Catholics angry/disappointed in Pope John Paul  II?
463003
This is EXACTLY how you should feel and I don't blame you a bit. I'm not catholic, but I have been wondering the same things. Why aren't more people in an uproar about this??
1095270
Most of the mistreatment I experience stems from my unapologetic adherence to Catholicism. The Words of Jesus provide great encouragement:\n\n"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
169346
"It would be hard to find 100 people in the world who hate the Catholic Church, but there are many thousands who hate what they "think" is the Catholic Church." \n Archbishop Fulton Sheen
1159981
The Pope doesn't communicate with God, he speaks FOR God.\nHe is inspired by the holy spirit. God guides him and doesn't lead him into error. He can't speak with God, He is just the Universal Christian leader like Peter was, because he is the successor of Peter.
249371
I think that Catholics are sinning when they pray to saints or Mary because it is idolitry.  However, all sins are created equal.  So my sin of disrespecting my husband and refusing to submit to him was just as bad.  \n\nI think that inspite of the idolitry, devout Catholics will go to heaven because they believe in their heart and confess with their lips that Jesus Christ is Lord.\n\nI also believe that there is a portion of the Catholic believers that take advantage of "confession".  By this I mean that there are a few who give good Catholics a bad name because they don't have a desire to live a pure and holy life (well, as much as is humanly possible).  They live a worldly life all week long, then go to confession and poof, all is forgiven, just so they can go out and do it all over again.  The thing is, when we ask for forgiveness, the Lord looks at our hearts and knows our motives.  The purpose of confession is to redeem ourselves from a mistake in judgement and then make an honest effort to not do it again.\n\nNow, I don't know about all Catholic churches, but I was greatly offended when I went with a friend to a Bingo/carnival on church property that was sponsered by Budweiser.  The place was crawling with drunks.  To me, this shows a total disreguard for the house of the Lord.  \n\nThen there is the baptism of babies.  In protestant churches, a child is not allowed to get baptised until they're old enough to understand what it means.  It is done by submersion as a representative of dieing to the things of this world and a profession of faith saying that you are dedicating your life to God.  From what I understand, the words spoken in Latin by the priest are actually to exorcise a demon from the infant.  I don't know about you, but none of my babies were born possessed.\n\nAll this being said, I have had many wonderful Catholic friends throughout my life.  They love the Lord with all their hearts and they are good, moral people.  Most of my inlaws are Catholic and I love them all dearly.  Bust just like with any other religion, there are always a handful of "bad ones" that give them a bad name.  Two words, "Jim Baker".  Enough said.
575319
Personally, if I were Catholic, (which I'm not, but I do love some who are) I would be insulted at what the Catholic Church clearly sees as my idiocy that I can't read a simple book without being currupted and the implication I can't distinguish fact from fiction.
1021867
I looked for the statement by Cardinal Castrillon but couldn't find it. So I can't state an opinion.\n\nPlease add a link next time. \n\nThank you.
932562
Not in Catholic Heaven LOL!
729231
Pope Benedict is his visit in Poland said the people of faith must have ask God why he was silent during the time of war. And such cry is still being made until today. And it pains me, and unfortunately, other are disillusioned to the faith, because many people continue to use and abuse the name of God for their own sake. But what can I do but to pray, to live an authentic Christian life and to hope in God's infinite goodness.
762901
is the pope catholic?
658506
Pope John Paul II's Legacy Draws Others to Carry Out Bold Endeavors.  Pope Set Stage for Multiple Agendas: From Uniting Christians to Interfaith Cooperation to Ending War And Promoting Moral Stability.  \n\nMany agree that Pope John Paul II's focus on the inherent dignity of each person formed the core of his vision and the underpinning for his strong stance favoring human rights, social and economic justice for poor people and nations, respect for religious and cultural differences, worker's rights, reverence for life at every stage, stewardship of the environment and living a simple lifestyle.\n\nExamples of his focus on human dignity are numerous. In his 2002 message for Day of Prayer for Peace in the World, the Pope stated that "there can be no true peace without respect for the dignity of persons and peoples ... ." When that peace is broken, he hastened to add, "Forgiveness alone heals the wounds of the heart and fully restores damaged human relations."\n\nAgain, in a meeting in 2001 with a European business group, the Pope said that the purpose of economic activity should lead to "protecting the environment and promoting the full human development of millions of men and women, in a way that respects every individual's dignity ... ."\n\nHe also hoped that future generations would "enjoy a prosperity that is not merely economic but spiritual as well, corresponding to the deepest aspirations of the human heart."\n\nAt the same time, Msgr. Kerr said, the Pontiff's belief in human dignity formed the basis for his strong opposition to abortion, euthanasia, materialism and preemptive war.\n\nPope John Paul II often spoke of moral truths, yet he respected the person's freedom of conscience and obligation to act in his or her own free will. "Respect for a person's conscience, where the image of God himself is reflected, means that we can only propose the truth to others, who are then responsible for accepting it," the Holy Father stated in his 2002 message for World Day.\n\nMoreover, Msgr. Kerr said, Pope John Paul II carried a message of solidarity to people around the globe. He also wanted them to know that they are loved by a transcendent, divine power. "Pope John Paul II understood the hunger in the human heart to experience the divine. That is why millions around the world flocked to see him wherever he went."\n\nAccording to Dr. Schmitz, Pope John Paul II's humanitarian efforts stemmed from his deep commitment to his papal mission. "He had a very keen understanding of his role as pope.\n\n"To look at his accomplishments, we must first look at his zeal for the papacy. Was he a good pope? He was clearly a man on a passionate mission to bring good news to all peoples. He took his role as successor to Peter, as shepherd to his flock, very seriously. That is what made him more than a good pope. He was a great pope.\n\n"His mission was the summary point of being pope," Dr. Schmitz said. "He used every means he could -- through travel, modern transportation and technology -- to bring Christ's healing message to people in the far corners of the earth."
332678
If the sex issue is the real reason you have an issue with "religion"...bear with me, because I have also beat myself up over this...I'm 51 now, but I was beautiful years ago, and passionate, etc.  I also had a real attitude about B.S. when it went against my instincts, etc.  I discovered, and I offer you the proof that I dug up, that NOWHERE does the word of Jesus have anything against passion, hot sex, at all, ever...His word is critical of cheap sex, lying to your mate,etc---sex with intense love is God's gift...but its sacred and is made into garbage if used just to get off, or for the ego to abuse its magic to feel like a big stud, and equally for a beautiful woman to abase her power to attain power or gems,etc, using sex in a debased way.  That is ALL that was said...loving passionate sex is our gift..it is sacred and is never bad unless misused.  The Catholic church came along and twisted things very badly.  The student of life need only take a quick look at this, and its clear that we are being lied to big time...Priests were NEVER forbidden to take a wife at first...Jesus honored our needs, only wanted us to be clean about it...Then the catholics came along and burned people because they read books, were midwives, whatever...Meanwhile they were burning Mayans and their books, lying and cheating and murdering the new world for their gold.  What a load of crap...God has always said that sex is good...so much so that it needs to be honored...that's all...And any person  alive realizes that sex is the maximum...The catholics forbid it and then hide their pedophile priests...and make the rest of us all screwed up and guilty about our drives.  I agree totally withyour letter...long ago I was so fed up with the taboo, I purposely checked it out to see what was the big deal...in a very short time I got the answer for myself..SEX is great...but can be a sin when there is no emotion involved...Somebody will be hurt...like it or not...its not meant to be used as a health treatment, ever.  It is really sacred, fuck the catholics, and fuck the cynics also.  Sex is not meant to be used for recreation, or its health benefits.  You may disagree, I challenge you to respond to my message.
498979
this question is just turning into let's see who can insult the catholics the most, which I find greatly offending. The thing I think is most misunderstood is the celibacy of priests. Because of that and many accusations, most people think that "all" catholics priests are pedifiles which is not true.
310879
I am saddened by all the judgment and feel that If Catholics are so bad, then we are you the ones being judge mental!!\n\nTo officially become Catholic, you have to join a program called RCIA. This is a program where you will learn about the faith and be able to ask ANY questions about the faith, your doubts and troubles. \n\nYou have  a sponsor and receive all your sacraments. It is a 2 year program that is designed to prepare you and make you knowledgeable about the faith you are entering.\n\nWho wants to have a religion they know nothing about? I dont!! \n\nLet me know if you have any more questions!\n\nGod bless! You will be in my prayers!\n\nBY THE WAY, PHAB 4, I HAVE NEVER GIVEN MONEY TO MY CHURCH WHEN I DID NOT WANT TO!!!
1014176
He has some pretty exacting standards, which is probably why he's having issues.  He's going to find women that meet some of those standards, but not all of them.  I don't even think the Pope could help him out on this one.  \n\nI used to be a Catholic so I know some of this stuff is stemming from his beliefs, but some of it isn't--which means some of it is just his own standards.  \n\n\n\nCute is not in the bible, and god spoketh unto Moses, "all wives must be hotties, sayst the lord."  \n\nOr being a certain age, is he shooting for below, same, or above his age?  Last time I checked there was no stipulation on age in the bible either, and God spoke unto Noah, "and make sure husbands and wives are plus or minus five years apart in age, yeah, that sounds goodth to me."
848804
I keep saying it's jealousy. We have the Mother the Father loves best. The Blessed Virgin Mary. Just like Josephs brothers were jealous of him our brothers and sisters in Christ are jealous of us and the wonderful things the Lord has given to us. If they only understood though that those that have been given much, much is expected, they would not say the things they do because many a Catholic offers up their pain and suffering and death not only for their own sins but, as a member of the Body of Christ -- the sins of these people who deny they are Christian. Didn't St. Paul say "I make up in my body's suffering for what is lacking in the suffering of Christ?". And also Romans 8:17\n\nFor other denominations Holy Communion is just a symbol but, not for Catholics because our Magisterium has the ordination to consecrate the bread and wine into his ACTUAL Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Didn't Joseph tell his brothers that he wanted Benjamin left with him and didn't Jesus say he wanted John to remain forever? This is the same thing. John the youngest brother of Jesus who stood beneath the cross with Mary Jesus Mother-- just like the Catholics do at every Mass. The other denominations looked on from a distance it says but, the Catholics are there!!
729912
I've read his post 3 times and can't see any mention of his religion. \nDo you think he doesn't know the laws in his country? Why do people feel compelled to point it out?\nIf he was Irish, would you all be saying "Catholics don't allow homosexuality"?\nLeave you preaching where it belongs, and that's not here!!!!