Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer (Sunday, September 25, 2005) contained a front page story about the recent scathing grand jury report incriminating priests, and providing evidence of cover up by many high ranking officials The jist of the article , called Faith strong despite scandal, was that “Area Catholics are angry, but some call the idea of leaving the church unfathomable.” Many Catholics, the article stated, are disappointed, and even mad, but with a faith in God that is still strong, many would never think of leaving the Catholic Church.
I’ve got news for the many Catholics in the world. The Catholic Church, not to mention other churches as well, has had scandal and blood on its hand since its beginning. This recent sex abuse scandal is just another in a long line of embarrassing and illegal atrocities of men who call themselves Christian, and “men of God.”
Remember the Crusades? Remember the Inquisition? Remember the silence and even support of Hitler? Remember the many peoples conquered by the Catholic Church in the name of God? And now, think of the many children abused by the Catholic Church.
I do not understand how a “strong faith in God” equates to support of the Catholic Church, or any church that commits such heinous atrocities. God is God. He is not any one denomination or man-made institution. I have to say I know my Bible pretty well, but tell me where it says that God is the Catholic Church? Where is this “once a Catholic, always a Catholic” thing written? The God I believe in doesn’t require me to belong to any particular church group.
Would a God-fearing Christian continue to hold fast to any other organization that conducted illegal activity? If one belonged to a civic organization that decided to engage in criminal activity to increase its budget, would one think twice about leaving that organization? If a group a God-fearing Christian belonged to had several members committing sexual abuse, would that group still be supported?
55 comments:
Having been brought up a Catholic, I understand (but DO NOT CONDONE) people's attraction to this religion. You have to understand that Catholicism is a religion steeped in ceremony and pomp, it is like dating a beautiful girl (or handsome man); it is beguiling and sensuous while at other times it is cruel and selfish. Have you ever been to a "high mass"? Everything is sung and incense is lit and candles are burning and it's downright mystical. When I was a kid, I loved these kinds of masses.
So many Catholics, in my neighborhood, where lower middle class (my family included), the church provided the one place they could go to where they were all equal and for an hour they believed they were gazing upon what their glory in their afterlife would look like.
I also recall the church in the 70's when (believe it or not) it was a pretty radical organization. They were anti-Nixon, anti-war, anti-discrimination...this was a pretty amazing time (read up on The Berrigan Brothers sometime).
Now, all that said, like any huge organization, they were rotten to the core. People were used and exploited, hypocrisy reigned, women were marginalized and some children were molested.
Today when I enter a Catholic church, I still get that momentary feeling of awe, but after that, I am left feeling empty because I can see past all of the gilding to what is truly there ... an empty promise.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/be/BerrgnBro.html
learn your history, starting with hitler, Hitler hated not only Jews, but Catholics,Communists,and anyone who would challenge his authority. as for the crusades, they were started because the Byzantines asked the pope for help against the Turks. Another reason being that the muslims had taken over the lands of Israel and other holy sites. As for the Inquisition, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
This made me smile, I can see how it all looks on the surface if you live on the surface.
Catholics do not worship the Catholic church, or the people within it whatever their rank in this world. Any organisation requires mebers to fulfil functions. Some function well, some mis- function.
All humans have free will to choose evil or good. Sadly, all religions suffer from the same vices as have the R.C.
Catholics believe that it is by the moral conscience in all people, regardless of faith ~ that God is present in everyone, and no - one is excluded from that ~ therefore, "heaven" is available to all.
The reason for the "earthly beauty" of the masses is not to raise our own profile, but to honor God almighty and to express our love for him with the best we can offer him with the means we have, incense and so on.
The art forms used, are a means of raising our hearts to the one who made them.
It is sensuous, and beautiful, you must look to the song of solomon, which reflects the intimacy of union God desires to have with us.
"Mystical" is correct, the mystery of the eucharist instituted at the last supper is what keeps most catholics catholic.
" Once a catholic always a catholic" is literary hyperbole, it is an "in" joke shared amongst Catholics...and as I recall not an article of faith! (lol)
Char-
Catholics are responsible for the rape of more children, the murder of more women, and the torture of more innocents than any other institution ever devised by man. From its origin through this very day, the Catholic 'Church' has supressed knowledge and fought scientific progress. They openly and actively supported slavery. They supported racism, fascism, and sexism. They were allies of Hitler and Mussalini. They published the Witches Hammer, a 'how to' guide to torture and murder innocent women. They burned scientists at the stake in a futile attempt to keep the masses from learning the Bible is incorrect. They tortured and murdered multitudes in the Inquisition and and Crusades - all in the name of a loving God. Is the Catholic Church evil? Yes. It is the most evil institution ever devised by man. The Pope's apology for the vast amount of "sins committed by the church" in 2000 is not enough.
E V I L !
How can the Pope be infallible and God's spokesman on earth in view of all the evil deeds the Church has committed under various Popes?
The Cathars were true Christians and look what the Catholic Church did to them for challenging their power!
Catholics need to attend a Bible believing church & learn to study and understand Gods word on their own. Only then can they break free from twisted & evil teachings of power hungry men. Men that teach Christs gift must be earned. Men who claim to be equal to God. Men who murder & molest & bribe. Jesus despises religion and taught faith. The Catholic church is everything Jesus hated about the Pharasees. Please watch "A Woman Rides the Beast" on youtube - it is all there. God is NOT in all of us. That is a lie straight from the Pit of Hell.
Simply the most rational,incise and honest assessment i have read regarding the catholic church
Phew, ok, where to begin. Well, I'll go in order. The Crusades. Yes, many atrocities were committed during the crusades...by power hungry nobles. Not to say all nobles were like this: many were trying to, perhaps in a misguided way, serve God, and many wanted to free up the Holy Land for journeys by Christian pilgrims (a task that they accomplished, despite all the talk of the crusades' failures). The Catholic Church is no more responsible for the atrocities committed during the Crusades then the U.S. Government is responsible for the actions of G.I.'s in foreign wars (shooting an unarmed prisoner, for example). In fact, many church authorities of the time actively condemned the atrocities being committed. The Inquisition, originally merely an effort to bring dissenting Protestants back into the fold of the Church, did in fact go horribly awry. There was much evil committed...on both sides. The Inquisition is a stain on Christendom, not only Catholicism. Despite our theological differences, you and I are brothers in Christ, and as such, we share the shame of the Inquisition. Supporting Hitler? Please, do your research. Whilst individual Catholics or priests may have supported the Nazi regime, the Church NEVER supported Hitler. Pope Pius XII, after much consideration, decided to remain silent rather than decry Hitler. By this action, he was able to operate much more freely in his help of Jewish refugees. He provided personal asylum to thousands on Church property, and spirited numerous others off to England, the US, and other places, where they would be safe from Hitler's reach. Had he spoken out, the Church would have appeared more noble in the common eye, but he would have been targeted by Mussolini, and his actions would have been hampered. Instead, he allowed the Church's reputation, and his own, to suffer, so that he could maximize the assistance he could provide to God's Chosen People. Ok, on to the theological aspect of the debate. Where does it say God is the Catholic Church? It doesn't, on the grounds that He isn't. God is many things, but not a church. The Catholic Church, is, however, the Church that Christ founded, when, in Matthew 17-19, he established the Catholic Church with Cephas (Peter) as its foundation (and upon this rock I will build my church). Peter, and the other apostles, were the first overseer of the Church, and passed the role of Overseer down to their successors. This continuous passing on of the role of Overseer of the Church, historically and modernly referred to as Bishop, as continued all the way to the modern Bishops of the Catholic Church, a process we refer to as Apostolic Succession. After all, Christ gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the power to "bind on earth" and "loose on earth". However, Peter died, so who holds the keys on earth now :).
Continuing, because my post was too long. Now, you're right, there have been an unfortunately high number of cases of sex scandals within the Church, specifically, the Church in America. Philip Jenkins, an Episcopalian and Professor of History and Religious Studies at Penn State University, published the book Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis in 1996. He estimated that about .2% of priests in the Catholic Church are child molesters, which, granted, is .2% too much, but it hardly means the Catholic Church has "several members committing sexual abuse", as you put it. There have been far more teachers, doctors, lawyers, electricians, politicians, etc. accused on sexual misconduct charges, but I'm not going to pull my kids from school, stop going to the doctor, cut my house's electricity, stop voting, etc. You get the picture. The presence of a few bad priests, who should not have been priests and who, if the Church had known of their true intentions, would not have admitted, by no means makes the Church illicit, amoral, or evil. Catholics stand by our Church because it is THE Church, Christ's Church. We stand by it because it is theologically correct, and Christ' voice on Earth in matters of faith and morals. We stand by the Church because it is the second largest giver of charity in the world (second to the U.S. Government). We stand by the Church because it has a 2,000 year history, because Christ promised to protect us from "the gates of Hell", and we stand by the Church because we believe in, and are a part of, the Church's Great Commission, her penultimate task, to "go, therefore, making disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." We stand by the Church because we are Catholic. And more importantly, we stand by the Church because we are Christian.
Oh, and I noticed that someone commentend on how "The Cathars were true Christians and look what the Catholic Church did to them for challenging their power!" Uhh, do you know what the Cathars believed? First, they weren't monotheistic, which I'm pretty sure is a basic prerequisite of Christianity. They believed that there were two gods, one evil one, the Rex Mundi (King of the World) who created the world, which is entirely evil, and another god, a good one, which they worship. The most widely held theology amongst the Cathar was that the God of the Old Testament, Yahweh, was this evil god, the Rex Mundi, and that Jesus was either the good god or his messenger. They rejected the entirety of the Old Testament, along with the notion of Hell. Is that your definition of a "True Christian"?
I agree. The Roman Catholic church is an apparition from Hell. It is not Christian. Catholics are brainwashed into believing whatever that old paedophile (the pope) tells them. They have fifty kids per family without one thought for the long-term consequences of overpopulation. And we're paying for that now. They are also bigots. I was one told that Jesus Christ is a Roman Catholic and that God is a Roman Catholic. What lies! Christ was a Jew and to call God a Catholic is an insult to God. No wonder those of the Koran hate us! The Roman Filth Church hijacked Christianity. Let me says this: Christianity hasn't failed. It has never been tried!
I get what you are saying and I agree. I've also read through a lot of your comments and noticed people reciting what it means to be a catholic. I understand exactly where you are coming from when you say not to worship an organization. By calling yourself "catholic" or "brethren" or what have you, aren't you saying "I believe in which-ever mans interpretation of faith"? How is that faith? Why can't people believe in their own interpretation? Why because they are SCARED that if they question something they will go to HELL? Lol. People need to learn the meaning of the word "faith" before they preach it.
The papacy is the wealthiest business EMPIRE on earth. They obtain money by deception, from the poor, to buy shares; property; paintings; gold; precious stones and pearls (Rev./Apoc. 17 v 4). What did God say about NOT storing up treasures on earth (Matt. 6 v 19-21) and about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16 v 19-26), dressed in purple (like a bishop) and fine clothes and who lived sumptuously every day (like a bishop); and about a camel going through the eye of a needle before a rich man can enter heaven? Which means that a rich man can NEVER go to heaven (it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle).
Christ told the rich man to give his riches to the "poor", which was the disciples' collective purse or "kitty" and to follow Him; His teaching and example.
What do the popes do? They take money from the poor and give it to the rich; hoarding it in the Vatican's vaults (creating mass poverty) - the OPPOSITE of what Christ said His followers must do.
IF the popes work for Christ, why do they do the OPPOSITE of what they were commanded to do?
It is because they serve mammon NOT God.
Christ said, "Judge a tree by the fruit that it bears; by its fruit will you KNOW whether the tree be good or evil." Not by what they say. The FACTS speak for themselves. In fact it is SO obvious; unless you are one of the "blind being led by the blind" (ALL heading straight for the Pit) and "there are none so blind as those who do not WANT to see"; that the FACTS don't just speak; they SCREAM at you (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 :-
2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the [Sword of the] Spirit from his mouth (the TRUTH*), and shall destroy with the enlightening of his coming:
2:9 [Even the Wicked], whose coming is the work of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders (apparitions etc.),
2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received NOT the love of the Truth, that they might be saved.
2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a LIE:
2:12 That they ALL might be damned who believed NOT the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.)
Come on Pope of Rome. Do the honourable thing - open up the vaults and give all the riches back to the poor, that they were taken from, and teach other rich people, by YOUR example, to do the same and then RESIGN; learn to sing "The New Song" and keep The Covenant, as you are commanded by Christ. Thereby ending crime brought about by deprivation and desperation; bringing peace and prosperity to the world, instead of to the few.
You and I both know that you dare NOT do it because they would KILL you. Go on! Do it; IF you have ANY faith!
Christ says, and it is written, "Be not afraid - of those who can kill only your body. Fear only those who can kill both body (human) and soul (Being) on the Last-Day, when you are found unworthy." (Matt. 10 v 28). Why don't YOU take your OWN advice? "Be not afraid!" You tell everybody else to do it. "Be not afraid!"
You have been commanded by Christ to do it.
You dare not try to give away all the Vatican's worldly treasures that you really worship because you have no REAL faith. Due to that FACT and also because of what happened to your predecessor who wanted to give everything to the poor; the one who mysteriously lasted only a few days in the job and died; you dare not do it.
Why don't you tell the world the Truth, that you are only an actor playing a part, dressed in an obscenely expensive, white frock, and that the real pope, who really runs everything, wears black - The Black Pope - The Supreme Jesuit General, who is shown symbolically in the "Starwars" trilogy of films as Darth Vader, wearing a fake "Breastplate of Aaron", faithfully serving his emperor Satan, AGAINST the JEDI (Je/Di - Je... Di...... Jesus Disciple) rebel, Luke (the Light giver), who is a TRUE follower of Christ. (Please read my "Starwars - Fact NOT Fiction" Booklet)
For more info, visit www.jahtruth.net
LLTK
you people are all hypocrites. while all the southern baptist churches in america were brainwashing kids,toddlers and even adults into believing that George Bush was as good as jesus you were probably sitting at home writing blogs about how evil this church is. 3WORDS!! GET.A.LIFE. i am a catholic and im PROUD to be one. instead of looking only at the atrocities caused by my church why dont you look at your own. Christianity is the only religion that pushes its beliefs onto others who do not believe. its called:FREE WILL people. and f.y.i. the Catholic Church was the FIRST CHURCH. so get your history and information right before you go tune The First Church ok? Anonymous. all of you. I think theres a reason you put anonymous, you're scared to face the truth. im catholic and i have 4people in my ffamily not 50. you get size 50 families in the southern baptist churches. peace out.
LLTK: dude seriously? do you watch star wars everyday? or are you just obsessed with hating others beliefs? do you not have patience or the other fruits of the spirit that ALL christians supposedly have? I think you should stop condemming a Church that does A LOT of good. The only reason you hear of all the supposed bad things the church does is because its the biggest church and people in other churches or religions do not always speak out.do not look for things that do not exist. PEACE.
''Medbh'': What church do you attend? That money for the candles goes towards a fund for he poor. Did Jesus not say that you should not judge? Are you one of those people who force your religion on others? All of you people are judging a wonderfull Church from the exterior, you don't even bother to find out what it really does. Catholic people are the most spiritual and deep people ever. Go beneath the surface and you will probably die from shock because you just are TOO judgemental. All of you people seem to be Southern or American. Does this not point to some gross brainwashing of your churches against ours? Think about it.
The Catholic Church is nothing more than an institution riding its way to power on the fear of people around the world. Gullible people looking for help and answers are being turned into unthinking holier-than-thou zombies every minute of the day by this false organization of power-hungry rats.
If God exists, he surely doesn't give a fuck what church you go to or what religion a person preaches. He cares what's in your heart. Next time one of you religious types thinks you're saved, just remember you're no better than your brother/sister standing next to you. The parts in the bible telling you to condemn others is nothing more than medievil ages trickery designed to convert people. Such lines of thinking relate directly to pride, which is the root of all evil. If you can't see that then you're definitely 'tarded and probably deserve what's coming to you.
But catholics made a bible
And brought about a christianity civilian in da world
Say wat u like fellers
you people judge too much. just live your faith and let others do the same.
Why hasn't this organisation been stopped? If western governments can find the time to end Islamic extremist organisations, surely they could shut down something more evil and endable than the Catholic church? And even if there was a god, would he/she really care what church and traditions his followers followed, let alone want them to kill others?
I made a typo
surely they could shut down something more evil and endable than the Catholic church?
should be
surely they could shut down something more evil and endable LIKE the Catholic church?
JP: what do you mean kill? are you referring to history? and are you skating over all other organizations that killed and made people conform?
I thought the pope was supposed to be christ like. ever read the bible? It's more like the opposite. Money,power,politics hmmmmmm.
Love all the comment and thought!
wow Karl, way to have a backbone.
RC church thinks it can even add to the Ten Commandments. The most laughable one is where they state the "accumulation of wealth" is sinful. Yet they have billions of dollars to defend their pedophile priests - what a sick joke.
I guess most of you here have picked up a Bible and read it...Old and New Testament? Just starting with this piece of literary trash one would not be surprised as to why an organization with is at its core would be also be ..."trash". The first five books contain such a wide variety of murder, mayhem, sexism and just all out blood letting (all at the command of the all-mighty) mixed in with mythical creatures of all sorts. There is just no way that any human being with a modicum of common sense could believe this has anything to do with God.
Given the millions of people these evil power mongers have tortured and murdered I feel it is about time we threw them out of our societies altogether. We should deface or burn down their churches at the very least. Paedophilia is the smallest of their crimes against humanity. The myth of Jesus and the violent methods they used to inforce this nonsense on the world are enough. Destroying the magnificent library at Alexandria with the forever loss to humanity of over half a million ancient scripts, maps and history deserves revenge. A thousand years of dark and bloody insanity... yes we should take the law into our own hands and hit back.
every other church is always on the lookout of ways in which to condemn the Catholic church. Not a very christian thing to do. Before pointing fingers at anyone id like for you to take a closer look at yourself. Condemning my church wont make yours better on the contrary it makes it look even worse. Blessings
I was forced to become catholic when I was about 9. I was not baptized catholic or anything at all. At mass I had to sit the entire time and could not stand, kneel, read the bible or pray, until i was baptized catholic. My two brothers and I were humiliated and embarrassed every sunday morning. This "religion" is about exclusion and not inclusion. I took a few religious history classes in college and there is nothing but hatred toward other religions coming from Rome. The Bible says that the only conduit between man and God is Jesus Christ, not some old man with a stupid hat. The only thing that keeps this church going is that the Protestant and Lutheran based denominations are ununified. Catholics always say that they are the largest of christian religions and that they have catholics in every country. Catholic missionaries have refused to feed starving children in the congo until they were baptized catholic and then they turn around and include these people as true catholics. If you hand someone starving a hamburger with a bible as a plate i'm sure they'll take the bible too. There are many child raping priests that were transferred to a different Parrish when caught. If I rape a child at work I don't get fired or transferred, I get sent to jail.
I go to Catholic mass because I was brought up Catholic. A few bad priests don't mean the whole religion is flawed. Unless you feel that a few black criminals mean that all black people are that way. Same thing. So stop criticizing the faith based on bad priests.
all you condemners have no lives. and karl...WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Catholics claim Peter was the first "pope" based on Jesus saying, "peter you are rock and on this rock I will build my church."Actually Christ was referring to Peter knowing that Jesus was Christwithout being told--that is "revelation knowledge". Jesus wasn't crowning Peter as a leader - He was saying the true Body of Christ members were those who had revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it! After Peter was queried "who do you say that I am?" Peter answered correctly. Jesus said in paraphrase, "that's right and your rock and on this rock (rock of revelation knowledge--not on Peter), I will build my church!
Peter loved the Lord but Jesus was not giving only Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, he was saying that those who have this same revelation of who He is and have faith in Him are the the church. I'm not a Catholic basher but this twisted account passed down through the ages in an attempt to justify Peter being the first Pope, etc has made many Catholics believe that by mere virtue of being Catholic they have the truth and the pope is infallible. This is so untrue and I feel sorry for all who have been misled. All they have to do is read the Bible without having the Catholic church interpreting it for them and if they're serious about understanding the truth, the Holy Spirit will lead and guide them to the truth. The Catholic church is fearful of this and will not allow Catholics to do this. Even books must have the "impremater" stamp in order for Catholics to read them so as not to be influenced by anyone other than the Catholic hierarchy. At one time I looked the other way re the pedophilia scandal believing it was just isolaated few bad priests, but the more it comes out to expose it happening worldwide, it is time for Catholics to get their heads out of the sand and realize that this is not the "true church.". They need to dare to question and quit parroting the hierarchy"s explanations because if the hierarchy is steeped in sin, then how can they possibly be able to tell wrong from right?
Rather than parroting what Catholics need to do is get down on their knees in their prayer closet and seek the Lord's face for revelation and guidance. The Holy Spirit will lead you to all truth.
God or the concept of god is worthy of belief and/or worship but is beyond human comprehension. Religion is a failed attempt of comprehension of the concept of a god/higher being. Religion is a failure because it is interpreted by people who use it’s interpretations to serve their own personal ends moral or immoral. Religion being use to serve immoral ends has been rampant and because of human nature will never cease.
An example of using religion as a means to an end is the Crusades. The Crusades were a religious justification to make a land grab in the eastern Mediterranean by Catholics and Catholic supporters. The consequence of this so called justification of the Crusades is the displacement of Islamic, Jewish, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian Christian, and dissident Catholic peoples. This displacement of people of many beliefs is a big reason why the state of today’s religious tensions is high and will ultimately result in an unimaginable conflict.
Aside from creating all this tension another problem with religion is the restriction or censorship of new ideas through purges. Events like the Inquisition stifled the advancement of human civilization by using interpretation of scripture as justification to purge. If there was no restriction on the spread of ideas from institutions like the Catholic Church we might have actually had something like a flying car 100 years ago. One might argue that without conflict from Catholic Church new ideas would not have received a following from intrigue. I argue that a new idea introduced in a free market of ideas will meet conflict as it is human nature to resist change but also to be intrigued by new ideas. The difference between human nature and human nature of religion is censorship of the flow of new ideas.
The clash between multiple interpretations of an individual religion has been a source of justification of immoral actions internally. Christians had internal conflict and disbanded from each other to become Catholics, Orthodox, Armenians, Lutherans, Calvinists, and many more. Likewise Islamic became Sunni’s, Shiites, and Kharijites while Judaism evolved into Samaritans, Christians, and Reform Judaism. These schisms often lead to conflict with similar sects of the same religion. For example the Sunni’s conquered Shiite Egypt prior to the Third Crusade and Catholics sacked Orthodox Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.
Religion in general is not a bad thing; to some people it does bring a sense of peace, purpose, and community. Religion becomes dangerous to human well being when the interpretations of religion are used as a means to end. Religion can be seen as a societal control just as a popular political movement can control a society for example Germany Fascism. Religion can present false ideas to serve the means of the institution and thus influence attitudes and actions. These attitudes can serve the purpose making conflict justifiable when in fact they are immoral.
In many ways Catholics are on a par with other churches, with their belief in nonsensical fairy tales and absurdities. In this day and age one would think that would be obvious to anybody with average intelligence, but still the delusions persist.
Where the Catholic church differs from the other relatively harmless christian churches is their repeated fondness for elevating an elderly and often senile man to a position in which he is considered infallible in matters of the church. This would be hilarious if it wasn't for the fact that said pope is the head of one of the most evil organizations ever to hold sway over millions of people on this Earth. Their foul deeds and mindless brainwashing of children over the centuries is now surpassed by the brutal rape of children and their pathetic attempts to cover up their wrongdoing. They get off so lightly because the world media, usually so eager to expose such conduct as this, haven't got the guts to do it to the church because of course we must all be respectful. A pox on the roman catholic church and their imaginary god. All good people who still belong to this dangerous and deluded faith should think about leaving before they all get tainted by it.
The Catholic Church!! is EVIL!!!
The harlot it is sits on 7 hills with a cup(chalice) full of abominations and sexual immorality.
The Catholic Church began with Constantine as far as history is concerned. That's not to say Peter didn't (or did for that matter.)found a church in Rome, it just to say that we don't have any historical nexus (Documentation-Primary Sources) just tradions (Romors).
Nevertheless,A reading of the Bible (Already in Canon form by the conucel of Nicia-as one can clearly see from PSD's) show us a faith very different from what the Catholic Church was teaching. Of cource Catholic teaching has been anything but consistent over time (Preists could marry before the 1300's and "sola Scriptora" a doctorine that Jesus himself affirmed ("Not one jot of title") until The C. of Trent I think.
Salvation by faith "alone" can not be discarded without throwing away the Sanit Paul's Episles which make up alote of the New testament. And yet at Trent Saint paul seems to be "Anathama" = acured-going to hell? Yet they protest no you just don't understand Pual's writings. ("now if of works than no more of grace and if of the law no more a gift") It really dosen't get any simpler. The Catholic Church is dishounest, but God be true and every man a lyer. God bless.
the author and many people depending on where you were educated are completely brainwashed. i'm not saying that the catholic church hasn't had people within it do wrong but i assure you the church is not evil. thats ridiculous. lets not talk about history. if you want to know what atrocities are simply look at the anglo protestant crusades including what they are doing today in the mid east under the american flag! you people should be aware of the death tolls in iraq at the hand of anglo protestants hunger for power and wealth. open your eyes.
stupid article and stupid people who believe anti-catholic propaganda. you're all dumb and blind. shame on martin luther. tsk tsk
I was told that Catholics, as well as the church, committed sins. Unable to believe this notion, I attended a catholic university. I was raised protestant and entering a catholic university helped me understand some aspects of this religion. Here is what I learned.
You do not need to be a member of any church to be christian or to be saved. Believe in love, which is what Christ stands for, and forgiveness to find your way.
Not a single catholic individual told me I was heading to hell. Those who are catholic do not always follow the church. Especially the nuns of the church. Look around at individuals, not the institution.
All institutions can be seen as evil. At times I think the college I attend is being an evil prick. That does not mean that good does not come out of it.
Most importantly, God is said to be present when others speak about him. This is the main importance of church. All churches are places for people to worship and share their knowledge of the Lord. We all have very different views but we believe in a lot of the same basic fundamentals. Instead of judging each other we should figure this out.
All churches have flaws. All churches are judgmental. All churches have some form of hypocrisy and bigotry. That does not mean we have to desecrate them. The people within the churches are the important aspects. The little people who have minds of their own. From what I've seen, many churches carry individuals who can think for themselves. This includes the catholic church.
Disclaimer: I claim neither catholicism or protestantism anymore. I am Christian.
I am not sure I can call myself a catholic. I have been subject to lies and deceit and am disgusted to be called a catholic...
I am a member of the Green Bay Diocese and it is the most evil diocese I have ever worshiped in..
sorry your an idiot, inquistion was done by the spanish monarchy, ot catholic church, and medieval attrocities? are true, but you have to understand that that was a great time of violence as people were violent and barbaric, it wasnt uncommon for someone to kill his brother to become king and have his wifes nose cut off. no joke. and if you see all the good a that it has done, with it being one of the biggest if not the biggest charity in then world. and they didnt support hitler, as hitler beleiving a lutheran germany, had catholics persecuted, and many priest did speak out against hitler but were shot. catholic churches were barred up. and outside of jewish temples in rome you can see the papa; symbol on the outside of them showing that it was under the protection of the catholic church, anti semitism was widespread in europe but not in the catholic instituition, monarchs and rulers did the awful things to the jews. so to call it EVIL is very unsenstive and ignorant as hell to say....all i can say is check your facts
Catholic Church is absolutely and competely amazing....if you believe all the riculousness that is the media of course we are evil because the media knows nothing about the Catholic Church and loves to put that in the news...because it sells. I am sorry to say this, but there is so much ignorance and I understand that, I just wish that I as a person was not deemed "evil" for loving Christ and choosing to love my Catholic Faith.
“There are not over 100 people in the U.S. that hate the Catholic Church, there are millions however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church — which is, of course, quite a different thing.” —Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
p.s. one word that fails to reach most of these posts is "forgiveness", not just of the Catholic Church, but of ANY individual who has ever committed a sin. But surprisingly, the Catholic Church still deserves to rot in hell, right?....hurts the heart.
As many Catholic priests say: EVIL will come from the least expected place. For Catholics it is their Catholic Church... For those who have a knowledge in psychology is very easy to find, that way how Catholic Church behaves is described as ASPD (Anti Social Personality Disorder) known as psychopathy. Read about ASPD and you will understand.
lol you are the biggest ffuckin dumbasssss. just beacause a few priests turn out to be pedophiles doesnt mean that the whole catholic churhc is evil. they reach out to the needy and have large charities. they stand for good retard.
In regards to the sex scandals, they have done this always in order to control the children and get converts, as well as create life-long loyalty to "theee" church, out of terror. The adults deny this, but never question why they are so attached to it.
But at least they do this to their own children. The murder of "heretics" (anyone who disagrees with some of the insane ideas) is still deeply upheld, never overturned, and incidents quite recent, as in the murder of Orthodox and force conversions in serbia.
The killing of other people as "heretics" is utterly amazing. And yet the preists still feel deeply empowered by this---- the blood of others, in their teaching, justifies their "god."
How about you try this, you ignorant schmucks: http://www.examiner.com/catholic-in-new-york/catholic-pedophiles An entire news article that concludes: you're morons.
Religion in general, whether Catholic, Muslim, Baptist, Mormon, etc, is just an excuse for mass delusion. And whenever crazy delusional people come together, there's bound to be some crazy shit happen.
It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to get a straight answer from someone who is devoted to Catholicism..since so many of the words used take on a new meaning from top to bottom..they can speak the same language but it means soemthing entriely different requiring LONG LONG documentation and so called 'understanding of 'Deep Mysteries" that are nothing but superstition and man-made traditions..but expect they'll believe it because the faith is steeped in traditions and the buildings and the pope's who make themselves out to be a Vicar of Christ. Catholicism. is ultimately a 'mind set'..those who have been reared with that mind-set and those who have it anyway..will be attracted to what they know the best..but it is not Christianity..it's the faux sort of looks like things..it's like the Pepsi of Coke...in that..'Catholicism' sees itself as the Kingdom of God on earth..just ask why Protestants are anathema if that were not true? Protestants are anathema after a long history of NON Peaceable means coupled with bribery by either massaging a persons' guilt or bringing in pagan beliefs into the 'system' so that more will enter in ..yet denying the 'so called presence of the LIVING CHRIST in an other Sacrifice" as if that means a thing? It's potentially the largest cult in the world..that an islam. What happens if you announce you are leaving the church to higher ups to go to say a local non-denominational church...and then one day come back..can you share in Communion? No. It's the good old boys club of pharisee-ism at the core.
Church is a cult an evil point blank...
Psalm 118:8,9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man…
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