I was baptized a Catholic and have no confidence in this religion at all!!  If the priests and top heirarchy are so pious and humble why are they sitting in multi-million dollar gold lined churches?  Wouldn't that money be better spent given to the poor? Or why are the Rectories next to the churches mansions?  Why should I give my money so a priest can live in a mansion? (I don't live in one!)  And another thing - What gives them the right to withhold information, which they probably are still doing now (think back to the "banned books").  I believe in God, just not in religion and think the whole church system is just a form of sub-government.  Wake up people - the fire and brimstone preaching is there with the intent of controlling you!!
214871
I would say yes . . . to all religions in general . . . not just the Catholic Religion . . . but all religions.
216489
Its just right wing fear mongering.  That is one of the things they are good at.  I thank my stars we live in a country still where you have the freedom of speech, the right of assembly and the right NOT to have a religion if you choose.  Its also a freedom FROM religion. \n\nI am reading posts here that seem to support a theocracy and are not content to mind their own business.   I have no use for Talibornagain Christians.  I don't get all this gay paranoia in our society.
657937
That is your decision. I'm sorry to hear you felt brainwashed at your church - I've been to some of those. I'm Catholic, and for a time I wandered to other churches, 'bible-believing' churches with charismatic ministers who, after a service, would order me to leave "the romish lies" or some bigoted thoughts like that. I like Catholic Mass, there's the connection to Christ, there's the connection to the community, there's the worship and the Word. \n\nGo wherever you are fed. If you find yourself hungry, come to the table.
453174
Because churches - all centers of organized religion - do not care about god at all, their sole purpose is to control the masses and use them; churches are the false prophets, really. Top clerics in all religions would kill god and any true messenger on sight to defend their wealth gained by deceiving people.
264792
right on there ! girl you go girl. The preists themselves are living a lie they dont believe in God anymore than you do chicken. I know a preist who "ADMINISTERED" the catholic faith to three little boys every Sunday morning in the Vestry. And did it in the name of Jesus. He's still a preist because an Imaginary God forgave him..what a crock of sh i t
245263
I don't speak for the Catholic Church by any means, but you are not going to get a REAL priest to answer this unless you talk to him in person.  They would not answer because they are told not to answer on forums like this.  The Catholic Church is very political and protective of its doctrine, its priests, and its assets.  They would never open themselves up to the criticism that you would get from answering those questions in a forum like this.  \n\nSo, if you really want to know the answers, you need to go ask a priest in person.  You can find one at your nearest Catholic Church.
594749
This is EXACTLY what organized religion is about today.  Money, money, money.  How many of these dudes with 4000 square foot houses would be preaching if there was no money involved and it was just about the bible and god?  Does "the word" someone get passed BETTER because he's pulling in $125K a year?  No, it doesn't.  \n\nAnd people continue to fall for it, giving, giving, giving and giving some more "in the name of" whomever.  Give me a break.  I was forced to sit and listen to a BS sermon about "giving 10% of your earnings to the church, if you don't then these "bad things" are going to happen.  C'MON!  BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO EVERYONE.  They would have happened anyway!  Then the people leave and inevitably something bad will happen to them...they might get in a wreck, lose something important or worse, then think, "If I had given the church that money, this wouldn't have happened."  What a farce.  And people buy into it, hook, line and sinker.
420137
Im in the same situation. I've got a decent knowledge of the bible and a totally impartial view of religions as a whole (I read it to see what all the hubub was about). My country is 99% Roamn Catholic, and I'd guess that at least 80% of these people couldn't quote scripture to save their lives.\nIt doesn't matter though. Real religious experience comes from participating in the Church and living your life through God. Christians will always pick and chose which parts of the Bible to follow, and who are we (filthy athiests) to argue with them. It is their book after all, they can do with it what they please.
557487
thats why im athiest. to best see where the church is going i looked back into the past and hey, corruption... war... taking and keeping large amounts of money is rediculous! i cant even spell im so flustered over the huge controversy of religion ahhh.\n\nbelieving in religion is the same for adults and children believing in santa. except instead of putting ur list of toys you want in the chiminy, you pray.
331885
I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE THE TRUE CHURCH AND THEY DO HAVE POSSESSIONS. THEY DO NOT GIVE BLOOD AND DON'T VOTE, BUT THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS WELFARE, UNEMPLOYMENT, HOUSING ETC...  I HAVE FRIENDS THAT BELONG AND I HAVE BEEN TO THE HALL, BUT IT IS NOT FOR ME!
413353
Hi, you are not the only person who does not understand, a great many Catholics are confused as well, you already know I`m sure all the facts about Opus Dei so I wont waste your time by going through it all, what I think people want to really know is what Opus Dei actually does and why it`s founder was canonized so quickly when a lot of other holy men and women had to wait for decades or longer.\nIt seems to me that it has enormous power in the church and this was a factor in Josemaria`s quick canonization, as you know it boasts Cardinals and Bishops along with people in the secular world who are regarded as VIP`s and so we have to say that finance is also a reality of it`s status in the church too.\nbasically the aim of this work is to spread the Christian message that God calls everyone to become a saint and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity, but isn`t this always been the role of the Catholic church anyway and didn`t St.Teresa the little flower already state the saintliness of the ordinary life?\nas far as I can see the church has been struggling since the reforms of Vatican ll and needed another society like the Jesuits to defend it in the modern secular world and Opus Dei certainly fits the bill, why else would our late Holy Father canonize Josemaria Escriva so fast.\n\nGod bless you.
302394
this is common in every church and organization.  people who have the money, have power in those settings.  If this was particularly obvious and cumbersome in your church, then be proactive--for real.  talk to the minister and see if he/she would address the issue.\n\nyou may want to go to a different church-but you will find those types of people everywhere, some less obvious and kinder though.
490420
because they live in there own little world, and probably believe the lie they say to some extent. your belief in the church may be destroyed but thats not the same as your belief in god surely? and you dont need to go to church to show that, isnt it more about living your life in a way you see fit with morals and principles that count? i dont believe in god personally, but i do live my life according to my morals and can look myself in the mirror every day knowing i do. but you shouldnt let anyone destroy your belief in god.
180034
i ve been asking this for so long. thank god i am not alone. i am so sick of this anti-catholic bs that has no validity whatsoever.\n\nyou would expect this kind of garbage from the secular world, but i have no idea what these protestants are thinking sometimes.\n\nhere's an idea protestants...why don't you actually learn about the catholic church first. as opposed to just blurting out a bunch of nonsense like we worship mary, and the pope ,etc.  give me a break already. still goin with those arguments?? don't even waste my time then.
552014
I don't know which church told you that you were unimportant and a sinner because of your poverty, but neither my church (Lutheran) nor I say that!  I'm sorry you had that experience.  Those folks are not walking in the way of Christ; He told His disciples that the poor would be with us always.  And James says that God chose the poor to be rich in faith.\nAs to your question about why churches don't pay taxes...well, that's something I wonder myself.  I think we might be better off if we did, really.  And the overtaxation of the poor/middle class and the loan sharks...honey, the blame for that falls on our elected officials who live in the back pockets of corporations, giving them huge tax breaks and letting everyone else shoulder the burden...while they vote big pay raises for themselves! (Must be nice, huh?)\nAnd lastly:  welfare is not a sin!  We were poor when I was a kid, and if it hadn't been for food stamps, free lunches at school, and surplus government commodities, us kids would have starved!  And later, when my mom developed heart problems so she couldn't work and had to go on full AFDC, we were just thankful those services were there for us.  The only time welfare -might- be considered a sin would be if someone were just lazy and refused to work.  But I don't think that's you...believe me, I know how hard it is to find a job that will support a family, or to get affordable training to help get a better job.\nPlease don't let that church get you down.  I'll be praying for you, OK?
23222
Church is not for deep people..that is why you are having trouble...when you have gone beyond the veil, you do not need a pastor or priest, or a group anymore....it is just you and God...you most likely need to seek out others like yourself and start a small group..that is how the early church was organized....they just went from house to house, and worshiped god and fellowshiped, and broke bread together...
150793
Absolutely. Any religion that needs to twist their own words and beliefs in order to 'recruit' people to gain power are corrupt. Religion is man made remember, and God(or the Gods as I believe) is love. Christianity and the church have been so twisted over the centuries that they have now completely lost their grip on reality. They should try going and sitting in a field and meditating on nature instead of putting so much focus on the church. Life isn't about a big building with a spire, its about understanding. The catholic church in particular is one of the richest and most powerful institutions in the world? How did they get there? By helping the poor? I don't think so. By taking money, keeping it and recruiting new followers by twisting, turning and having an answer for everything. I'm not going to apologise if this offends anyone - If ya cant stand the heat ....