And Now For Something Controversial...

"I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost." - William Tyndale

My grandfather was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, for divorcing and remarrying. I always thought what a very good and loving man he was, but apparently he deserved to burn in hell because his first wife left him.

My great-great-great-great-however-many-greats-uncle, William Tyndale, was burned at the stake by the Catholic Church, for translating much of the bible, including some of the most beautiful psalms, into English. He thought that everyone should be able to read the bible, which was heresy.

I went to a Catholic wedding once, where the very young bride, hugely pregnant, was lectured at the altar for her sins.

But priests who rape little children? Still, in this century, scot free. NO trial, NO jail, not even a loss of lifestyle. And naturally, they get to go to heaven.

I am so glad I'm not a Catholic... the situation would be too difficult for me.


"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Yes, sir.

Comments

ewe are here said…
I am not a fan of the Catholic Church for the reasons you cite and then some.

They did the same to an aunt (by marriage): kept showing up at her door trying to tell her all the horrible things that would happen to her if she divorced her useless lying drunk of a husband.
Unknown said…
All religions, it seems, have their faults, their zealots and their atrocities in the name of their faith. That's why, even though I was raised and baptized Catholic, I will have no truck with any organized religion. Period.
Nan Sheppard said…
I am just stunned that the Church has STILL not changed its policy. How can emotional and sexual abuse be okay? How can the perpetrators, in this day and age, not go to jail? I don't understand how they can be immune to the law.
Audubon Ron said…
It is a mystery to me that so many child abuse cases go on in the Catholic churches, yet not much in the other denominations. It is the church’s celibacy policy. The Catholic Church has a don’t ask, don’t tell policy like the military apparently, condemns the gay lifestyle, yet many of its priests become gay pedophiles. I read a case here just this past week. When they turn men and woman into celibates they are asking for trouble. It’s a time bomb.
Anonymous said…
You are descended from Tyndale? That's TOO cool! He was a firebrand, wasn't he?

And yeah, I just don't get it either.
Who goes to heaven or not is in higher hands than the church. As the psalm says: "The LORD is my shepherd.." In the USA, pedophile priests can be prosecuted (by the state, not the church) and go to jail. I don't know about other countries.
The molestation of Children, by anyone, is inexcusable.
But it is not fair to condemn all Roman Catholics, or the Religion, for this.
The vast majority of them are as appalled as you are.

One of the most powerful lines in the entire Bible, to me, is, "Jesus wept".
This is Tyndales translation of a rather long description of Jesus' emotions, on seeing Dread things. It cannot be said any clearer.
"Jesus wept".
Theresa said…
Thought provoking post.
Nan Sheppard said…
...And thought-provoking comments.
How about no religion and no God? That way we are entirely responsible for every little or big thing that we do. We will live each day knowing that this is all there is and we will make the world a happy place because of this.

Bunty.
HalfAsstic.com said…
I can understand your sentiments perfectly. My mother-in-law and her whole family are Catholic and while I am impressed by their faith and the beauty of all the pageantry and ritual of Catholicism, there is waaaaaay too much hypocrisy and just bizarre beliefs for me to buy into.
Anonymous said…
It has to keep coming back to the big commandment--actually, the big two: Love God, love your neighbor. That's it!
All churches have their corruption, 'cuz they're run by fallible humans, but I couldn't ever be Catholic because it's too top-down. A set up for disaster. I do love their pretty churches with the gorgeous stained glass windows though...
And yes, priests should NOT be immune.
Nan Sheppard said…
NO-ONE should be immune to the Law. I hope that the Church does the right thing, and makes some serious policy changes.