As a free convert to Catholicism (I was received into the church before I knew any lay Catholics), I have a far different take on the Second Vatican Council than most of the cradle Catholics here. As uncharitable as it sounds, I would not mind if all of these whiners on both sides of the debate left the church! Go away, we don't need want you here! Catholicism is not a democracy, never has been, never will be. If you want to vote on issues of morality, authority, or music, turn in your Rosary and go become a Presbyterian. I don't care if you are a member of "Voice of the Faithful" or "SSPX", either way you just don't get it. Ours is a religion of assent.
Although everything touched by man will be affected by the scandal of the fall, we as Catholics are called to have faith that the Lord will not allow his Bride to die. Please don't misunderstand me, these crimes are among the most horrid imaginable and all of the perpetrators and collaborators should be punished to the full extent of the law. If any priest with in driving distance of me got away with molesting a child, I'd bury him myself (with no hyperbole implied). The distinction is that no entity (no nation, race, or religion) should be judged by the behavior of it's worst members. There have always been scandals in every organization and there always will be, it a direct result of Adam's error. Our duty is to respond to these tragedies with faith and justice. If this isn't for you, you will find that there are plenty other Protestant denominations for which you are better suited. They even have the best organists.
Prophets are always warning us and telling us what we don't want to hear. We ignore them to our peril. Pat is the best political and social analyst today. Pat was right about illegal immigration, stock market bubble, unbalanced trade destroying jobs, homosexual practices are a no-no (Catholic Church already devastated), foreign entanglements will bring war to our shores, abortion is an evil practice and THE CHURCH IS IN TROUBLE.
Republicans and Democrats saw budget surplus, tax cuts and unlimited spending for as far as the eye could see. Pat did not fake the public.
Pat's forecasting record is outstanding. He best articulates Conservatism for Americans first.
Actually, RM, we really don't need your advice. Better men than you have wished I would go away--Rembert the Vandal, for instance--and I haven't.
I will NOT abandon my children to the predators-- and since all my small children are girls, I do not refer to the queer rapists of the body--rather the queer rapists of the mind and soul, who have done their damndest to obviate a sense of sin AND a sense of the sacred.
You may "assent" to whatever Fr. PinkShoes and his husky DRE-in-Charge cram into your poor head. I, on the other hand, will not whine: I will stand up and say BULLSHIT! and REQUEST CITATION!! when required.