These things are present in all peoples, in all countries, in all religions.
Perhaps you can tell me why the Catholic Church is singled out repeatedly?
Did you read the OP or just reflexively react to the mention of the Catholic Church and moral failings?
It's kinda funny, though, most of the threads on the RF are singing the praises of the Roman Catholic Church - quite a few by you - yet it seems anytime someone NOT RC posts a thread, FRoman Catholics are on hair trigger alert to tamp down even the possibility of negative press. Why is that? Pro-Catholic threads often disparage non-Catholic denominations and presume a superior spiritual and theological attitude rather than rejoicing in our common tenets of the Christian faith. Had you read the OP, you would have seen a remorse over ALL churches in America sliding down a perilous slope and NOT just picking on the Catholics.
Why is the Catholic Church "singled" out repeatedly, you ask? How about, one, it's really not, and, two, you guys DO claim to be THE church Jesus established, so that HAS to come with some responsibility, doesn't it? How about you address the content of the OP and leave off the defensive posture for when it really needs to happen?
A cursory look at the condition of the most highly Catholic countries in this world now and in the past will show the fruits of Catholicism.
Those countries are and have been steeped in superstition and voo doo and syncretism. Catholicism has done precious little to pull those people out of spiritual darkness or improve their standard of living or moral situations. It has not cleared out corruption in their governments and life is not valued there.
Of those countries claiming a strong *Christian* influence, those whose *Christian* influence is primarily Catholicism are the most likely to resemble or be third world hell holes.
In this country, the Catholic voting patterns tend towards liberalism and socialism and were it not for the non-Catholic voting block, we would be in worse shape now than we are. I have personally only met one Catholic couple who votes conservative. The rest of the practicing Catholics (faithfully attend mass weekly and often on church holy days of obligation) I know for democratic in spite of the abortion issue because *yeah but.....the dems are “for the poor”*.
Sure. Supporting abortion sure helps the poor out, doesn’t it?
Frankly I am NOT SURPRISED about the “Catholic bashing” that goes on in a number of threads. Very sad and at a time in which with this Easter Sunday weekend coming up and ALL the churches have come together this year, it should be a call for ALL who by faith in the Lord and a COMMON baptism that we MUST witness for HIM instead of BASHING other Christians.
FEAR that the Catholic Church is right.
Easy!
It's the ONLY 'true' one!