I am just curious to know what the reasons are that so many non-Catholics are on this forum. This is Catholic Answers. Are you here to convert - yourself - or us? Do you have a true curiousity or do you just want to show us the error of our ways?
I think Catholicism has a rich culture and a diverse spectrum of believers. Peoples of all race, background, and languages call this church thier home. I have many friends who call themselves Catholic. I have great respect for that tradition. Some of the kindest and most understanding people I know are devout Catholics.
That said, there seems to be a new surge of a fundamentalist Catholicism lately. It seems obtusely and irrationally focused on scrupulous moralizing of themselves and everyone around them. Take the e-mail that Catholic Answers has been sending out (over and over again) recently: “We must help Catholics vote like Catholics in 2008!” You think that there would be some mention of helping the poor, making sure that all americans had access to healthcare and education for thier kids, or any other social justice related issue. On the contrary, the article focused on issues like abortion and homosexual unions. I understand the focus on abortion. But the multiple paragraphs focused on espousing the evils of allowing civil unions? All the while, no single mention of helping the poor? Ugh. No mention of war? Healthcare? Just wages? Immigration? Nope. The new conservative, fundamentalist Catholicism creeping up (and frquently expressed on this forum) is only slightly concerned with these issues. They’d much rather spend all their time and energy warning the faithful of the dangers of homosexuals, laws allowing abortion, and embryonic stem-cell research.
Furthermore, look at the hot forum topics on this site. Alot of them (like
this one about a 1442 papal statement declaring Jews, pagans, and other non-Christians will not be saved) are debates over the idea that Church dogma is infallible. The new fundamentalist Cathocisim that has sprung up absolutely believes in the infallibility of the Church - and it’s the basis for thier entire belief system. In spite, of course, of the obvious evidence to the contrary.
And finally, check out the numerous threads on here adressing every possible tiny sin - Are tattoos a sin? Is partial masturbation a sin? Should I attend my son’s non-Catholic wedding? Is listening to John Lennon a sin? Is it a sin to read the Qu’ran? Ugh. This new Catholicism is bent on scrupulosity.
My opinion is that this fundamentalist Catholicism (which pervades this forum) is harmful. Very harmful - and it’s easy to see if you just follow through the logical steps… If you believe that Catholicism is the surest path to heaven - then if you’re at all concerned about your family and friends, you’re going to do everything in your power to make them Catholic. If you think a given action, law, policy, or statement will make one more likely to be a conservative Catholic like you, then you ought to advocate it. The whole “Catholic Theocracy” thread a while back is a sign of things to come if you folks have your way, I think.
So, to answer your question: I’m here to maybe change some minds … and be entertained by some of the more humorous ideas on this forum (i.e.,
this thread about the apologetics value of the blood type of blood and tears from miracle statues). And though I doubt I’ll actually change some minds - at least I’m providing a road block along the way to that “logical conclusion” I talked about in the previous paragraph.
. . . . sneaking up behind Abira to throw her into the Tiber. . . shhhhh. . .