Why I don't like Catholics?

[Madaglan]

I think the sexual scandal has hurt the Catholic image among most people of every faith. This has been reenforced by some priests in this area running off with parish funds, etc. Catholicism ought to have a married clergy. Thousands of normal, healthy young men would likely respond. Protestant ministers and their families often serve as important examples to congregations.

  We could go on, but maybe I've left the main thread already.

  God bless his children whatever their creed, color or country, and may religion become a bridge and not a barrier.

I think there is a certain degree of undue psychological pressure amongst young Catholic men today. It’s often said by Catholics that men choose to become celibate, it’s not forced on them. But when you think of how the process works, it’s effectively pushing celibacy on men. A man might get the idea of looking into the priesthood, and if other Catholics hear about it, they will support this above that of marriage. The desire to marry becomes made an obstacle that is meant to thwart God’s will of having the young man complete his studies and be ordained a priest. It may not be explicit all the time, but the tendency definitely is there.

 

[Madaglan]

 Catholic churches in this area are larger and less friendly than Protestant churches. Their communicants don't sing nearly as well and most of them seem to race off after mass. Protestants sing much better and most of them hang around over coffee and cookies.

I remember, when Catholic, that this emphasis on community amongst Protestant churches was considered a poor substitute for the community established through common partaking of the Eucharist.

Growing up Catholic, I remember we never stayed long after Mass. We stayed in the narthex a few minutes while the parents greeted a few people they knew, but it generally was a quick rush to the cars, which already formed a line out on the single driveway within minutes after “The Mass has ended…” was uttered. I remember feeling frustrated that the Mass we went to (10:30) did not have doughnuts, while the 9 a.m. did. I think I would have liked church better if there were meals available afterward.

The Orthodox church I go to now is great in combining Eucharistic fellowship with fellowship of love and friendship following the service.

 

[ImReallyNice]

I am a very open minded person…and the other day I actually told the priest at my Episcopal church that I was considering Catholicism and we arranged a meeting. I am now ashamed to have told her that, however, because now I read that an Irish Cardinal will not resign even though he permitted the abuse of children in his diocese. This story has become all to rampant and it quite bothers me. I figured the pope, the defender of faith and values of christendom, would have removed all of these figures involved in the abuses, taken their ordinations away, and done away with their powers…but he just sits back.

I’m already queasy on the idea of a church dogmatically preaching morals to the populace…but when the church it’s self cannot even rid it’s self of child molester supporters…thats where I take big issue. It bothers me because the pope has always been seen as defender of faith and morals. He is not doing so. The upper clergy, cardinals, the such…it really discourages me.

Edit: On the parish level, I really don’t have a problem with Catholicism or catholics themselves. It’s those who consider themselves the leaders, the popes, the cardinals, the bishops, those who move the priests at gnashing of children teeth that bothers the hell out of me.

 

[JHow]

No donuts, no peace.

Why all the doughnut-bashing on this forum, I wonder? People (kids!) like them and you get to socialize after mass. Is this something to sneer at? I guess my parish is a backwater of low-brow culture.

 

[Nominefili]

What is it about Catholics or the Catholic Church that you dislike?

Catholics I have no problem with. Most have been kind, generous, and charitable. They also share most of my beliefs, and I consider to be my brothers and sisters in Christ.

For my feelings on the Church, however let me quote the Good Book (of Concord! )

1] The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom].

2] Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.].

3] And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar of Christ on earth.

4] These three articles we hold to be false, godless, tyrannical, and [quite] pernicious to the Church.

bookofconcord.org/treatise.php

I think that pretty much sums it up…

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I am a very open minded person…and the other day I actually told the priest at my Episcopal church that I was considering Catholicism and we arranged a meeting. I am now ashamed to have told her that, however, because now I read that an Irish Cardinal will not resign even though he permitted the abuse of children in his diocese. This story has become all to rampant and it quite bothers me. I figured the pope, the defender of faith and values of christendom, would have removed all of these figures involved in the abuses, taken their ordinations away, and done away with their powers…but he just sits back.

I’m already queasy on the idea of a church dogmatically preaching morals to the populace…but when the church it’s self cannot even rid it’s self of child molester supporters…thats where I take big issue. It bothers me because the pope has always been seen as defender of faith and morals. He is not doing so. The upper clergy, cardinals, the such…it really discourages me.

Edit: On the parish level, I really don’t have a problem with Catholicism or catholics themselves. It’s those who consider themselves the leaders, the popes, the cardinals, the bishops, those who move the priests at gnashing of children teeth that bothers the hell out of me.

Ummm…unfortunetly you will find child abuse in any denomination…I speak from experience.

 

[Todd520]

Ummm…unfortunetly you will find child abuse in any denomination…I speak from experience.

Annabelle, I suggest you read his post again.

• I read he despised the cover-up and lack of accountability in Church leadership.
• I did not read any indication he thought abuse was unique to catholics.

 

[RebeccaJ]

I am a very open minded person…and the other day I actually told the priest at my Episcopal church that I was considering Catholicism and we arranged a meeting. I am now ashamed to have told her that, however, because now I read that an Irish Cardinal will not resign even though he permitted the abuse of children in his diocese. This story has become all to rampant and it quite bothers me. I figured the pope, the defender of faith and values of christendom, would have removed all of these figures involved in the abuses, taken their ordinations away, and done away with their powers…but he just sits back.

I’m already queasy on the idea of a church dogmatically preaching morals to the populace…but when the church it’s self cannot even rid it’s self of child molester supporters…thats where I take big issue. It bothers me because the pope has always been seen as defender of faith and morals. He is not doing so. The upper clergy, cardinals, the such…it really discourages me.

Edit: On the parish level, I really don’t have a problem with Catholicism or catholics themselves. It’s those who consider themselves the leaders, the popes, the cardinals, the bishops, those who move the priests at gnashing of children teeth that bothers the hell out of me.

Letter to the Catholics of Ireland

1. To priests and religious who have abused children
   You betrayed the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents, and you must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals. You have forfeited the esteem of the people of Ireland and brought shame and dishonour upon your confreres. Those of you who are priests violated the sanctity of the sacrament of Holy Orders in which Christ makes himself present in us and in our actions. Together with the immense harm done to victims, great damage has been done to the Church and to the public perception of the priesthood and religious life.
   I urge you to examine your conscience, take responsibility for the sins you have committed, and humbly express your sorrow. Sincere repentance opens the door to God’s forgiveness and the grace of true amendment. By offering prayers and penances for those you have wronged, you should seek to atone personally for your actions. Christ’s redeeming sacrifice has the power to forgive even the gravest of sins, and to bring forth good from even the most terrible evil. At the same time, **God’s justice summons us to give an account of our actions and to conceal nothing. Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy. **

 

[ImReallyNice]

Letter to the Catholics of Ireland

He’s asking them to be sorry. I know the pope has ultimate authority in the church. He could remove them of their positions at any minute…but he does not? Why?

 

[ImReallyNice]

Ummm…unfortunetly you will find child abuse in any denomination…I speak from experience.

Yeah, I know. I just wish the leader of the Catholic church wouldn’t tolerate it so much. He needs to fire those priests and cardinals. It’s the upper clergy mostly, the ones who facilitated the pedophilia. The cardinals. The bishops. Get rid of them. Ordain new ones. (obviously im not speaking about all upper clergy, just those who say that they’ve “moved on” from the abuse)

articles.cnn.com/2010-09-01/world/ireland.cardinal_1_cardinal-sean-brady-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse?_s=PM:WORLD

edit - why hasn’t the pope fired the bishops and cardinals and priests who were involved in this? He lets them stay?

 

[UniversalistGuy]

Annabelle Marie;7026369:

Ummm…unfortunetly you will find child abuse in any denomination…I speak from experience.

Yeah, I know. I just wish the leader of the Catholic church wouldn’t tolerate it so much. He needs to fire those priests and cardinals. It’s the upper clergy mostly, the ones who facilitated the pedophilia. The cardinals. The bishops. Get rid of them. Ordain new ones. (obviously im not speaking about all upper clergy, just those who say that they’ve “moved on” from the abuse)

articles.cnn.com/2010-09-01/world/ireland.cardinal_1_cardinal-sean-brady-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse?_s=PM:WORLD

edit - why hasn’t the pope fired the bishops and cardinals and priests who were involved in this? He lets them stay?

Would it be a good idea for the pope to fire bishops and cardinals (from the Catholic point of view)?

 

[RebeccaJ]

He’s asking them to be sorry. I know the pope has ultimate authority in the church. He could remove them of their positions at any minute…but he does not? Why?

There’s much more in there than telling people to be sorry.

Who do you think should be removed?

 

[Todd520]

There’s much more in there than telling people to be sorry.

Who do you think should be removed?

The ones who broke the law, who chose not to report to the police and had the boys sign secrecy oaths.

 

[JHow]

Lest any posters think that no one was held accountable. During the early 2000’s I kept a list just of bishops who resigned due to the sex scandals in my daytimer. I don’t have the list anymore, but for sure I recall:

Rembert Weakland
Keith Symons
Anthony O’Connell
Thomas Daily
Bernard Law (reassigned)
Thomas O’Brien (copped a plea on cover-up, although mostly resigned for hit and run)

I think there were few more, and obviously there were a number of priests along the way, but the posters were mostly concerned with the leadership.

Also, there are a number of folks out there (Mahony, I have you in mind) who survived the scandal and have hit retirement age, that if they were younger might have a rougher time of things.

Now let’s hope I don’t get in trouble with the forum police for posting something negative about priests or bishops.

 

[RebeccaJ]

The ones who broke the law, who chose not to report to the police and had the boys sign secrecy oaths.

Names?

 

[ImReallyNice]

Names?

Cardinal Sean Brady for one.

And these two bishops.

There’s a lot of cases out there…the pope, being the defender of Christian morality, according to the Catholic view, should hunt down those who covered up and prepared child abuse and remove them of their positions.

 

[facetious5487]

that is like asking “what I don’t like about brunettes” – seems like a silly question.

In any event – I have neve thought that I “don’t like catholics” – that is like saying “I don’t like lutherans”, or “I don’t like jews” – just seems weird/evil to think that way.

 

[Cranmer2010]

They start baiting threads.

Ya don’t say…

 

[Cranmer2010]

Ummm…unfortunetly you will find child abuse in any denomination…I speak from experience.

This is not what the poster was saying at all. Child abuse found in a church vs. decades of widespread known abuse within a whole faith community with the abject failure and I do mean total failure to protect children is like the difference bewteen heaven and hell.

 

[Cranmer2010]

I am a very open minded person…and the other day I actually told the priest at my Episcopal church that I was considering Catholicism and we arranged a meeting. I am now ashamed to have told her that, however, because now I read that an Irish Cardinal will not resign even though he permitted the abuse of children in his diocese. This story has become all to rampant and it quite bothers me. I figured the pope, the defender of faith and values of christendom, would have removed all of these figures involved in the abuses, taken their ordinations away, and done away with their powers…but he just sits back.

I’m already queasy on the idea of a church dogmatically preaching morals to the populace…but when the church it’s self cannot even rid it’s self of child molester supporters…thats where I take big issue. It bothers me because the pope has always been seen as defender of faith and morals. He is not doing so. The upper clergy, cardinals, the such…it really discourages me.

Edit: On the parish level, I really don’t have a problem with Catholicism or catholics themselves. It’s those who consider themselves the leaders, the popes, the cardinals, the bishops, those who move the priests at gnashing of children teeth that bothers the hell out of me.

Excellent Post!