Do you know why there are Catholic Caucus threads? I was here when they first came to be, and it was because of Anti-Catholic bigotry. We were all sick of open threads, where we could not even discuss our own Church beliefs without the kind of trash found on this thread. The RM gave us the Caucus designation so we wouldn’t have to put up with the worst of the anti-Catholic posts while we’re trying to talk about a particular church issue.
Now, you can pick almost any Catholic Caucus thread on a general moral topic, and find MANY interruptions of the caucus. Meanwhils, the screams of outrage if a non-Catholic caucus thread is interrupted are deafening.
And I've seen the reaction by Catholics to non-Catholics on Catholic caucus threads and *screams of outrage* are definitely on the menu for the day.
Catholics can't legitimately pretend to be so innocent and injured in that regard. The martyrdom thing doesn't wear so well.
I wasn't born yesterday on a turnip truck. This "anti-Catholic" bigotry that is oh so easily tossed around these days could just as easily be called anti-Protestant bigotry. It's all in the viewpoint, isn't it? I remember many provocative threads years ago with titles such as, Why Catholicism is the Only True Faith and Why Protestants are Heretics. If the terms were reversed wouldn't you expect to be able to give an objection? Wouldn't you be totally within your rights to be able to do so? The "Caucus" tag only works when the content does not compare one faith to another or speak unfavorably of another faith. Those are easy enough to follow, don't you think?
As to the VERY few caucus threads for Non-Catholics that get posted (we're not afraid of alternate views), I see those getting the same "interruptions" that you are complaining about. While we are on the topic, I think it is quite strange, actually, that on Catholic Caucus threads there is such a vehement protectionism that, even if someone has something positive to say about the thread OP, the immediate challenge is, "Are you a Catholic?", "Get off this thread!", and it doesn't matter what was said. It is exclusionary to the point that even good comments are excluded. I was hit with just such a thing when I expressed support for the subject person of the article. How are you ever to expect respect when the caucus designation is used as a club complete with Moderators having to pose as your personal bouncers?
You know, have your "special" threads, but drop trying to make the Religion Forum a Catholics Only place. We have every right to post our thoughts and every right to defend against false claims, false doctrine and any other misunderstandings of the Christian faith. It is OUR faith, as well. You really don't do yourselves any favors by complaining about Anti-Catholic bigotry because bigotry can go both ways. It means "a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigotry). Fits some of you guys, too, doesn't it?