It's stuff like that that made me stop going to church 40 years ago.

I just recently returned after being away since 2004. This is the kind of thing that drove me away then. I am of the opinion that if God gave us brains, we should use them.

I did the same thing in 1994 (the diabtribe was on how evil it was for one of the large local employers to offer domestic partner benefits to its gay employees.)

And I have not been back since.

really makes me angry. The sermon was blatantly anti-Obama.

I haven't had any kind of official participation with any church since high school. I'm 40 now, and I've probably been to less than 20 religious events (where I wasn't paid to be there) since then. I guess I can't understand why you would go back because as far as I can tell, the Catholic Church has gotten worse when it comes to women's rights, gay rights, and hiding pedophile priests. I know that not everyone associated with the church in both the clergy and laity are bad people, but as long as you continue to go and support it monetarily, I don't see how anything can change. Honestly, to me it's like people - both good and bad - have gotten together and are supporting a hybrid far-right conservative group with elements of NAMBLA mixed in. Why would a person of conscience do that?

TlalocW

I am hoping that Catholic women all across the country get up and vote with their feet. The Catholic bishops should be ashamed of themselves (but they aren't). This isn't about "religious freedom." It's about denying women access to reproductive health care.

Given how very openly political the Catholic Church has become, perhaps it's time their tax exempt status needs to be questioned. I know when (then Senator) Barack Obama spoke at the UCC national meeting, the Rethugs were demanding that the entire denomination lose its tax-exempt status. That was one speech by one man about his personal faith journey. This is a national partisan attack on the Democratic Party.

you went through to walk out of that mass, Kath. I get real pissed just reading about the lies coming from the various "religious" pulpits. I wish that priest knew why you walked out.

Have you heard of the "Nuns on the Bus"?

&quot CBS/AP) DES MOINES, Iowa - A group of Roman Catholic nuns are embarking on a two-week bus tour to advocate against Republican federal budget proposals that they say hurts low income and vulnerable populations.

The Nuns of the Bus tour is headed towards Ames, its first stop. The tour will directly target the current House Republican budget, authored by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. They will stop by nine states -- Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Wisconsin -- before they are scheduled to finish in Washington July 2.

The nuns will visit Catholic-sponsored social service agencies and the offices of Republican members of Congress, including Rep. Steve King's office in Ames, House Speaker John Boehner's office in Chester, Ohio, and Rep. Eric Cantor's office in Richmond, Va."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57455265/nun-group-sets-off-on-bus-tour-to-protest-republican-budget-proposal/

Edit for typo..

I support the nuns, who are actually living their faith with courage.