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I have been thinking about this for awhile now. Prior to coming on Free Republic it never occurred to me that there was such hatred toward our Church. I mean I know there has always been prejudice and an us v. them thing, but what goes on here is really different.

So are these people just exceptionally bigoted? Are they brave because they hide behind a screen? Or is this how all non-Catholics basically feel whether or not they have the guts to say it to our faces?

Really I have only seen this type of thing actually in person spewed by those folks from the Westboro Baptist Church back about 10 years ago when they came for some dumb play that was going on at the SECULAR college in town. But for good measure they showed up at Catholic Churches to attempt to disrupt our Masses, which they didn't by the way.

But here is the thing, I have a friend who is Catholic who married a Protestant Minister. He's a nice guy, or is he lying to us all? He seems friendly, we can discuss things without him becoming unhinged at the word Mary.

I understand the optimism of the Holy Father and your own, while I find it admirable, I also would find it to be a very long shot if I were only looking at these posters opinions on here.

Apparently our fellow freepers don't realize that here in the 21 century Catholics are not confined to ghettos and we are just as wealthy, educated and upwardly mobile as they are. Maybe that is what bothers them? Also who amongst us as Catholics have 100 percent of all generations that are Catholic? I would say most of our family gatherings include at least a few heretics or protesters? ;)

As a former Catholic (I born into the RCC) I wondered the same things as you; how people could be so prejudiced and filled with hatred toward the RCC. I figured if there was so much hatred toward the RCC that the RCC must be the true church and satan was using this hatred to destroy us. However, as I prayed and opened myself to the teachings of Jesus I found that the Catholic doctrine doesn’t follow biblical scripture. And, if just one of teachings of Catholic doctrine is false you should rightly devide that the remaining sum is suspect too. For instance, praying to Mary is not taught in the bible. That is doctrine added by the RCC and though it was probably well intended at the time it’s just not biblical and false teaching. There are many of these sorts of extra biblical teachings in the Catholic Catechism. Try some internet searching about this subject and don’t be afraid to find the Catholic has mislead you and me on many levels. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6; not the Catholic doctrine. This was a key bible passage pointing me away from the RCC. Once a person finds a fundamental truth you naturally want to share it. Don’t be afraid to admit a mistake. God Bless

Me, too! I've had friends with whom we agree to disagree and focus on just being friends- what TV shows we watch, food we eat, things we like to do, experiences we've had, memories we've either shared together, or had in common, like the dorky things we did as teenagers- even if we didn't grow up together, kids are kids!

I pray someday that Christians and Jews will find their common ground. We share so much and I love to read about Judaism. JPII called them "our elder brothers in the Faith"...

God bless you, and Mary keep you!