Question for Moderators? Re: Catholic Posts

[beattyfamily]

...I also think some of these questions aren't asked with an innocent intent. The question itself may seem harmless enough (ie. "Should priest be allowed to marry?"), but sooner or later, it degrades into bashing of the church (ie. "...if priest could marry, there'd be less pedophilia...." or "...there's a higher percentage of priests who are child molestors than there are in the general population....").

You hit the nail on the head with that! So true in my experience. Sometimes I think someone is sincerely interested in a doctrine and the why of it and I go and explain it only for my answer to be insulted or picked apart, like they take joy in doing that.

 

[buddy&wooz]

I agree that it can be hard to read some of the harsher opinions (and I'm a former Catholic- but raising my kids Catholic). But I just skim past those posts and try to respond only to the ones that (IMO) really carry the discussion along. I think these are legitimate questions, and I think they're being asked because of an honest desire to know what other people think. It's hard work all this stuff out alone in your own head.

 

[totalia]

I just wish all religious posts would be removed. Fat chance that will happen though.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I just wish all religious posts would be removed. Fat chance that will happen though.

Simple solution: Don't open them. Just because you happen to wish all religious posts be removed doesn't mean everyone feels the same way. There are plenty of topics I enjoy on these boards, and some that I don't. The ones I don't care for I just don't open but other people are free to.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I think some of the posts among the catholic related threads have been offensive. I'm not too crazy about the term "recovering catholics" either.
The catholic bashing happens around Christmas and now because Pope John Paul has died. It will pass soon. But I am curious of why other religions are hands off from talking about their customs, beliefs ways of life etc?

 

[BuckNaked]

Simple solution: Don't open them. Just because you happen to wish all religious posts be removed doesn't mean everyone feels the same way. There are plenty of topics I enjoy on these boards, and some that I don't. The ones I don't care for I just don't open but other people are free to.

Well said!

But I am curious of why other religions are hands off from talking about their customs, beliefs ways of life etc?

I've wondered the same thing...

 

[DisDuck]

Actually, and Buck you should remember these, there was plenty of accusations of Christian bashing on the old DB board particularly when discussing 'salvation'.

 

[BuckNaked]

Actually, and Buck you should remember these, there was plenty of accusations of Christian bashing on the old DB board particularly when discussing 'salvation'.

Yes, and since Catholics are Christians, it would be the same thing. Bashing of Islam? If anyone dares to do that, they are jumped all over. Bashing of Jews? Same thing. But it nevers seems to be a problem when it comes to bashing Christians in general, and Catholics in particular.

 

[RyMickey]

Well, I'm Catholic, and I'm finding a lot of these threads offensive. I find the term "recovering Catholic" extemely offensive. You only have to "recover" from something harmful. I also think some of these questions aren't asked with an innocent intent. The question itself may seem harmless enough (ie. "Should priest be allowed to marry?"), but sooner or later, it degrades into bashing of the church (ie. "...if priest could marry, there'd be less pedophilia...." or "...there's a higher percentage of priests who are child molestors than there are in the general population....").

Like someone else said, I think you hit the nail on the head. It's not that us Catholics (or this Catholic, at least) find offense in the questioning of Church policies. Heck, I question the Catholic Church's ideas of female priests/priest marriages/etc. The point is that these threads have inevitably turned to stating how the Church's stance now only leads to harming people.

It's true that we can simply not read the threads, but it's difficult to not defend something that you believe in. There's a particular thread on the boards now discussing Cardinal Law serving Mass in the Vatican. As I said on that thread, I don't think that there's any Catholic that is happy with with the Church's stance on this issue, yet for some reason a "debate" rages on on these boards. No Catholic is happy with the abuse scandal, so what are we debating?

When I first read this thread, I thought that the original poster was being a little too sensitive. But like others have said, these seemingly innocent posts concerning topics like "Should priests be allowed to marry" gradually shift into pedophilia - kinda stereotyping a whole religion because of a few bad priests. It's honestly rather insulting.

RyMickey

 

[JerseyJanice]

Jellyman, I don't have the time or energy to get into the Catholic discussions. As a devout Catholic, I get sensitive about them, and I know it.

Moreover, when someone posts the absolutely moronic suggestion that the Church or Pope is any way, shape or form responsible for the AIDS crisis in Africa, I can't deal with it. (Is there any way to handle such stupidity?)

So do what I've been doing--walk your dog, enjoy the nice spring weather, wash your windows, etc.

Next week, there will be another big news story, and most of the Catholic threads will be gone so the DIS will be safe again for us "happy and proud to be Catholic" DISers.

Hang in there! I feel your pain!

 

[phisigprincess]

I think that plain and simple, the Catholic church is an easy target. I know I've been told that my whole life, but until I got older I never realized how many people feel so strongly AGAINST Catholicism. I don't get it. But the flip side is that as many people who are talking about how the church ruined them are as many as those people who are coming back to the church or finding it for the first time.

 

[Keli]

Yeah, If I were catholic I would be offended by some of the replies on these 'catholic' threads. All I have to do is substitute the name of my religion and I can easily see why the term "recovering catholic" would be offensive. I also find that calling the followers of a religion as 'brainwashed' is offensive, that implies they belong to a cult and are not allowed any free thought. Please, people wouldn't be using the terms when discussing a religion they are not fond of if it had positive connotations, the intent is to be at least somewhat offensive to that church.

 

[gina2000]

Doesn't bother me. I like discussion and I feel that everyone contributes even if I don't care for the terms they use.

I just chalk certain comments up to prejudice if need be. Most of the times, though, it's just thoughtlessness.

 

[Maleficent13]

I have very definitive and pretty much concrete opinions on the Catholic church, based on my personal experience, my education, and the fact that I try to keep current on world events.

But just as I don't really want to be converted to any particular faith, I don't want to convert anyone else to a faith, or lack of a faith. Why can't religion just be a personal choice? That is what I have never understood...live your life according to your faith, whatever that faith may be. I will live my life according to my faith, whatever that faith may be. Why do you or I have to be "okay" with each other's choices?

 

[Crankyshank]

As much as I find insinuations that I've been brainwashed offensive, I just shake my head and chalk it up to ignorance.

 

[beattyfamily]

Yeah, If I were catholic I would be offended by some of the replies on these 'catholic' threads. All I have to do is substitute the name of my religion and I can easily see why the term "recovering catholic" would be offensive. I also find that calling the followers of a religion as 'brainwashed' is offensive, that implies they belong to a cult and are not allowed any free thought. Please, people wouldn't be using the terms when discussing a religion they are not fond of if it had positive connotations, the intent is to be at least somewhat offensive to that church.

Thank you very much!

 

[jellymanoffspring]

Thanks everyone.... Great conversation and some excellent advice !
Maybe I was being slightly sensitive but I am a proud Catholic!
I loved and admired Pope John Paul II so I was especially offended this week.....
I also have great respect for others religious beliefs (my Dear Niece recently converted to Orthodox Judaism , and I was happy to share in her spiritual journey!)

As I found in my readings on the DIS today , those who post negatively have usually been let down by someone in the Church or an over zealous Parent and then generalize it to the entire Catholic Church....

The Church is not perfect but the roots of our Faith are deep and wonderful.....

 

[chadfromdallas]

I think that plain and simple, the Catholic church is an easy target.

I think this applies to any religion

 

[Dan Murphy]

Big target, easy bash.

 

[chrissyk]

As I found in my readings on the DIS today , those who post negatively have usually been let down by someone in the Church or an over zealous Parent and then generalize it to the entire Catholic Church....

The Church is not perfect but the roots of our Faith are deep and wonderful.....

Since I'm the person who posted that a "zealous parent" helped me to decide to leave the Catholic Church, I want to respond to this. I'm sure that you'll find that both the church and the parents play a role in a person becoming a "former Catholic". I didn't want to be Catholic in the first place from a very early age. Some kids just don't believe in the religion, no matter how hard the parents and religious-education teachers try. When the parents then try to compel the children to believe and/or to make sacriments, the damage is compounded. The church doctrine and the nasty clergy at my church caused the problem in the first place, and my dad sealed the deal so to speak. BOTH the church and my parents had a hand in my present feelings towards Catholicism.

I've done a lot of hard work to move past what was a very negative religious experience for me thanks to the church AND my parents. If the term "recovering Catholic" is offensive to some, then I apologize. I didn't coin the term, but I have adopted it to describe myself. It describes my experience perfectly, and I won't apologize for saying that I have had to recover from being raised Catholic. I take this topic VERY seriously. It has affected most major aspects of my life. I won't get into details, but it affected my wedding, where I will raise my future children, and even my involvement in a legal issue pertaining to parents' rights. People obviously have strong feelings on BOTH sides of this issue. You may not agree with me, but that doesn't negate my experience with the church or my need to recover from said experience.

I'm done posting on this topic. I'm not going to change anyone's mind, and vice versa.