a funny story from his childhood that, I believe, explains the perpetuation of the nonsense.



One day he returned home from school (about age 6 at the time) and cheerily reported to his mother, " Mum, guess wut? I beat up a catholic today!"

His mother, a wonderful lady, cuffed him hard across the ear, while telling him, in no uncertain terms, he was not to start fights with people simply because of their religion and further, to repect their choice of beliefs.

His wailing reply, through tears was: "Mum, what's a catholic anyway?"