I had an experience here that made me very gun-shy about asking questions about Catholic doctrine and the Catholic church in general. Years ago, I asked why it is that so many people who call themselves Catholic and don't live by the doctrines of their church and who don't even AGREE with those doctrines (birth control and abortion, to name a few) continue to stay in the Catholic church. It was an honest question because it's never made sense to me. I couldn't imagine attending a church and disagreeing so strongly with its doctrine. Well, I got an angry private message from a Freeper who accused me of advocating a mass exodus from the Catholic church. I was stunned and hurt because that was *not* my intent. I was only asking a question based on what I have observed over the course of my life living amongst a large population of Catholics. I grew up in Ted Kennedy Land and have known many people just like him.
Now, I will also say that I've gotten some very kind replies from Catholics, too, when I've asked questions. But, that one incident really freaked me out and I tread very carefully with my questions now.
I am not singling out Catholics here, because I've seen Protestants attack Catholics, too. But, I'm just telling you what I've observed.
It's a matter of history. For centuries, the Catholic church was the center and fulcrum of life in a community. Everything revolved around that. To leave that would imply ostracising oneself from the community, not just a matter of going to the church on the next block.
Further, the Catholic Church teaches about the primacy of the conscience, when that conscience is properly formed. Unfortunately, a lot of Catholics understand fully the first part, but not the second part. When, in the mid 20th century, it became important to think for oneself and to be more "American" than "Catholic," it became very stylish to subscribe to current popular culture than the teachings of the church. People's consciences got perverted by the media and pop culture. They didn't consider the importance of guarding their consciences against those kinds of attacks.
Finally, the Catholic Church has not done a very good job of catechizing older youths and adults. Unfortunately, there are a number of clergy who do not do their job properly (there are also a lot of good and holy clergy members as well, but they are not universally present). So the poor catechesis is often reinforced.
Sorry that you got a disrespectful answer earlier. Hopefully this one helps you out.
If one Catholic freaked you out and some other Catholics came up with some very kind replies, why cling to the one negative when you have more that are positive?
I’ve had some outrageous FReepmails sent to me by non-Catholic Christians. Up at the top right hand corner there is a word “delete”. You can key that word and it’s all taken care of.
Just keep your eye on the finish line, as St. Paul tells us.
That’s enough to keep us busy.
God bless.
ROE
A thing to remember is that others might be gun-shy also. The same question you posed may have been posed in the past and resulted in bad consequences.
I would suggest that in the future that you should end such questions stating your sincerity. Something like "I am sincerely curious." Then should any one accuse or harass you about your question simply restate that you are sincerely curious and that you are not trying to pick a fight.
Don't get discouraged, common decency has become a rare thing around here, it might take a while for some to get used to again.