Comments on I Don't Understand Catholics!!

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Scary thought, Ren

But it's not just Catholics. The same kind of things can happen in many churches, and other organizations (schools...daycares..stepparent...relatives). I don't know that there is any way to protect the ones you love but to keep them with you ALL the time. I don't think you can blame the religion or those who follow the religion for what has happened. They didn't do it, many of them did not know about or try to cover it up. That's something the leadership did (does in some cases), and the regular people don't know about it. If they did, they might leave. Then where do the leaders get their power? So the leaders keep quiet...but that makes those individuals the WORST kind of hypocrites because they are not following what their religion (and they) teach.

posted by TooeleWriterGal on January 27, 2004 at 12:43 PM | link to this | reply

this debate will get nowhere...the issues don't meet...there's Catholicism as a faith just like democracy as a political system...then there is the Catholic Church that governs a faithful of one billion scaterred around the world...there will always be issues about compliance and alignments just like any government and organisations...the Catholic Church is the longest surviving institution in the world inspite of its problems of schicisms, reformations, fallouts, miscreants,

Give it credit for longevity and governance...show me an institution as large and better managed...

posted by byebye on January 27, 2004 at 12:43 PM | link to this | reply

I'm not saying you're a bad person...

but I know you think I am. So be it. Enough said. Find God your way and I will find Him mine. Goodbye and God bless.

posted by Midi on January 27, 2004 at 12:17 PM | link to this | reply

Okay, okay, I get it. The mass is just so beautiful and because I'm so fucking stupid, that makes it okay to just forget about what happened to all those innocent children. Yeah, let's just keep going there and supporting that religion because it makes ME feel so great. There's no real need to even think about any of those little boys that got fucked in the ass by your priests. I'm just an asshole, alright? How dare me have compassion for the horrific pain and suffering these kids went through. How could I bring this up???? I am a very bad person.  But at least, I AM NOT A CATHOLIC--Thank God.

posted by Passionflower on January 27, 2004 at 12:11 PM | link to this | reply

I also recommend attending a mass just once

and seeing that all you've ever heard about the Catholic church is not really true. I love the simple beauty of the mass, focused on Christ's death, resurrection, and coming again, and His being our salvation, being the only worth one, dying to bring us life.
I'm sorry Ren, I was going to try to stay out of your blog. I'm trying.

posted by Midi on January 27, 2004 at 11:58 AM | link to this | reply

I don't understand catholics

Maybe the reason you don't understand  The Catholic Church is because you don't make a sincere, truthful effort to learn about Church teachings and practices. You problem with our so-called boring rituals (i.e. The Mass) is nothing that I haven't heard fellow catholics whine about. In that sense, you're just like them. You're selfishly focused on "what am I GETTING out of this?" The "ME syndrome" does not check its hat at the doors of any christian denominational church. Since you are so preoccupied with the Catholic faith, I recommend you get your nose out of the scandal papers and buy a copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. That is if you're into learning instead of bashing!

posted by aagabriel on January 27, 2004 at 11:54 AM | link to this | reply

But see, that's just my point:  you don't have to be a part of it. It's a choice you make. You say to yourself, "Hey, I'm comfortable in this church. My whole family goes here. We've been going to this church for the past 100 years." And then you just close your eyes to what has happened. You don't let yourself think about what those poor children went through. How does that happen?

posted by Passionflower on January 27, 2004 at 12:12 AM | link to this | reply

The Catholic Church, like most other organized churches, is...

about temporal power and control; guilt extirpated in confession is a powerful tool for controling men (and women and kids), just as I suspect that the church hierarchy allowed the pedophile Priests to be protected both because their existance would cast doubt upon the sanctity of the organization and because the fact that they knew gave them the power of life and death over these men. The organization, like any beaurocracy, is amoral, that does not necessarily mean that individual members are. You can be sure that most Priests are actually decent and devout, it probably shames them deeply to be made a part of this.

posted by jimmy68 on January 26, 2004 at 11:21 PM | link to this | reply

I have been in all the others ....

My husband will not allow me to attend any others now.  Besides, I have peace there, after a lot of changes and sorrow in my life.  If it means I will go to hell, then so be it.  But I'm counting on seeing my Mama and Daddy again--I know they are in heaven.  You may not like me, dear Ren, but I love you and pray God will bless you.

posted by Midi on January 26, 2004 at 10:14 PM | link to this | reply

There are thousands of churches and different denominations. I'm saying start going to church someplace else. If you ever find out that that church is supporting the rape of innocent children then you should get the hell out of there too. You may not have realized this, but hell will be full of people who called themselves "Christian".

posted by Passionflower on January 26, 2004 at 10:10 PM | link to this | reply

Thank you, Ariala...

I really appreciate that!   Love ya!

posted by Midi on January 26, 2004 at 10:06 PM | link to this | reply

BP, I look at a person's heart and kindness...this tells me about their

walk with God...I see love in you!

posted by Ariala on January 26, 2004 at 10:04 PM | link to this | reply

Thank you, Ariala...

I am first and most importantly a Christian.  I just happen to be going to a Catholic church at this time in my life.  I do love God, as much as ever, even though I am Catholic now.  Funny, I used to be misunderstood when I was growing up as a pentecostal.  And now as a Catholic.  Thanks, again, Ariala. 

posted by Midi on January 26, 2004 at 9:58 PM | link to this | reply

BP, you shouldn't have to apologize for what you believe...

 

posted by Ariala on January 26, 2004 at 9:45 PM | link to this | reply

I really do apologize....

I know you think I'm doing wrong.  I know a lot of people may feel as you do.  I'm very sorry. Please ignore me.  I'll not argue with you again.  God bless.

posted by Midi on January 26, 2004 at 9:40 PM | link to this | reply

I'm sorry you feel that way...

I'm a new Catholic--have been one only about three years.  My husband was raised Catholic.  He would not allow me to go to any other church.

My church speaks out against those things that have happened.  I do not feel that I am supporting that.  Sin occurs in all churches.  People do wrong things, even church leaders, in other denominations, and they don't get caught right away.   

I hate to be contencious.  I do not want to argue at all.  I hate conflict.

But I have just one question: Do you suggest I stay home rather than go to church?    I need church. 

I really don't want to argue about it.  I know I should not have left a comment.  I apologize.

posted by Midi on January 26, 2004 at 9:31 PM | link to this | reply

Here's what I don't understand: How do you go to a Catholic Church week in and week out and not feel as if you're ultimately supporting those same people (either directly or indirectly) who did those horrible things to children? I'm sorry, but if you were truly sorry about those children, you'd get out and stop giving them your time and money.

posted by Passionflower on January 26, 2004 at 9:24 PM | link to this | reply

Thank you, Ariala...

I do love God.  And Ren, the Catholic church has changed.  No Latin now, at least in my church.  It's feels right for me, though it's very different from the denomination I was raised in.  I don't criticize any other church, though--I have been to churches of practically every denomination through the years.  Like Ariala, I believe heaven will be made up of Christians of all denominations, protestant and Catholic.  God is bigger than we realize sometimes, and he reaches each of us wherever we find ourselves.

posted by Midi on January 26, 2004 at 9:16 PM | link to this | reply

Ren, there are some very devout and sincere Catholics out there who love

God and are living up to the truth they know and believe.  The system and hieracy is messed up, but God loves his children, and the Bible says, "Come out of Babylon, my people."  God has faithful followers in all denominations.  One day there will be a union of saints from all circles of faiths, gathered into one remnant.

posted by Ariala on January 26, 2004 at 9:05 PM | link to this | reply