They think all Catholics are democrats who cannot stand up ourselves or the Church, evidently.
I am fairly sure that I have received more personal invective than almost any other Catholic FReeper except perhapa you and Cronos maybe Mark Bsnr and it’s so funny how the Usual Suspects get all indignant and tell us to act likd Christians. If they’re real Christians, I hope I never act like they do. And then they accuse US of driving them away from the Church. If they’re that thin-skinned, then do they belong in it? Because being Catholic out in the meat world isn’t easy.
Do you believe in bi-polar spiritualism? Because I don’t think I’ve witnessed too many people who can go from “Nobody knows de’ trouble I’ve seen...nobody knows de’ sorrow...” to “I wouldn’t stand beside her in a soup kitchen” as often as it appears to happen to certain people. Victim/victor/victim/victor. You think you’ve got it bad. Try conversing with a “religious” person who suffers and is insufferable at the same time.
We are the servants with the talents and the disciples with the commission. We are the ones addressed by the Sermon on the Mount. We are the ones to whom much has been given. Our Judgement will be based upon what we do, not about what any RF antagonist does.
That is what sets us apart from any who reject the Faith and regularly eat large bowls of YOPIOS. It is not an accident of birth (there are far too many exemplary Catholics who are converts and far too many failed Catholics that were cradle), but rather, an example of personal adherence to the Beatitudes and the Commandments of Christ, which we can only do with the guidance and the strengthening of the Holy Spirit. Without Him, we are lost and will perish eternally. With Him, we may gain eternal salvation.
What is incredible, and has been so apparent to me over the past year is that the same folks who do this will not share with you what they themselves believe in -- saying "it's personal" and refusing to talk about their faith on a religion forum, but happy to tear down our faith in Jesus the Christ.