.

progressive Democratic friend continuing support of it.

I'm from PA, and our Attorney General uncovered the stories of priests abusing children.

Catholic and worked for CPS and was so appalled with the church and its known coverup of pedophiles and their sending them to small towns instead of getting rid of them that she was going to leave the church but her family ties and her long personal childhood attachment with the church kept her from being able to do so.

Also, opposing condoms in AIDS-ridden Africa, separating mothers from children in Ireland, etc.

quite an institution.

My friend tries to convince me that they do lots of good work but it is far offset by their greed and perfidy.

has always been as much or more about amassing wealth and power as anything else.

evidence EVERYWHERE of their extreme wealth and thought about the poverty stricken people of S. America and elsewhere who could use just a little of the RCC's money which would be easily produced by selling some of their art work, gold inlaid trims, buildings, etc., etc.

Traveling in Italy and seeing all the ornate cathedrals is all the evidence a person needs. I do give them credit for employing and preserving the works of many brilliant artists, though I wonder if they were paid very well for their works or if they were persuaded to do it instead "for the glory of God" or something.

Years ago my friend and I went into St. Mark's in Venice to look around. It's fabulous. Then a guide invited us all who were standing around to pay a small fee to go behind the altar and see the little baby Jesus made of pure gold. PURE GOLD! OMG! My (cheapskate) friend immediately bolted for the exit: "GET ME OUT OF HERE!"