[sinkspur]

And, let me say, I used to be Catholic and went to Catholic church. Until I was 8. My father walked out the door when on the day JFK was killed. My sister was 3 weeks old. There were 4 of us kids. The priest came the following week to tell my mother none of us could receive the sacrament. Previous to that, the church had been a source of comfort to her, and to us.

Well, the priest was wrong about that. But, it doesn't surprise me that a priest might say that, back then.

My mother and dad went through a rough patch and went to a priest for counseling, back in 1959.

When, during the course of the conversation, my dad told him he was a convert, the priest (a young priest, by the way) turned to my mother and said "See, that's what you get for marrying a convert."

My dad never darkened the door of a Catholic Church again.

I know priests and even deacons can be jerks, but, back then, it seems that a great many more were than now.

[Peach]

This moving around of priests to HIDE the abuse is wrong. Was wrong. Is still happening. It's a disgrace. It's ruined lives.

I miss the church. I miss the music. But I can't go back either.

[Askel5]

=== I know priests and even deacons can be jerks

Even deacons?!?!!?

Say it ain't so!

[Siouxz]

My in-laws tell a story of many years ago, where the local catholic church would post how much each family gave the week before. These were very poor people in a mining town in PA. How embarassing that must have been!