That's probably true. Of course Catholics have done many wonderful and good things throughout history and continue to do so today. For example, many of the strongest pro-life voices in our country today are Catholics.
It was the characterization of us asking people to ignore the bad apples and the expression that our track record stinks that led to my remark, not any suggestion that we should ignore.
Yeah, I didn't mean to suggest that because there are bad actors, therefore, Catholicism is invalidated. I wouldn't apply that standard to my own church. :) I was talking about my claim that the Church claims its clergy/hierarchy is set apart and is superior to all other Christian clergy. My only point was that under some guise of "to whom much is given much will be expected" one would expect to see something different in the Apostolic clergy and hierarchy, as opposed to other Christian clergy.
We are portrayed as hag-ridden by guilt. Some of us go to confession at least once every 2-3 weeks, and it is immediately concluded that we are sexually repressed, upset about nocturnal emissions or something equally ridiculous OR just paying another insurance premium.
I don't think anyone on my side thinks you guys sin any more than we do, so I wouldn't agree with that. However, the insurance premium line did catch my eye. :) I guess all I can do is hypothetically transport myself into a Catholic and imagine what I would think after just committing a mortal sin. (I admit this is not fair because I can't "invent" a Catholic mindset.) So, I imagine myself sitting there and contemplating going to hell for the commission of this sin UNLESS .... Of course I would confess to a priest if I thought those were the rules for salvation. To me, it WOULD seem like an insurance premium. I can't imagine anyone not confessing under those circumstances.
Now, none of this is to belittle confessing. God commands us to confess. We can't become believers unless we confess to God. We just disagree on the subsequent confessions being salvific.
It seems unthinkable that we might be trying to "be still and to allow God to order our lives around His peace. The notion that we might actually be aware of the ridiculousness of shame in the face of God's love is not considered.
I can try to consider it thinkable. :) Your above certainly rings a lot of bells for me. We confess to God too, for reasons just like this. I suppose the flip side of what you're saying is that we are told that we have no need to confess because our ticket is already punched. Therefore, confession must be worthless to us. So, I would agree that it is possible that there is great misunderstanding on both sides.
At least I do, right up until I haul out the IRS Form 1040. Then my confidence and peace melt away like spring snow. Darn it!
Righteous anger is still Godly. :)
Okay, I think I get that. But as for clergy being superior? Not personally. Not at all. (It is to laugh!) Just as there are many quite virtuous atheists, certainly more virtuous than I, so also there are pastors outside the Catholic clergy who are paragons in many respects. Not far from here is a very holy Baptist pastor.
I THINK you'll find that most Catholics view most Catholic clergy with genial contempt, or sometimes sullen contempt. I have been very fortunate in that I know about 4 or 5 who are very good, and even holy, men. But I know at least one that shouldn't be allowed out without a nurse or a warden or something.
My only point was that under some guise of "to whom much is given much will be expected" one would expect to see something different in the Apostolic clergy and hierarchy, as opposed to other Christian clergy.
In all our dreams. But the world as we greet it gives us clergy, especially bishops and popes with whom Dante cheerily litters the floors of the Inferno. The only thing I can say is that the Eucharist is all the more splendid in the hands of one of the bozos, like a pearl in mud.
I'm reading a life and times of Dominic, and I'm impressed that it was very providential that he had a couple of moderately sane and good popes and bishops to work with, who recognized the need for some good old fashioned evangelism. It was by no means a certainty. Some of that was just the slow, painful working out of the place of the Church in the controlled thuggery that was pre-national feudalism.
BUT I really don't trouble myself in my day to day life about whether this or that is "mortal". I know that seems to run counter to the whole shtick. I hit the confessional every 2 or 3 weeks and, as I say, for me it's an exercise in putting my claim to trust in God to the test. If I trust God, then surely I can bear the embarrassment of telling father so-and-so not only that but how I messed up.
And I GUESS the point of that is to say that I think, experientially, if my experience is anything to go by, the "theology" of confession is over here and the practice is over there. I do not go to "get into heaven" or even to "restore my relationship with God SO THAT I can get into heaven." I go because I'm minimally less of a difficult scoundrel when I go than when I don't. And I do note a certain comparative ease in my prayers when I'm not chewing over some sin.
Now whethr I would allow myself to use a brieg interview with a priest to "settle" the part of the sin which was agaianst God without the "theology", I don't know. But it's not an "Oh my goodness, I have to confess before I get hit by a train!" thing. How can I say this? When you know God forgives you, it is almost a joy to confess. It's a celebration of forgiveness in which I get to play supporting actor. "Also Starring MAD Dawg, as the penitent sinner! (with film clips form real life!)" I am happy to swagger, almost, into the chapel and spend ten minutes in prayer as my "penance"." Wow, God! I offended you and for my alleged punishment you want me to submit myself to your grace by opening myself to you in prayer! Is that a deal or what?
Now, I DO know one lady who might possibly meet the expectation of being all in a dither because she said, "Drat!" and is afraid she might die before she gets absolution. But that strikes me as a problem more for the psychiatrist or some kind of counselor than for the theologian. I hear Paxil works wonders.
As far as SOME of the pro-forma slams on Calvinists and Babdissts go, you will note I don't play. I dare to say I know how the growing perception that God chose one from before the foundation of the world for no reason other than sheer unmerited love -- how that notion leads one to hope to find ways to "Show forth [His] praise not only with our lips, but in our lives," and to deepen one's relationship (in whatever sense that might be up to one) with so great and amazing a Lover -- and to share, again as much as that is up to one, that Love with others.
So you won't catch me asking why people who feel that God made them for Himself and His love try to lead their lives in response to that Love.
Thanks for the ping and your many worthy comments.