Comments on As the Catholic Church Leads in News of Religion

Go to Religion is a Sham - Add a comment - Go to As the Catholic Church Leads in News of Religion

actually

this might be a long comment

that's all right

ok?

it is interesting how the Church operates. I have problems with such opulent buildings -- they serve the purpose of inspiring awe. Like a Cadillac. This all happens while so many people, particularly those that the Church is purported to serve, are going hungry, without clothes, living in hovels and the women are giving birth at the rate of one a year -- with about 90% infant mortality and the somen dying ihn their 30's and 40's -- all because of the Church's policy on birth control. The money going toward the huge cathedrals could be better used lifting these people up out of poverty.

In St. Louis, the Archdiocese (which is an overbearing edifice, taking over property and treating people like dirt [and with the help of the City Fathers, who are predominantly of the Church]) closes down parishes indiscriminately due to financial problems, having sold off thousand of acres for commercial use to raise money, and decides it's time to take over a prish that heretofore was ignored, but the parish itself has a couple million in assets, thriving when others aren't, and take control of its millions in assets -- then has the nerve to deny communion to the parish's board of directors, who are reflecting the wishes of the parishioners and resisting the takeover.

The Church as a whole it seems acts just like the St. Louis Archdiocese -- monolithic, patronizing, dictatorial, etc; but of course that's what they say the Church is: a dictatorship -- with one authoritarian human head.

I guess keeping so many people poor and uneducated has its advantage in that these people seldom question the authority of the Church no matter what the Church says or does.

posted by Xeno-x on April 27, 2005 at 2:02 PM | link to this | reply

There're a lot of people in the Vatican who are very devout and holy, and

there are people, as in every church and organization, who are proud, who are power hungry, greedy, etc. The Catholic church is made of of humans just as any other church or organization. Yes, the Catholic Church has a lot of beautiful churches and cathedrals and the Vatican is beautiful. The idea, at least to begin with, is to make "God's house" beautiful and fitting for Him to reside in and a place of awe for worshipers, where they could feel close to God, respectful, and humble in the presence of God's majesty. The Church was to be a place of beauty befitting God as much as possible. Giving of oneself or one's earnings back to God for all He has given us seems a small price to pay. Yes, there are a lot of Catholics who agree with you that there is too much of that when the money that went into it could feed a lot of people. The Pope is God's appointed leader of the Catholic Church and this is part of how we honor him. It seems to me that now that it is done, there will need to be upkeep, but all the rest of the money and holdings need to go where they wil do the most good instead of sitting there gaining value. Of course, when it is needed it is already there. There are many sides to this topic, and some are good and some are bad. At least, the Vatican and the various cathedrals and churches are not shrines to the priest or pope. All I can remember thinking when being shown that church in California, the Chrystal Cathedral or something like that, was that the preacher who had that built had just managed to have a shrine built to himself. I can't remember his name, just now but it will come to me.

posted by RAME on April 25, 2005 at 12:15 PM | link to this | reply

First, Pappy . . . .

The fact they even have such splendid wealth indicates a basic flaw in their philosophy, and a definite lack of spirituality. Certainly a lack of compassion for humanity in general.

As far as to whom to sell the treasures . . . You've got to be kidding! There are wealthy collectors all over the world who would pay for the art owned by the Vatican.

When are everyday Catholics, ordinary, hard-working people, going to awaken to the fact they have been duped by their religius "leaders"?

BTW, Pappy, I would think Religius leaders would be held to a higer standard of behavior than businessmen who wear expensive suits. Where did you even get that question?

posted by archiew on April 23, 2005 at 7:26 PM | link to this | reply

But what are they to do with it, archiew?

Sell it all to, who? Paint graffitti on it so it looks like an American city? And do what with the money? Maybe only sell some of it? How much do you suppose any head of state, or even head of a corporation pays for a suit of clothes? Would they be more holy if they wore blue jeans and tee shirts?

posted by pappy on April 23, 2005 at 4:51 PM | link to this | reply

well yeah

i have always had a problem with the ostentatiousness of that church
and primarily with all the money spent on lavish church buildings that could have gone to build up communities.