and god. Not the Bishop, Cardinal or Pope and certainly not the priest. I think there are many people who feel like that. I can't explain it to you because you would never understand how I separate it. There is plenty of faults with many preachers. I really don't ask you to understand it but please respect it. Besides that if I were the Cardinal, Bishop, Priest and the Pope I'd worry about them going to hell. You can't play with little children and expect to get a pass from god.

But do you give money to your church? Because if you do, the Bishop, the Cardinal, and the Pope all benefit from your support. As do the ad campaigns your church is sponsoring against marriage equality.

And if your faith is just between you and your god, why do you even need to go to a church?

republicans. Oh I usually watch the mass on tv on sundays. Not all the time. But sometimes I like to go inside the church by myself and sit for an hour and pray and ususally light a candle for a loved one. I am very picky who I give my money to. I have a friend (who by the way is gay) who started raising money for christmas for teenagers. They seem to be left out during christmas. We send him about $100.00. Then locally we pick an elderly person name on the angel tree and a child's name on the angel tree. Besides that we always buy these bags that cost $5.00 donations with canned goods. We usually buy 4 bags. Then I send a donation for thanksgiving for a family. I tell them not to put my name on the sheet. Once you do that every dang charity wants money.

But with your continued official membership in your church, you give him (and the bishop and pope) political clout. Who would care if they were the leaders of a church with only 100,000 homophobic members?

The fact that about 75 million Americans are official members of the Catholic church means the media will report what your church's leaders have to say, and their anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-progressive agenda gets free press. Not giving them money is a great step in the right direction - and a good way to starve the beast. But officially leaving it sends the ultimate signal.

elected. I never see the Cardinals or the Bishops. I see at times a priest but I don't even go to confession. I just can't leave my faith.

And there's no way around that. Sorry.

It appears that the poster is hardly enabling The Church in any way. They are holding their own faith as they choose to do so (which I believe we should completely respect), doing what good works they can and not supporting the institution financially.

I can find no way stated in their posts in which they are offering support to The Church.

If the pope wasn't the head of a church that OFFICIALLY claims 75 million Americans as members, few in this country would care one bit what he says, and his pronouncements would get the appropriate attention they deserve: none.

But because of that raw political clout, communications from not only him but also his loyal band of misfits are broadcast to the country.

Membership supports the Catholic Church and its anti-progressive agenda.

as well as being the head of the institution of The Church and no matter what any of us think of him (and frankly I could care less what he says) has a right to his opinion and to express same.
What I read in the posts, where a maintenance of the individuals Faith or belief system (to which we are all entitled), I saw no indication that they supported The Church. If this person finds some solace in their beliefs, I believe we need to respect their choices and not criticize them for what they believe. We may disagree with them, we may disagree with the teachings or actions of their Church, but I will respect their choice.

You will most likely disagree with my point of view and that is your choice, as it is mine to find yours less than harmonious.

I never said syb didn't have a right to believe what she wants. I never criticized her beliefs.

Why the straw men? I would ask that you actually argue against what I'm saying, rather than the distorted caricature you have created.

The fact that there are so many Catholics in this country gives the pope's opinion considerable (inappropriate and unjustified) weight. Not giving him money is great. Chipping away at his political credibility is also great. I think progressive-minded Catholics should do both. And they can do both without changing a single thing about what they believe.

church was a big step. I saw alot of abuse when it came to spending our money. My aunt games the church thousand of dollars and helped the local parrish priest in her area so much. In fact when his mother got ill she use to help her so much. Funny thing is when she needed the help the church and my other relatives (who took advantage of her) weren't there when she needed them the most. She ended up moving in with my sister who took care of her til she died. That really opens your eyes. But I still have faith in god.

if so, then YOU should be giving a shit what these douchebags say as the voice of your church, no?

to give your time. Especially locally.

That assumption being that you in fact did go to church.

you sit in church today you get the lecture. I don't like that. I used to tune them out. So I stopped going to mass because I wasn't getting anything out of it. If I could go to mass and receive commuion only I'd be happy. But the priest have to lecture. If I want a lecture I'd call my parents, LOL. Mass is also to long.

whatta douchebag

Sorry, but these bastards grate on my last bad nerve.

We already have those. They're the same laws that apply to all of us. Including sexual molestation of minors. Marriage equality isn't going to add any more, and they know that.

What they don't seem to believe is that their behavior is already subject to the same scrutiny and penalties as any other citizen.

Like they're not going to hell for what they do. It figures they align with the republicans. They should go to jail for their crimes.

Some priests I have known are the worst Catholics/Christians around! My parents went to the same Catholic Church for over 45 years- donating time and money- being very active. When they became too elderly to leave their house living two blocks from the church, I called the rectory and asked please if someone could stop by their house with communion once a week. I was told, "We have no one who does that!" Then when they had to move into assisted living, the church tracked them down and had the nerve to send them donation envelopes which I promptly trashed! Over 45 years! I could not believe it!

I left after our Monsignor's sermons dealt with his "boat" (read yacht) in the Carribean, but what really pushed me over the edge was the third collection one Sunday for Red Cross supplies for North Vietnam.
I know it was humanitarian appeal, but emotions were just too high at that point in time.

Been there, done that.

Screw the RC church which protects pedophiles and IS a politically active organization. Take their tax exemption away..

OK...".enough for the rant

A pedophile. Isn't it about time we ban them from opening their dumb ass mouths. I think we need a movement to block driveways of these houses of Pedophiles with signs that make people ashamed to support these clowns. Fuck them.

"Go to a "catholic" church, and you'll probably become A pedophile."

After researching the history of the RCC and reviewing the things they have done in the name "God", there is no way to put this nicely, the RCC is an intrinsically evil institution.

Guess they don't remember how antiwar Pope John Paul II was.

Since, I'm Canadian, I can't vote for them. Wait....where do Canadians go? Cuz in a couple of months, a hot place sounds kind of good.

In it's own way, it's kind of like hell.

And you'll get a tan!

that spouts political nonsense like that, there are hundreds of priests and nuns and thousands of Catholic laity working at grass roots level non-profits, wanting to help those in need. Many of those people vote Democrat despite the Bishops words.

that ignorant POS will go to hell. STFU and try not to molest anyone.

Dress her up like an alter boy. I'm a christian.

that has done more damage to the world then the catholic church.