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Alex, since the RM is not responding (as you mentioned earlier) if you are listening/speaking for him or her (as your commentary has reflected that), please, listen to what NYer is saying. This is precisely what [in part] is so agitating on the Religion Forum boards.

Why should the Religion Moderator respond, when this conversation is happening in the Smokey Back Room? I wasn't going to say anything myself, but since you all are going to continue to pick at this particular scab, consider that every single day in the Religion Forum sees Catholics agitating Protestants by referring to them as Fundamentalists, Snake Handlers, Know-Nothings, KKKers, Anti-Semites, Nazi sympathizers, "OrthodoPresbyCultists", "Worshipers of Self and Self-Alone", and equated godly men like Billy and Franklin Graham with Jim Jones, Jesse Jackson, and Jeremiah Wright. Catholics have done so with impunity, so long as they didn't make them personal insults about their fellow FReepers, because of the "don't make it personal" rules of the Religion Forum.

Is that agitation enough for you? Since NYer saw fit to quote from Matthew 7:2, allow me to complete the quote via 7:4 -

"You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."

Protestants have put up with these kinds of insults in the Religion Forum for at least a decade. The least that Catholics could do is be as thick-skinned as the Protestants have been IMO.

Protestants have put up with these kinds of insults in the Religion Forum for at least a decade. The least that Catholics could do is be as thick-skinned as the Protestants have been IMO.

I just finished reading about St. Sophia [Eastern Orthodox saint] and her three young daughters, all martyrs, and no one would ever refer to her as being [or needing to be] thick-skinned, yet all of her children were killed right in front of her in the most tortuous of fashion, while she looked on encouraging them as they were about to see God. In other words, there's nothing to give glory to being thick-skinned [which could also be called insensitive or callous]; quite the opposite. Thick-skinned does not equate with strength. Some of the most sensitive people are the strongest [in Jesus]. Did not Christ even cry from the Cross?

That being said, NYer, doesn't use the adjectives/nouns you listed, so I would think her suggestion could at least be considered.

IMHO,

What we had here today was one of the best discussions! That's what we did- together. We were able to talk things out. It felt, well, productive.

The same people seem to cause trouble, with the same MO's. The Know-Nothings and the KKK are part of the history of anti-Catholicism in America, just as the Spanish Inquisition (They don't call it that for nothing) and the "Bad Popes" are a blot on our Catholic and European history. (The Borgias were a big family and there was at least one good one in the bunch!) It's a done deal, yet it gets rehashed all the time.

Both sides get this flak, then let's have both sides agree to quit. Kayaker's post was off-topic and inappropriate in what was otherwise a frank, adult, peaceful discussion. Why it was directed at NYer, with the comment about "showing up" and had no valid input to the topic at hand, well, that's Kayaker for ya, God bless his/her little heart!

I guess my question is, why is behavior in adults tolerated that would not be in children? Why does "Well, they did it!" justify the sniping and name-calling? Check out the difference in posts. Today both sides acted like Christians and talked like a family. Families don't always agree, but they're considerate of one another. If one acts out, especially unprovoked, they should be called on it. If this were TV, which would you rather be on, "Hannity" with a spirited discussion, or my favorite bad example, Springer? Maybe it's time to put the chairs down, and really talk. If people aren't willing, well maybe some should be put in a corner once in awhile... or at least apologize.

God bless us, FReepers, every one!

Protestants have put up with these kinds of insults in the Religion Forum for at least a decade. The least that Catholics could do is be as thick-skinned as the Protestants have been IMO.

Like liberals, having been so often defeated in debate, by the grace of God, the recourse of many is to pathos over ethos, except to post the same old refuted Staples etc. polemics.