@Catholics - Leaving/left the Church?

[naterator]

The turth hurts.

You'll find that out for yourself before this whole child rape thing blows over.

 

[Winner]

Or even sooner if you happen to bump into a wrong priest...

 

[Yared]

Congrats on your 3333rd post, Traitorfish.
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Is it possible to have the records of your baptistery and whatnot "deleted" or erased?

 

[MobBoss]

With all the drama going about in the Catholic Church, it makes me wonder if there's any Catholics here on CFC who're considering leaving or have left it, due to having been convinced that the Pope couldn't possibly be Jesus' substitute on Earth?

If there are any Catholics who aren't leaving it, please state why. Also, I'd like you to answer this question: Could the Pope do anything? Is there a line that can be crossed? Is there anything worse than covering up a child rape?

Note: Leaving the Church doesn't necessarily mean leaving Christianity.
Note 2: I'm fine with religion vs atheism debates occurring (those are pretty much inevitable), but try to stay to the topic at hand please. Thanks.


(BTW Mods, I'd appreciate it if you could add another poll option: I have never been Catholic)

Isnt the church larger than any one person? Why leave over what a single person does?

 

[Karalysia]

Isnt the church larger than any one person? Why leave over what a single person does?

Because its not one person. There's institutionalized child molestation.

 

[Yared]

Isnt the church larger than any one person? Why leave over what a single person does?

What you say is usually true, but in this case, the single person isn't just some random person. He's the Pope. One of the major things that differentiate Catholicism from the other denominations and that makes Catholicism Catholicism is that they have this super-duper awesome man-sage whose words regarding Church doctrine is to be considered supreme and infallible. He's the orator of God All Mighty on Earth, the Supreme Being who is closer to God than any other.

So when this guy messes up, you might start to doubt the veracity of Catholicism.

(Unless, of course, you're like NBAfan and do not think the Pope has done what he's being accused of.)

 

[NBAfan]

(Unless, of course, you're like NBAfan and do not think the Pope has done what he's being accused of.)

Because he has not done what he's being accused of.

 

[Yared]

That seems to be up for debate.

 

[Cutlass]

Strictly speaking, they're correct, although Confirmation is required to be a "full" Catholic. At that point, the Church will claim you to your grave, regardless of what you yourself think. As Dara O'Briain put it, Catholicism is the stickiest, most adhesive religion there is. It's probably also worth noting that in certain countries, Catholicism is often connected to a particular ethnic or cultural identity, and so carries more meaning that religious adherence. In Scotland, for example, "Catholic" is almost synonymous with the Irish-Scots minority, to which I myself belong (although it covers, of course, the Italian and Polish minorities, who, at this point, are all thoroughly joined at the hip, even as they dissolve).

And I've never heard this "Catholic, not Christian" thing before. In my experience, the argument is about who the real Christians are. I suppose, in the American case, it may be a Well-Sod-You-Too reaction to the traditional tendency among certain forms of Protestantism, particularly in the United States, to associate "Christianity" with Protestantism to the exclusion of Catholicism.

Anyway, yeah, I'm in the set that bailed years ago, because it's just silly.

Actually, at this point it isn't so much Catholics that aren't "real Christians", as anyone who doesn't subscribe to to an ultra-orthodox reactionary conservative version of Christianity. So most of the Episcopal church any "liberal" protestant churches are the enemy as well.

 

[Traitorfish]

Actually, at this point it isn't so much Catholics that aren't "real Christians", as anyone who doesn't subscribe to to an ultra-orthodox reactionary conservative version of Christianity. So most of the Episcopal church any "liberal" protestant churches are the enemy as well.

Granted, but that's just the modern form of that position. It used to be a rather mainstream position in the Protestant world to consider Catholicism a sort of Christianised paganism. I can see a bloody mindedly contrary position evolving over the years among certain members of a Catholic minority.

 

[Cutlass]

There is a segment of protestantism in the US that has always been anti-Catholic. There are still ministers that condemn papists. And say they shouldn't hold office. But it's gone beyond that now. People don't have to just belong to a Christian denomination other than the Catholic, but they are required to hold certain beliefs that are consistent with extremist Christianity, not main stream. Things like biblical literalism.

 

[azzaman333]

Whoah, so did I.

Interestingly, the one time I participated in the avatar swap, you took my avatar, and we are the only 2 players in the CivIV HoF to submit a cultural win with Boudica

Never been a catholic.

That's some crazy coincidence.

 

[MobBoss]

Because its not one person. There's institutionalized child molestation.

No, its not. Institutionalized would indicate that it happens in every parish. It doesnt. The truth is its only happened in a handful worldwide, and not to any real greater extent that other religions.

Now, I am not a fan of the catholic church, but I do feel they get far more media attention to this sort of thing simply because they are the catholic church.

What you say is usually true, but in this case, the single person isn't just some random person. He's the Pope. One of the major things that differentiate Catholicism from the other denominations and that makes Catholicism Catholicism is that they have this super-duper awesome man-sage whose words regarding Church doctrine is to be considered supreme and infallible. He's the orator of God All Mighty on Earth, the Supreme Being who is closer to God than any other.

So when this guy messes up, you might start to doubt the veracity of Catholicism.

(Unless, of course, you're like NBAfan and do not think the Pope has done what he's being accused of.)

Let me get this straight. You folks are giving the Pope a hard time for actually practicing forgiveness?

Isnt that kind of one of the tenets of his faith?

 

[Arwon]

No, its not. Institutionalized would indicate that it happens in every parish.

No it wouldn't. It would suggest that it took place within institutions in a manner which was known and tolerated.

 

[naterator]

Let me get this straight. You folks are giving the Pope a hard time for actually practicing forgiveness?

Isnt that kind of one of the tenets of his faith?

He could forgive them through the glass at a prison visit.

 

[MobBoss]

No it wouldn't. It would suggest that it took place within institutions in a manner which was known and tolerated.

I dont agree with your definition/context then. Nor do I think it was tolerated, inasmuch mishandled terribly.

 

[Lord Gay]

Up until recently, I haven't given it much thought - I don't believe in God, so why should I bother whether the Church thinks I do?

From the posts I've seen, you seem to be pretty anti-religious, so I'm surprised that you never thought to "unregister" before.

I guess I'm lucky in that regard. My family was Christian, but I was never subject to any "we own you" rituals, so no need to unbaptize myself.

 

[Winner]

From the posts I've seen, you seem to be pretty anti-religious, so I'm surprised that you never thought to "unregister" before.

I am anti-religious, but I am far from being obsessed with religion in my real-world life - I have better things to do Plus, in this country religion is not a problem at all, so you don't have many opportunities to get angry with it. So yes, weird as it may be, it wasn't worth the effort.

Actually when I think about it, staying in the Church while being strongly atheistic only serves to prove how ridiculous that organization is. I am thinking about going to Church for a confession.

"Forgive me father, I have sinned."
"What did you do?"
"I don't believe in God, father, and I consider this whole organization a sick joke."
" "

The worst thing about it is that I wouldn't even feel good about it. Taking on your local priest does nothing to the whole colossus.

 

[Lord Gay]

I guess I see more reason to, given that people here are much more inclined to wear their religion on their sleeve and pass laws based on it. For me, I'd be pissed if the Church was counting me as a member when they say they're the largest faith in the world because they have a billion members. It's easy to have a billion members if you add babies who can't think for themselves and don't let anybody leave when they can think for themselves.

If the Taliban, or Nazi party, or some other group I really didn't like was claiming me as a member, I'd take steps to make sure they weren't.

 

[Traitorfish]

Well, in most most of Europe I imagine that census numbers would hold more weight than the notoriously over-generous claims of the Church. Simply neglecting to label yourself Catholic would hold as much weight as specifically unregistering. I suppose things may be different in the United States, at least in the UK, it wouldn't make very much difference.