Nifonging the Catholic Church

me ^ | April 18, 2010 | vanity

[Judith Anne]

I seriously wonder about some FReepers, sometimes. Any other person accused of a crime would be defended by every FReeper as being innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. I've seen whole threads written by men who have been accused of child abuse by ex-wives out to deny them their visitation rights or to wrest more money out of them. These men are rightly indignant, and furious about the unjust accusations that cannot be proven but are never withdrawn.

Yet where are those FReepers when a PRIEST is accused? Where is the presumption of innocence? Suddenly, every accusation becomes a verdict, and not only the accused but his entire organization and all its adherents are held responsible.

I can only wonder what some of these so-called conservatives (who so faithfully defend the Constitution) would do, if THEY were the ones accused! It is a nightmare for any man -- all of you know how even the accusation stains the man forever, even if it is proven false!

Not only that, many here assert that the problems of 30, 40 and even 50 years ago must be tried in the media TODAY!

Remember the Duke rape case? There are more similarities than differences here. The priests are accused, nifonged, and instead of being defended, they are vilified!

What other man of you could stand under the weight of such an accusation trumpeted by the press, and come out whole? None! And such accusations made, LONG after the statute of limitations has passed, sometimes even after the accused is dead and buried for YEARS -- are YOU one of those who automatically, reflexively, spitefully, and gleefully act as judge, jury, and executioner?

Women! What if it were YOUR HUSBAND, YOUR BROTHER, YOUR FATHER, YOUR UNCLE, YOUR SON who was accused? Wouldn't you want the best defense possible? Wouldn't YOU believe in their innocence? Wouldn't YOU help protect your loved ones as much as possible? And yet, YOU JUDGE THE CHURCH FOR DOING WHAT YOU WOULD DO?

Shame! Vast shame! On all who have sinned against the innocent!

[Alex Murphy]

Saves a packet of grief when the Bible is followed, doesn’t it? Jesus even outlined the steps to be taken at Matthew chapter 18

Catholic and Protestant Bibles: What is the Difference?

Ours get read?

10 posted on 03/07/2007 10:01:26 AM PST by Alex Murphy

Get Cracking, Catholics![article at the National Catholic Register]
A formative, family-friendly factoid from a recent study or survey in the news.
November 19-25, 2006 Issue
Posted 11/16/06 at 8:00 AM

According to a study released in September by Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion, evangelical Protestants are a whopping eight times more likely than Catholics to read the Bible on a weekly basis. Of course, the survey only looked at private Bible reading; it did not take into account the Scripture passages Catholics take in at every Mass. Still, we tip our hats to our separated brothers and sisters in Christ for their zeal for the Word of God.

Related threads:
Synod: Christianity not a 'Religion of the Book' [article from National Catholic Reporter]
Yesterday saw...a forceful plea from a key papal advisor [Bishop Salvatore Fisichella, the rector of the Lateran University and President of the Pontifical Academy for Life] to reject the idea of Christianity as a “Religion of the Book.”

Synod to Focus on Proper Use of Scripture [article from Catholic World News]
The Church should combat widespread "Biblical illiteracy" among the Catholic faithful, Archbishop Eterovic said

A Literate Church: The state of Catholic Bible study today [article from America: The National Catholic Weekly]
...while fewer believers know much about the Bible, one-third of Americans continue to believe that it is literally true, something organizers of the Synod on the Word of God called a dangerous form of fundamentalism that is “winning more and more adherents…even among Catholics.” Such literalism, the synod’s preparatory document said, “demands an unshakable adherence to rigid doctrinal points of view and imposes, as the only source of teaching for Christian life and salvation, a reading of the Bible which rejects all questioning and any kind of critical research”....
....The flip side of this embarrassment is the presumption among many Catholics that they “get” the Bible at Mass, along with everything else they need for their spiritual lives. The postconciliar revolution in liturgy greatly expanded the readings, with a three-year cycle in the vernacular that for the first time included Old Testament passages. Given that exposure, many think they do not need anything else. As Mr. McMahon put it, “The majority still say you go to Mass, you get your ticket punched, and that’s it for the week.”

"By doing nothing to practice his faith except attending Sunday weekly Mass (and the few Holy Days), in two years' time (after which the reading cycle ends), a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 3.7% of the Old Testament (932 verses), and in three years' time (after which the reading cycle ends) a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 40.8% of the New Testament (3247 verses). That all adds up to a total of 4179 out of 33001 verses mentioned in the chart, i.e. only 12.7% of the entire Bible (excluding Psalms) is heard by a weekly-Mass-attending Catholic."
-- Alex Murphy, November 1, 2009
on the thread Lectionary Statistics - How much of the Bible is included in the Lectionary for Mass? (Popquiz!)

Catholic and Protestant Bibles: What is the Difference?

Ours get read?

[RegulatorCountry]

Even in the relatively rare and brutally frank back and forth experienced on the FR Religion Forum (and few other places), I’ve experienced surprising ignorance of basic Biblical themes from putative Catholics. You’d think those brave enough to wade in, to something approaching a donneybrook at times, would have the confidence that a firm grounding in one’s faith provides.

But, I’ve been told that Christ as the second Adam is one of those weird Protestant beliefs, I’ve been told that Replacement Theology is a uniquely Protestant and particularly Presbyterian variety of anti-Semitism, I’ve been told that I will be judged by the Pope on Judgment Day ... I can’t quite decide if it’s scary, sad or funny.

It’s all three by turns, I suppose.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

If teachers sexually molest children, they go to jail.

If priests sexually molest children...well, parent probably won't know about for a decade or so until their child reaches 28, anyway, according to Ratzinger's rules, and by then the priest will probably have been shuffled around to several more parishes where he's destroyed even more children and families.

Watch the award-winning documentary on DVD, "DELIVER US FROM EVIL," and pay close attention to the guilt all the many parents felt at handing their children over to pederasts. No one has to stay blind. They just have to stay vigilant.

[Natural Law]

"You're obviously not referring to Alex Murphy since you're asking him the question. I doubt you use that term for Judith Anne. So that leaves me as the person you are labeling as "Reichbishop."

Are you attempting to read my mind in violation of the Forum rules?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

You were addressing Alex' post. Your comment doesn't make sense if it were addressed to Alex. It was in the third person.

It also doesn't make sense if it were addressed to Judith Anne, unless you've had a falling out in the past few hours. Which is none of my concern.

That leaves me whom you have called by that name before (and the term still doesn't make any sense.)

The last time you called me that name your post was removed by the Religion Moderator. So either follow the rules or continue to break them and live with the consequences.

[Natural Law]

"So either follow the rules or continue to break them and live with the consequences."

In addition to attempting to read my mind are you now making this about me AND assuming the duties of the Religion Moderator? Or do the rules only apply to Catholics?

[count-your-change]

The kings of ancient Israel were commanded to make their own copy of God’s word so as to be able to read it for themselves. So it would seem that to the degree we appreciate the importance of His Word, we take time to become well versed in it.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

No, I'm telling you the last time you call me "Reichbishop" your post was pulled by the Religion Moderator. (I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt by assuming you may have missed that fact.)

Therefore I'm reminding you again that your use of the term directed at individual FReepers is against the rules.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

According to a study released in September by Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion, evangelical Protestants are a whopping eight times more likely than Catholics to read the Bible on a weekly basis...

"By doing nothing to practice his faith except attending Sunday weekly Mass (and the few Holy Days), in two years' time (after which the reading cycle ends), a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 3.7% of the Old Testament (932 verses), and in three years' time (after which the reading cycle ends) a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 40.8% of the New Testament (3247 verses). That all adds up to a total of 4179 out of 33001 verses mentioned in the chart, i.e. only 12.7% of the entire Bible (excluding Psalms) is heard by a weekly-Mass-attending Catholic."

Astounding.

Roman Catholics take pride in "living the Beatitudes." Yet Christ referenced the Scriptures in practically everything He said. You'd think they'd make more of an effort to know what Christ is talking about.

[Judith Anne]

So what was the purpose in attempting 26 posts about another's church abuse issues, if not to (in your words) "exploit the victims for political or sectarian purposes"?

I find it difficult to believe you cannot discern the purpose. BTW, have you ever posted a thread about protestant clergy child sexual abuse? Please provide a link, if you have. The purpose of the removed posts indicting the presbyterian ministers' child sexual abuse was to let you and all lurkers know that contrary to protestant propaganda, adolescent/child sexual abuse is not a Catholic problem, it is a problem of all institutions. In fact, one of the worst abusers in the presbyterian church, who moved around from school to school, was a teacher at a school for deaf children. Public schools also have a very high rate of sex abusers of children, probably the highest. The propaganda, and the anti-Catholic bigots' agenda here, is to pretend that the Catholic Church has the only, the worst, and the highest rate of child abuse.

[Judith Anne]

Roman Catholics take pride in "living the Beatitudes."

As opposed to presbyterians. Is the PCUSA the largest group of presbyterians? It would be shocking if ANY of them read the Bible once a week.

[Judith Anne]

Therefore I'm reminding you again that your use of the term directed at individual FReepers is against the rules

Actually, thin-skinned people are the disrupters on the open threads. Being hypersensitive to imagined or perceived slights is against the rules as well.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

"But he that glorieth, let him glory in the LORD.

For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." -- 2 Corinthians 10:17-18

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The last time that word was flung at a FReeper, the post was pulled by the Religion Moderator.

Challenge the rules; it's your choice.

[Judith Anne]

I also find it difficult to believe that any presbyterians read the gospels. They sure do concentrate on those freaky Pauline epistles. St. Paul got a few things right, but he was likely just as loony as his protegee, Calvin.

[Judith Anne]

The last time that word was flung at a FReeper, the post was pulled by the Religion Moderator.

Challenge the rules, it's your choice.

Well, you have complained about this "Reichbishop" word numerous times, and Natural Law has explained the meaning and use of it, and the Religion Moderator has left it on post 400. If the Religion Moderator wants to delete it, I's sure s/he will. If it bothers you a lot, consider getting a thicker skin or hitting the abuse button, but please return to the subject of the thread, we've wasted enough time on this word, which does have a meaning that is not derogatory.

[Judith Anne]

PS, the word was not “flung” at you, and frankly, you are the one who decided it was aimed at you.

[will of the people]

“freaky Pauline epistles. St. Paul got a few things right, but he was likely just as loony . . .”

I understand giving Protestants grief over removing the Apocrypha (even if I don’t agree with the Catholic position); but I wasn’t aware that picking and choosing which books of the Bible were ‘non-freaky’ and which were ‘freaky’ was practiced.

Removing those freaky Pauline epistles written by that loon should increase that percentage of the Bible that is read at mass during the lectionary cycle significantly.

Now, Calvin...I’ve never been presdestined to like his stuff much. But that’s for other threads.

Will Wallace

[Alex Murphy]

I also find it difficult to believe that any presbyterians read the gospels. They sure do concentrate on those freaky Pauline epistles. St. Paul got a few things right, but he was likely just as loony as his protegee, Calvin.

Oh my, but that statement's a keeper. Ping for later reference.

[big'ol_freeper]

Oh wow. All the Fred Phelps types on one thread.