“It is my impression that there is an organized group which purposely incites Catholics.”
There is also such a group which attacked my faith, Mormonism.
My mother always used to say that you don’t discuss religion or politics in social settings because those two topics inevitably led to hard feelings.
IMO, FR exists to build a political coalition, and for that reason should ban religious posting. It wouldn’t surprise me of the Freepers who make a hobby out of attacking religons were actually trolls from DU. If not, they are doing the work of DU — dividing us to make it easier to conquer us.
Honestly, when I read the stuff posted about my religion, I think to myself that these people are validating all the worst stereotypes about conservatives. It’s said that politics makes strange bedfellows. But, while reading the vile posts of those who attack what others hold sacred, I think to myself that politics is making revolting bedfellows, and if I didn’t love this country so much, I’d cease supporting conservative causes.
******************
I usually steer clear of those Mormon-bashing threads, as I find them to be disturbing. However, I must respectfully disagree with you about the inclusion of a Religion forum on Free Republic. One of the important forces within a free and conservative society, which also works to strengthen marriage, family, and a work ethic is religion. We need to support religious beliefs.
Allowing the trolling posts we see every day on this forum is to me the problem, not that we allow discussion of religion.
This, I think should be banned altogether on all kinds of threads: mockery, insult and ridicule. It is simply uncivilized behavior.
However, most conservatives value religion, and would want to discuss it, in order to explain what they believe, learn it better and hopefully attract others. This inevitable leads to critical posts. In this light, let me ask you this question: as a Mormon, do you allow for the possibility that I could inquire about Mormonism and point out why I am not a Mormon? I am sure you heard people questioning, for example, the historical veracity of the events in the Book of Mormon, or Mormon Christology that is not trinitarian. Would you say all such inquiries are "attacking what is held sacred", -- while I agree that some certainly are?