RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Not really a faith, in the sense defined by the dominant evangelical Protestantism of the United States. Not really an inheritance either, in the sense that Judaism is. Nonetheless, it bears marks of both. As an inheritance, Catholicism has left its permanent claw marks in many of us who were raised under the aegis of this particular sect, including me; ex-Catholics are more likely to keep calling themselves Catholics than ex-Protestants are likely to call themselves Protestants, though they are still far less consistent than Jews, who tend to choose to keep the designation regardless of whether they retain the faith. As for the issue of doctrine, Catholicism will always have people who try to give it the consistency of a faith, whether it be the pope, Bill Donohue, or the other dumb&*@es who claim to speak for the entire group. Catholicism is really more of an institution, a massive network of living practices which have very little consistency: it'd be impossible to say whether a Catholic, for example, would be conservative or radical (one might contrast them with Baptists and many another religion in this respect). As one of the largest and oldest of world institutions, the Church is inherently lacking in courage, despite stellar individual examples; on the other hand, it is exceptionally good at providing education to the young and social services to the poor (far better anyway than many states, not to mention other, smaller sects). I spent many years going to its grade schools yet remain completely neutral about the good and evil this institution does in the world.

She is The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Historical and filled with awesome traditions and a richness matched by no other. She continues to withstand the test of time as Jesus said She would. In spite of anyone who has tried to stand against Her. She is a Fullness of faith in truth and justice; In Moral (Natural) law, passion and charity. Isn't it incredible how the lineage of Christ's Church is here with us in her majestic beauty just as Christ's lineage is defined for us in scripture? Humanity is strong and weak yet Our Father in heaven is ever visible and ever present in spite of those who abuse Her. Wouldn't it be humbling and selfless to make a difference in Christ's visible Church rather than relying on our own understanding and our own condemnation? If She isn't revealed to you, then wouldn't it still be fitting to love one another as Jesus has loved you - even though you despise Her? Scripture was never intended to be used as a weapon nor was scripture left up to a single individuals doctrinal revelation to the rest of the world. She was here long before us and will be here long after we are gone. Thanks be to God for Jesus, His Church and His Word. Amen

They do not preach the truth, and actually, they have the devils stamp of approval.

The Roman catholic church as far as I know is based on the traditions of men. "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? [Y]e made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites." --Jesus Christ Matthew 15:3, 6, 7 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked [Jesus], why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is WRITTEN [Jesus is quoting the Bible], This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men... And he said unto them, Full well YE REJECT THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, THAT YE MAY KEEP YOUR OWN TRADITION. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:5-9, 13 I will let the bible speak for itself!!!! Not only do they base their beliefs on tradition but the roman catholic church claimed to have changed the day of worship from the saturday sabbath to sunday the day of the sun. (Quote) We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because of the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea(A.D.336)transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday." - Rev.Peter Geirmann, C.S.S.r., The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p.50 2d edition, 1910. By the Catholics upholding tradition above the laws of christ and the words of jesus the catholic church prove to me to not be worthy of the name Christian that is follower of jesus. But they could be considered Anti-christ or against christ by claiming to change the laws and statues of jesus they are in opposition to christ himself!!!

Catholicism is the oldest Christian denomination. It maintains the apostolic traditions and charisms that go back to the original disciples and Jesus Himself. Jesus is Lord!

Love when I hear someone bitch about how abused they were as young catholics because some nun told them to "Shut the **** up, you little turd" or rapped their knuckles with a yardstick that weighed less than air. It's not currently my cup of tea, but don't have a problem with it. 5 stars....for my Irish-Catholic mom...

As a practicing catholic (with two uncles who dropped out of that school to become a priest) I have a lot of stuff I dislike about the church. Not catholic people in general, but definitely the church. The problem with the Catholic church is that through modernization, they have yet to update any of their beliefs. They condem birth control (If you don't believe your ready for a child, good for you for taking the necessary precautions) and they condem abortion (which is ok in most cases, but the fact that if there is a health risk to the mother if she has the baby and they believe you should just place your trust in God and have the baby, is assinine!). The fact that women can't become priests is also a little sad. In addition, they actually believe that at communion you are eating and drinking the REAL body and blood of Christ...isn't that canibalism? I also think that there would be a whole lot less trouble with priests if they would let them get married! Again, I have no problem with Catholics (as I am one), I just have issues with the rules and regulations of the church.

The Catholic Council of Trent denied every Reformation Bible based doctrine, including Scripture alone and grace alone. Trent proclaimed 125 anathemas (eternal damnation) against all Bible-believing Christians. The official statements of the Council of Trent are considered to be infallible, therefore, the anathemas of the Council of Trent cannot be changed or revoked. Don't let anyone tell you these 125 anathemas have been revoked in any kind of way because they haven't! Pope John Paul II in 1996 commemorated the 450th anniversary of the opening of the Council of Trent by affirming that Trent's declarations “maintain all their value.” The statement of the doctrines approved at Trent were issued in 1566 in the Roman Catechism. Here are examples of 5 anathemas, remember you only need one according to Rome be damned forever! “If anyone shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ's sake, or that it is that confidence alone by which we are justified ... let him be accursed” (Canon 12). "If anyone says that baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation, let him be anathema (accursed)" (Canons on Baptism, Canon 5). If anyone says that in the Roman Church, which is the mother and mistress of all churches, there is not the true doctrine concerning the sacrament of baptism, let him be anathema (accursed)" (Canons on Baptism, Canon 3). "If anyone denies that sacramental confession was instituted by divine law or is necessary to salvation; or says that the manner of confessing secretly to a priest alone, which the Catholic Church has always observed from the beginning and still observes, is at variance with the institution and command of Christ and is a human contrivance, let him be anathema (accursed)" " (Canons Concerning the Most Holy Sacrament of Penance, Canon 7). "If anyone says that Christ received in the Eucharist is received spiritually only and not also sacramentally and really, let him be anathema (accursed )" (Canons on the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, Canon 8). During the passing centuries the Roman Catholic Church added the following doctrines which are not taught in the Bible nor did the early Christians ever practice any such doctrines : 1. Prayering for the dead - 300AD 2. Making sign of the cross - 300AD 3. Mass as a daily celebration - 394AD 4. Mary as 'Mother of God' - 431 A.D. 5. Priests dress differently than laity - 500 A.D. 6. Extreme Unction - 526 A.D. 7. The Purgatory Doctrine - 593 A.D. 8. Title of Pope (Boniface III) - 607 A.D. 9. Kissing of Pope's foot - 709 A.D. 10. Temporal Power of Popes - 750 A.D. 11. Worship of the cross, images,& relics - 786 A.D. 12. Holy water - 850 A.D. 13. College of Cardinals Established - 927 A.D. 14. Celibacy of the Priesthood decreed - 1079 A.D. 15. The Rosary used in Prayer - 1090 A.D. 16. The Inquisition instituted to stamp out heretics - 1184 A.D. 17. Sale of Indulgences - 1190 A.D. 18. Transubstantiation or Jesus appears at Mass - 1215 A.D. 19. Confession of Sins to Priest - A.D.1215 20.Bible forbidden to laymen - 1229 A.D. 21. Purgatory - 1439 A.D. 22. Doctrine of Seven Sacraments affirmed - 1439 A.D. 23. Tradition declared equal authority with Bible - 1545A.D. 24. The Apocryphal Books added to the Bible - 1546 A.D. 25. Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary proclaimed - 1854 26. Infallibility of the Pope in matters of faith and morals - 1870 27. Assumption of Virgin Mary bodily to heaven - 1950

All churches in my view have strengths and weaknesses, but anyone who's donated cash to the sweatin' goober preacher of their choice who holds a 'degree' out of a matchbook university or marched in an Orange parade oughta keep their mouths shut. Theological disagreements are one thing... this type of foolishness is fine on the 'net, but I can assure you it doesn't go over so well with the white and Hispanic urban working and middle class... but that's ok, cause you probably regard them as just micks, wops, polacks, wetbacks,etc from your computer anyway...

I'm one of the largest growing denominations..the ex-RC. I spent a miserable 5 years of my childhood at a RC boarding school where they brainwashed us daily with their propaganda and often as not handed out regular thrashings for minor offences. I mean, telling kids they'll burn in hell if they indulge in so much as a 5 knuckle shuffle in the company of a copy of Playboy. Yet, here we have had thousands of priests across the world being exposed as kiddy-fiddlers. The RC church is one of the most evil organisations in history.

If you want to learn about the false teaching of catholicism go to www.BIBLEBB.com and type in the word "catholic".

While I have nothing against individual Catholics,I have a REAL problem with a "Church" that helps child molesters escape justice while condemning and attempting to control the private lives of consenting adults.The Vatican has a very checkered history of corruption,has supported despots and pirates when it suited them,and let's not forget the Inquisition!

While I am no longer a Catholic, I still have great respect for its teachings and tradition. Catholism's influence on modern American society is generally a positive one. Unlike the evangelical branches of Protestantism (its mainstream branches are increasingly indistinguishable from agnosticism), Catholicism accepts human imperfection, and strives for social justice rather than individual perfection. While such tendencies can go too far, in the US Catholicism helps to balance Protestant extremism and vice-versa. Catholic educational institutions, from primary school to post-graduate education, are mostly excellent, and almost universally better than their public-school equivalents. Historically, great harm was done by the Inquisition and the Church's opposition to those branches of science conflicting biblical authority. However, one must also take account of the benefits derived from the Catholic Church's stuggle against despotic government authority (from the Roman Empire to the struggle against Communism), its highly creative monastic organizations (the Benedictines and Jesuits in particular) and its assault on polygamy and the extended family, all of which contributed to the rise of Europe in the Middle Ages. The Catholic Church's stance on clerical celibacy and contraception is indeed outdated, and will no doubt be reformed at some point; as the largest and oldest organization in the world, the Church is naturally slow to reform. For all its backwardness, superstition, and occasional lapses into barbarism (such as the reign of the Borgia popes) the Catholic Church has shown incredible adaptability and staying power. While Catholicism never equalled the dazzling outburst of talent displayed by Protestants in the 17th Century, or Jews in the 20th Century, over time it has inspired even greater accomplishments, and has excelled in the visual arts, particularly architecture, sculpture and paiting. Protestantism and Judaism, if current trends continue, will gradually fade away into secular agnosticism and various odd evangelical sects. If history is any guide, Catholicism should survive for at least a couple more thousand years.

Oooh! Seems like some of the wacko born agains have been worshipping at the altar of fundamentalism again!!! The rest of us are just an abomination to them, I guess.

Most people here who diss Catholicism are blindly following stereotypes they see on T.V. We don't believe you have to participate in sacrements to find salvation. We don't even believe you have to be Christian to get to Heaven. We simply say that if you try to lead a good life to the best of your ability and are truly sorry for your sins, you will go to Heaven. Sacrements, rosaries, Communion, and all of the other things people put us down for are just ways to help us feel more in touch with God and His love for us. They are not blind chants and rituals, but are deeply rooted in prayer and self-examination. If you don't want to confess your sins, you don't have to, but believe me, there is something spiritually helpful about it. Don't believe any of these other posters here. I am currently attending a Catholic high school, I have been taught all of this in the past year. There have been doctrine changes time and again. We are improving. This is not the same Church of your great-grandfather. Catholicism isn't for everyone, but it certainly is not void of relationships with God and is just as spiritually valid as any other branch in Christianity.

If you have to belong to an organized religion, at least being a Raman Catholic gives you history, tradition, bible based faith and a world wide family. Every Christian denomination has its pluses and minuses. It's a matter of what works best for you (except for the blood sucking televangelist kind).

This site is not very user frendly for posting is it? Someone mentioned the Lamb of God and I remember that phrase well from my Catholic education ... Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, etc - but at the time I was too young to question why there had to be any need for blood sacrifice at all, either of an innocent lamb or of Christ himself. There was not a lot of difference betwen the God of the Jews and the gods of the various pagan sects. A lot of death was wanted. What kind of thing is it that demands the sacrifice of life? It is a horrible thought, and Christ is to be congratulated at bringing the horror of animal sacrifice to an end, at least for those who followed him.

While they may go off on some religious tangents, they do stick to the core beliefs of the Christian faith pretty closely. Our sacraments (the Church collectively, not just Catholicism) are more the superstitious nonsense to us. Holy Communion, also called the Eucharist, is a way for the Body to gather together, to share in a simple meal of bread and wine the body and blood of the Christ, and to be in communion with our fellow believers and with God. The remission of sins you refer to is the core belief of Christianity, that Christ by his virgin birth, death, and resurrection became the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb slain for the sin of the world. We hold that sin is death to the flesh. Because we sin, we are doomed to die. We believe that God became flesh and divine comingled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. We believe that he died on the cross to pay the price of our sin, which is death. We believe that in rising from the dead, Jesus broke the power of death over us and enabled the gift of eternal life to the redeemed. We believe that our faith in the free gift of God's mercy redeems us from sin, and that our works are a reflection of the new creature we are becoming on a daily basis when we follow Christ's example. We are not yet perfected, but we strive to that end. To call such a thing a "gutter religion" shows a decided lack of understanding, not something for me to hold agains you, but something for me to pray about. Satan blinds many, and I pray about that daily, that I might see more clearly as well, not just those around me. As for your assertion about the Church producing the Crusades and the Inquisition, I agree with you partially. I agree that certain people in the Church set these acts in motion, but I dispute that such things are from God. Such acts done by anyone (not just Christians) in the name of God are not in keeping with the faith. I regret their occurance, and I reject the assertion by those who did them that God approved of any of it.

Supporters and condoners of child molestation and criminal conspiracy/coverups for decades. Were integral in bringing us such cheery events like the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. Their leader, the f**king Pope, could have bought off Hitler and averted the holocaust, but deigned not to. Believers in venerating the Virgin and those slackers and hangeroners known as the Saints. Big time champions of such nonsense as the remission of sins, the eucharist, virgin birth and the rest of that magic and malarky. The most pukesome sect of a truly gutter religion.

The granddaddy of them all! This is tradition! This is the one and true church!

Well, they're okay. Their idea of salvation does conflict with salvation as mentioned in the Bible. Plus, the idea of purgatory isn't EVEN in the Bible. However, I really like how some churches celebrate Midnight Mass during Christmas time.

I was a baptised and confirmed Catholic. I never felt involved in the church, and it never seemed to try and do anything besides going through the motions. At least they aren't pushy evangelicals.

Better than the fundamentalist born-agains, baptists, and evangelicals who think they have a monopoly on the bible.

One particular day this past June, I thought I should really go to Confession. I hadn't gone in a few years, and had accumulated a long list to confess. I woke up early and for some reason it really ate at me to go, so I went to St. Dominic's on Steiner. I had no idea how Confession worked there. I walked around aimlessly for about ten minutes, when I see this older woman in the pews giggling at me. I asked what was so funny, not in a rude way, I just generally was wondering what was so funny. She started giving me the run down of how everything worked, and started giving me all kinds of info on the Catholic religion and her travels. She was such a genuinely sweet person, and she asked for my address and a few weeks later she sent me all kinds of religious items, including a book on Medjugorje, a rock she took from Medjugorje, a Bible, a cross that was blessed by the Pope, and a video about Father David, a guy who lived a ridiculous party type lifestyle and wound up being a priest. It may have been her attempt to lead me into priesthood, or as Flick01 pointed out, she may have been trying to steer me away from a life of partying. Nonetheless, what stuck me as coincidental was later that day I realized that June 19th was not only Father's Day, but also my 25 and one half birthday.

It is with a heavy heart that I a roman catholic holds steady to two thousand years of traditions,doctrines,majesterium,and canon law up until Vatican II due to subversion of our beloved Mother Church we deal with neo-modernists,jewish,communists,freemasonic infiltraitors who have swelled the ranks of the Church's most senior officials(bishops,cardinals)also with the novus ordo(new order of the mass).In 1969 the new mass was revised with six protestant ministers to insure the resemblance of protestant services and head for a one world religion and the break down process is on-going so the mass most catholics attend today may be far from catholic from the catecism through to the music(sacred latin hymns,gregorian,motets to rock bands)needless to say modesty in dress.One of our Popes(I will not mention)told a priest he believes he was being poisoned by one of the cardinals?They(infiltraitors)know only too well there is no postmortem examination(autopsy)performed on a Pope.Not only do we deal with our enemies who I might add are formidable and uncompromising we deal with christian sects born yesterday and more problematic our own brothers and sisters who give way to disobedience to God and like Eve want to taste the forbiden fruit in this case the fruit of liberty"it seemed to me delectable,it seemed to me fair"this fruit(liberty)which is offered today to the clergy and religious to free themselves of obligation to God and their flock that they may self-indulge in the spoils of materialism and canalism(money,love{marital affection},etc..)These,the weak will sound this tone"It was not God's will,but my mother pressured me into joining the seminary,convent,abbey,monastary but my true vocation is now clear I am meant to be married."Any pitiful excuse to be exempt of God's will to become a part of the new age,modern,enlighten,superior,awareness of purpose majority(humanists,modern christians,animists,greenies,etc...)to feel at ease with one's selfish passions.All I have read in this column is human weakness not any one charge against the Holy Roman Catholic Church as an institution which is the mystical body of Christ which the Holy Ghost is its Soul!and like its founder is mocked,unfairly tried,persecuted,slandered which adds all the more glory that awaits us at the end of our life.Falling away from this faith is not due to lack of evidence,logic,or authenticity it is due to self interest and subjectiveness meaning it is not on the grounds if it is true or not,but rather if it makes you feel good?The Catholic Church is not based on subjectives but rather objectiveness.It was not founded by Christ to make people happy as such,but to...SAVE SOULS!!!It deflects the feel good about yourself scenario and reflects a high level of intelligence and wisdom.WARNING:Those catholics that are happy to be numbered amongst the phalanx of heretical sects or are inactive know this...Almighty God will judge you as CATHOLICS not as an ignorant immigrant your catholic baptisim has an eternal validation it cannot cease to be(it is forever).CONCLUSION:For us catholics judgement is severe because of the grace and service of honor bestowed upon us by God at baptism.We become His servants(the greatest honor of our lives)and if we were to toss His gift back in His face to take up a more suitable gift(another belief) that suits one,is a great insult to God!What is that saying about those who willfuly cast His gift aside?MESSAGE FOR EXISTING CATHOLICS:We are in the fight of our lives against enemies both foreign and domestic(outside the Church and inside the Church)some are visible and some with no face.Hold fast to our traditions know your catechism,pray,and do penance when times seem adverse then we as true christians that is to say not only imitate His life but live His life,death,and ressurection in spirit repeat Our Lord's words"not as I will,but as thou will Father"You as catholics have been confirmed so you have sworn an allegiance to God to give all in His name,for His name and remember the renewal of your contracts at easter time as for the ill-advised maybe they should read 'the catechism of the council of trent'a basic understanding of our doctrines and a few lessons in human nature will help to seperate judgement of the person from the cloth.God bless...

Yes the only church that can say Jesus founded it. All other christian churches broke off the catholic church or another church some way or another. The church represents the truth even if its hard, some churches tell people what they want to hear, but the catholic church tells only TRUTHS.

Historically it is the organization from which all other Christian groups evolved. UPDATE I really hate to respond to comments but I must protest about the comment from Lovelane that I am brainwashed. I am from the Depression Generation who learned to read and write and decide for themselves. I have read literally hundreds of works of history and I stand on my comment. I reviewed your comments and you have reviewed primarily television preachers. My suggestion is to turn off the tube and go to a library! If you look at the CV of most of those preachers, you will find they attended Goober Bible College for nine months and studied little but the Bible. Widen your horizons and read! History shows us that the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have plugged along for about 2000 years and really don't show much sign of going away. History also shows that the various sects that split from Orthodoxy and Catholicism have a tendency to die out. I don't see why history shall not repeat itself. Protestantism in Europe, its birthplace, is on its last legs. Please look at all the sects and cults in my Christian divisions, sects & cults list. Some may linger for a thousand years but eventually shrivel away. ADDITIONAL UPDATE: I noticed that Lovelane removed the comments about me and I accept that. I would suggest that history should be a part of many if not most schools of theology. Education and learning are a wonderful things and are not opposed to faith or even the Bible. After all were not the Bible, faith, learning and education created by God? If so, ultimatley, how could these things be opposed to each other? SECOND ADDITONAL UPDATE: I notice in the comments below that there was a situation where true Christians were running for their lives from the Catholic holocaust that ran for centuries. I wonder where that was? While the Catholic and Orthodox peoples were defending the very existence of Christianity from the onslaughts of Mohammed's followers and other infidels, the ancestors of most Protestants in the world today were plunged into heathen darkness and worshipping bloody idols, or groves of trees, or stones, or cutting the hearts out of people while still alive, or eating them in ritualistic orgies, etc. Where were these true Christians hiding out? Read that old heathen Gibbon in Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire to broaden your horizon and perhaps get your feet wet into the truth! Without the victories of those Catholic Popes, Emperors, Kings and the Orthodox Roman Emperors and Despots, holding the line, I daresay most so-called Christians today would be reading the Koran and praying towards Mecca rather then worrying if there is a pre-trib or a post-trib rapture, speaking in tongues and other rites and rituals! THIRD UPDATE: I love this debate about Catholics/anti-Catholics. I too have been delivered, but from a Calvinist background and the older I get the more high church I get. My knowledge about theology is limited but my knowledge of history and literature is strong. I own about twenty different versions of the Bible and you know what folks, each is the same except for updated language. I don't know where this allegation that the denomination's Bibles are different comes from. As to interpretations of the Good Book, increasingly I am drawn to historical religious experts rather than hack tv preachers from Goober Bible Colleges who probably graduated from high school. I guess I would go with Thomas Aquinas as opposed to Jimmy Swaggart, for instance. Looking at this dispensationalist and fundamentalist crowd now braying on the airwaves, their theology has only been around for maybe a century or more. It's funny how the USA throws up these cults! There must be something in the water. To advocate that their interpretation of the Bible is correct and 2000 years of learned discourse on the same subject is wrong, is laughable! After reading all these postings about this and that, supposedly springing from the Bible, I am thinking of looking in the yellow pages for the Latin Mass! Oliver Cromwell when he slaughtered the helpless garrisons at Drogheda or Wexford in 1649 was following the same interpretation of the Gospel that I see in some postings on this site. Was he right? Was the Holy Ghost working throught old Ollie? I am glad I have my guns! Please look at my Chistian issues list. I dug up just about every old heresy, whether it be trinitarian, or Christological or just plain goofy, and the responses based, yes on the Bible, have been all over the board. That should tell us something! My historical comment has created a firestorm! Anti-Catholicism is the last respectable prejudice!

I could not rate this very high OR very low because Roman Catholic is much too broad and too vague a designation - for instance, are you talking about the kind of Catholicism practiced by people like Ted Kennedy, Phil Donahue, and Mario Cuomo, all of whom seem to openly identify themselves with this group? Or do you mean people like Pat Buchanan, Joseph Sobran, Mother Theresa, and all those readers of the New Oxford Review, who take their faith more seriously? A similar thing could be said about the term Baptist here on RateItAll. You could be referring to the faith as practiced by people like Clinton & Gore - or you could mean a faith that is practiced with integrity, as it is by people like Billy Graham or Adrian Rogers. In fact, we could broaden the question to include all Christians in general - which ones are genuinely denying themselves, taking up their cross, and seeking to put Christ first - and which ones are simply exploiting the Christian faith to get things they want out of people?

I think the catholic church is wrong. For one thing they name themselves the catholic church because it's in the Apostle Prayer and therefore think they are special because it says we should honor the catholic church. But they pray to saints, and I find that wrong. The churches are really ornate and I don't think God appreciates that, especially all of the statues and stuff. I don't find it right that the priests cannot marry, I believe that a man cannot give up his sexuality, it's just not healthy, they end up committing sins because of this sacrifice, that was in actuallity at one time made on behalf of the child by the parents, as it was the first son was to become a priest. Also they don't teach the whole Bible, they leave some parts out. There is too much superstition mixed up in the religion. I believe Roman Catholic is more of a cult than a religion. EDIT: In my religion, we say the apostle's creed, or prayer and according to how I was taught, catholic church refers to the church as a whole, not the actual Catholic church.That's why I thought it was always there.EDIT: no problem, Lovelane EDIT: I wouldn't have said all this if my husband didn't say it first; he was a catholic and was to become a priest, because his parents wanted him to be. He should know it, since he studied it. Do you know that I have read passages in the bible that he never knew about? It's true. AND HE WAS STUDYING TO BE A PRIEST. EDIT: You can also say we were all Jewish at one time too. Roman Catholic was at one time the world power, in other words, believe what we say, or die. When Jesus came along, Jews were the power and were also saying the same thing. So to say that Roman Catholic has lasted all this while.. yea of course. EDIT: I don't believe saying what a religion does, wrong or right is prejudice. You can like the people and hate the religion, right? I know things in my own religion are wrong and if anyone said they didn't like my religion because of this this and that, then I would say yea I know about those things, but I go there because I like the people. And really isn't that what church is mainly about? Fellowship? EDIT:I agree solenoid, And I was thinking the same thing.

You gotta start somewhere. A five for the good that they have done and a one for the times when it seemed that they might be more evil than the evil they claimed to be fighting will make for a solid three.

I'm a pretty thoroughly lapsed Irish Catholic. The lapse is due less to any dissatisfaction with the religion than with developments in my own persona. As a denomination, its nothing special, either good or bad, and while it is easy to point out its excesses, or some disgraceful individuals, it is far from unique among denominations in either category. I find myself at mass about once every two years, and confession about as often, and while I have no desire to return to the bosom of the church, I find my periodic visits somewhat comforting. I also find the catholic bashing on here more than a touch ignorant of history.

The Catholic bashing here is as predictable as it is disappointing. . .Yes, the Church has committed serious crimes and transgressions in history. Yes, there are problems and issues that Catholics pretend to look the other way on. . .but you decendants-of-Protestant-types that champion your 'version' of Christianity and bash a long-standing church surprise me. The history of the Catholic church is a tapestry that touches on all ancient and modern struggles- politics, wealth, morality, freedom, et. al. Bash the practicioners but not the church. . .religions are innocent until those wacky parishoners come into the picture and muddle the original teachings. . .

Read Mark Chapter 15 v. 37-38...afterwards, why do Catholics still have confession?? The Catholic faith is based upon doctrine manifested in the Vatican Council sessions, not the Word of God. Do you know where the doctrine of pergatory came from? 2 Maccabees 12:43-46. It is stated in there that somebody said that we should pray for the souls that were killed in battle. And that's it ! The whole doctrine came from one passage interpreted into a theology. The Roman Catholic Church survives because of it's members. The only way for a church to keep it's members in such great numbers is to form a reliance. The people of the church have to depend on the church for all resource of the interpretation of doctrine, support and salvation. Priests were no longer needed the day that Christ died. Mark ch. 15 v. 37-38 states that the curtain was torn. What curtain? The one between man and God. God and man can now be one again through Christ who payed the sin debt. If Christ didn't do the WHOLE job, why did he come here then? Catholics teach that Jesus was sent for the single purpose that God wanted him to teach us and to die to show that he loves us. What about the worlds beauty? Doesn't that show us that he loves us? God doesn't do things without a reason. He wouldn't send his Son just to show us he loves us. He came here to teach us AND to die because God knew, no matter how many times we said that we were sorry or how many animals were sacrificed, we couldn't make up for what we did. THAT is why Christ came. But if the Catholic Church fessed up to that, there would no longer be a need for priests. If no need for priests, then there's no need to ask for forgivness and salvation. If no salvation is needed from the priest, people stop coming and that's when the money stops rolling in. Do you think cathedrals are built by the government. It's all about GUILT and it's all about CONTROL !!!! I invite all Catholics to dust off and open your bibles and really begin to read what God has to say !

People seem to forget that with out the church of Rome Christianity would not have spread as quickly as it did. Do I agree with all there beliefs, no. That said there are many so called Christian denominations that I don't totally agree with. New church types seem to make a sport out of attacking the Catholics which makes about as much sense as the sheites and sunnis. Update: I was read some of the other comments and it appears that some do not even know what Catholic means, it is latin for universal.

As an EX-catholic, I am here to tell you that Catholicism teaches a false gospel and a false Christianity.(Gal 1:6-9) They teach that you cannot know that you are saved and have eternal life here and now. The truth is that what they are really teaching is that Christ sort of half saved you and YOU have to do the rest with penance and good works to complete the work of your salvation. They want to put you under the slavery and yoke of legalism. (Gal 3:1-6) If there has been a great deception all along by Satan in Christianity it is Catholicism! Friend, learn what I learned the hard way: don't be lured into their religion. Stay clear of their counterfeit Christianity and trust only in what the word of God tells you in Scripture about what the church is, and what a Christian is, and who you are in Christ. Read Paul's epistles and don't listen what man has corrupted Christianity into, namely the Catholic religion.

I have to admit to proudly being a Roman Catholic. It is for me the most fecund theology as accounts for the whole of the human being and man's great capacity for reason. You textual zealots are akin to those you despise greatly by reducing man to only half of his being: The secularist reduce man to a composition of human desires you reduce man to a robotic being absent the ability for true reason. This is why every discussion you have becomes a debate on what you think the text of the bible means- is that the limitation of human reason? I think not! I must chuckle at the various fundamentalists who spew their venomous bile toward other religions with which they dogmatically disagree and then cry- yes this means you GoneAway- when the secularists attack your most sanctified beliefs. The Natural Law principles that are the core structure of Catholic theology are also those most consistent with true human freedom, constitutional republicanism and liberty. You wonder why you make such easy targets for the secularists? It's not because your some high and mighty martyrs it's because you are- and because they are partly correct. Save for the principles of tolerance you lack the mechanisms to properly debate in public square- in many ways you are no different than the Islamofascists you also despise- you just chose a different book.

More tolerant then the Southern Baptists.

This is the organized religion which I was part of when I was a kid. First, in their defense I can say without any question, that in the years that I had to deal with them on a day to day basis (approx 1958 until 1969) never did I once experience, or hear of any of my friends or classmates experiencing, any kind of sexual misconduct on the part of any nuns, brothers, or priests. As for the religion itself, I look back on it today with less ambivalence or hard feelings than I did when I was in conflict with my teachers and the doctrines that I was supposed to learn and then live by. Today I say that the Catholic church put me on the right street but did not point me to the correct address. Even when I was a very young boy in the first and second grade I never bought the ridiculous lines that were sometimes said by a nun trying to control a room full of rambunctious youngsters. Looking back as an adult I don't think the nuns realized that we would remember the simple lines forty or fifty years later. (I recall one nun saying that the Blessed Virgin cries every time a little girl whistles. Guess what the problem was that day in her classroom?) Once I got past the basics and became a teenager I had questions in my heart which the church never answered through its teachings. I was not mature enough back then to put into accurate words what I was feeling at the time. When I should have said Show me that God is alive today what I instead told a certain religion teacher was I'm just correcting my mistakes from last year. The fact is, I haven't learned anything new in your class, Father. It took several additional years after that before I would find the answers that I had been seeking. So in a sense I am grateful to the Catholic church for pointing me in the right direction, but as long as they adhere to certain doctrines which deal more with procedure, papal and man made authority rather than with God's love, people like me will continue to search elsewhere for those answers. If the hierarchy of the Catholic church would seek the love of God by first seeking the heart of God, they too would find those answers as well.

Well, I am highly biased against the Catholic church based on my experiences while being raised in the Catholic church and Catholic school. I saw a lot of hypocracy, power trips and a constantly present aire of supremacy. Needless to say, when I got older I left the Catholic Church because of what I experienced. I do not regret that decision.

I'm too lazy to say the same basic thing about all the other groups of christians, so i'll say the same thing hear, and you can apply it too your group of christianity (baptist, lutheran, anglican, etc.) I want to start by saying I am a Christian and I do try to follow Jesus' teachings. But I do not believe in an organized religion. I am non denominational and think that so many of the corruptions in our society come from organized religions, especially the catholics. I think its bad enough when Christians can't get along with other religions, but when they argue with other chrisitans it goes to far. What i do is read my bible on a regular basis, follow what it says, and just enjoy my life. Simple as that.

The Roman Catholic church, for all of its faults and shortcomings, is one of the few remaining bulwarks of traditionalism left today. For those who don't like traditionalism, or absolutes in morality, then it's not surprising that they would not view the Catholic church (or probably most religions) with disdain or contempt. So be it. It's interesting that the media has focused exclusively on the recent sex-abuse scandal in the Catholic church (not that there wasn't a problem to report on, that's for sure), but seem to ignore the fact that, unfortunately, the same phenomenon occurs in every other religion (and more so in a few). There are plenty of canscientious Catholics who totall deplore and condemn not only the actions of the offending priests, but of the bishops who have covered up, or attempted to cover up, these indefensible actions. All of that considered, however, the Roman Catholic church is the only church that can trace its roots directly back to Christ (all of the Protestant churches broke from Catholicism, so in that sense, while remaining Christian, have broken the chain, so to speak). If you are non-religious, irrelegious, agnostic, atheist, or in general a non-believer, probably none of this is of interest or makes any difference. If you're religious, it may make some sense. The core valuse of the church basically are the laws promulgated by Moses (i.e., the Ten Commandments). Basically, the church teaches tolerance, love of your fellow man, doing good actively, and trying to be a good member of the community (this is by no means an all-inclusive list, but it should render the general idea). These ideas are not far removed, if at all, from the precepts of most other principal religions. Sure, there have been times in church history when there were excesses (the Crusades, for example), but thankfully there has been a lot of enlightenment since those times. I don't consider myself a religious fanatic, but I do believe that either you believe, or you don't. I guess I should add that the Catholic church has survived despite some of the indignities cast upon it by some of its own leaders through the ages, and that it should be undestood that Catholics put their faith in God, and not in the church itself.

It's hard to rate something as big and diverse as this, since it has numerous ones and fives throughout its long and fascinating existence. Definitely it inspired some of the finest art and music and writing in world history, compared to which most contemporary denominations are a philistine wasteland. Yet Roman Catholicism has been one of the profoundest reactionary forces in the world since the reign of Justinian in the 6th century, and this continues today.