Boycott the Roman Catholic Church (Wilkes-Barre, Penn: exemptions, cost, gangs)

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by NYRangers 2008

Paul, don't tell me you like Rosie O'Donnell? She's a big, loud-mouthed, no talent washed up comedian and actor. I find nothing redeeming about her.

totally agree....

National Ledger - Rosie O'Donnell & Charlie Sheen: Idiot Brigade of 9/11 Conspiracy

[returningtonepa???]

Originally Posted by MermanMike

A tribal mentality prevents clarity. It causes wars and makes people do things they wouldn't do if they were not identifying with a certain group of people. It makes them stand up for things that they may not even agree with because being a part of the tribe is so important to their sense of feeling safe. They don't know they don't agree, because the rational mind is made evil, so they learn how to suppress it and operate below it for the wellbeing of the tribe. Oh father, what do I know, it has been lifetimes since my last confession. Happy Sunday.

sigh--not to agree with pro choice means one has tribal mentality?
do i derect some personal bitterness here?

when i see generalities made towards church stances----what can that be called?

[Chefkey]

I am Pro Adoption, if the mother has a reason to want to abort she should be gently nudged towards adoption. I believe a woman has the right to choose her own destiny, maybe she is destitute and made a mistake but can't afford the child or even the pregnancy, maybe it was rape, I just don't think we have the right to tell someone else what to do with their body and livelyhood.

[returningtonepa???]

i am expressing my moral beliefs in not being pro choice--but i would never force my beliefs on others--i have always encouraged the teens i worked with towards adoption====i have seen too many young adults in therapy regretting their decision to abort even many years later---i ran groups with people of all faiths and some with no set religious beliefs and have seen less regrets with carrying the child to term and opting for adoption

i could never fault anyone for expressing their moral stances--even in an election!

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by dlpres

Your comment above basically saying that the reason why the SCr/WB area is struggling is because of the high % of Catholics in the area is a absolute joke. As a Catholic and a alum of King's you really should quit the school. I also notice you don't spend alot of time talking about Rev Wright or his Church or Resco or Farrakhan who just said by the way "The Messiah is coming" or Ayers or why Obama gave 800K to ACORN. Never mind the socialist tax policies, I could go on forever. You have to ask yourself why do all these radical people like him so much? Why?

Instead of blaming the Catholic Church tax exempt status for the area 's problems look right at the politicians that have been running the area ever since I could remember. Do you know what most if not all have in common? They are all Democrats.

Also for the post before asking about Rev Wright that he is just mis understood and bitter etc. How can you mistake God Dam America or the govt invented aids to kill black people etc etc etc? Are you kidding me?I don't know how to take that out of context. He also lives in a 2 or 3 million dollar home in the Chicago suburbs. I don't think he has alot to be bitter about now.

Excellent post. I would give you positive rep for it, but I can't.....I have to spread it around some more.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

You'll receive a reply in regards to how having such a high proportion of tax-exempt properties within the boundaries of our local communities is draining their economic vitality as soon as you, Go Phillies, and/or mm_mary can substantiate that there is a SOLID difference between "vote for the pro-life candidate" and "vote for Sen. McCain" when Sen. McCain is the ONLY pro-life candidate. .

You're not forced to vote for either Obama or McCain. You can vote for whoever you want....you can vote for Mickey Mouse if you like. Just because you, and most people, choose to be sheep and only vote from the democrat and republican candidates does not mean you MUST vote for a D or R.

I refuse to vote for either of them. McCain will have us in endless war and cater to big business, and Obama is a baby killer with way too many ties to far-left radicals. Neither will get my vote.

[Lehigh Valley Native]

By the way...The guy who started this thread, did he drop out of Kings yet or is he just talking B.S.? I love people who talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. Full of hot air and nothing more.
From King's website.....
Founded in 1946 by the Congregation of Holy Cross from the University of Notre Dame, King’s is a liberal arts Catholic college located on a small urban campus in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

[lialleycat]

I just want to say a few things on a few points I've read in this thread.

1. For unbiased reporting, there are other options than the internet for 'older folk' - there's National Public Radio - NPR. They do not support one candidate over the other and provide both sides so that listeners can make up their own minds. NPR RULES!!! Spread the word!

2. Attending a Catholic college these days does not indicate that you are or that you support a Catholic way of life. Just like ScranBarre, my College, St. Joseph's, was a Catholic school and very few of my friends were catholic, most were Jewish or of other faiths. At the upper education levels, religion is less of an issue as you can just skip those classes if you don't wish to take them and fill your schedule with others, as I did.

3. Homosexuality is not a choice. Who the heck would choose a lifestyle that is shunned by most Americans and may cost them their life? If it's a choice, why are there documented cases of animals being homosexual? Do animals have the ability to choose one lifestyle over another? Sometimes I think it's G-d's way of saying we overdid the 'go forth and multiply thing', while still allowing humans to have fulfilling loving relationships. Would be nice if He sent a note first though, so instead of questioning Him on His creations, we'd just accept it.

4. As a NFP employee, I am aware of the IRS code, and we cannot support one polical party over the other. The church however does have a right to discuss it's support one way or the other on issues such as abortion. However, it should be done carefully in order not to appear inproper. Not everyone has that sort of finesse.

5. As to the "older folk being led" comment, far too many Americans are one item voters. My partner and I will be voting for different people, since he has one issue and since one of his associations told him who to vote for, that's the way he's going. I disagree and tried to get him to at least consider looking at other issues, but he's set in his mind. Nothing to be done about that. All we can do is be responsible for our own vote (and please exercise your right to vote!) and if others ask, provide them with sources for unbiased opinions.

That's just my opinion. I'm sure others will disagree with some or all of what I have said. But I got to say it and that's what makes this country of ours great.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by lialleycat

3. Homosexuality is not a choice. Who the heck would choose a lifestyle that is shunned by most Americans and may cost them their life?

Well....people choose to do drugs, join gangs, etc......these are also choices that people make that lead to them being shunned by society and may cost them their lives.

As far as homosexuality....I don't know....I'm not a doctor, scientist, etc, so I can't say one way or the other if its a choice, or if its something that one can change. There is always the possibility that its a chemical imbalance, but honestly, I don't know....and I don't care all that much, to be honest.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by lialleycat

2. Attending a Catholic college these days does not indicate that you are or that you support a Catholic way of life. Just like ScranBarre, my College, St. Joseph's, was a Catholic school and very few of my friends were catholic, most were Jewish or of other faiths. At the upper education levels, religion is less of an issue as you can just skip those classes if you don't wish to take them and fill your schedule with others, as I did.

Agreed. Since when is it a requirement that one fully adopt the Roman Catholic church's doctrine in order to attend a Roman Catholic-owned institution of higher learning? On a more elementary level I can assure you that many local parents who enroll their children in Catholic schools do so because they think "public schools are sub-par" but also can't afford to send their children to expensive private schools like MMI or Scranton Prep. When Bishop Martino decreed that he was closing Seton Catholic High School here in Pittston there was a flurry of our suburban elite here gnashing their teeth---"We're not sending our kids all the way down to Wilkes-Barre" or "We're not sending our kids to public schools." I'm a product of a local public school district that has a rather unpleasant reputation, but believe it or not Pittston Area graduates more success stories than we ever hear about.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. King's is home to Protestants, Atheists, Pagans, Wiccans, Muslims, Jews, and students of all sorts of faiths. I'm paying $23,000+ per year for a solid liberal arts education. AlleyCat is fortunate enough to have been able to "skip" religious courses. King's requires you to take two theology courses. This semester I'm taking Christian Environmental Ethics (obviously not strictly Catholic-based) and Catholic Perspectives as my two theology courses. The latter is actually just an overview of what the Roman Catholic religion is, and it's being taught by a brilliant man with a lot of misgivings himself about the Roman Catholic church.

King's College is a not-for-profit institution. Any "profit" accrued is NOT handed over to the Roman Catholic church. It is instead reinvested in the college in terms of capital improvements or invested to increase our endowment in order to help future students afford our rather high tuition costs. Our college is governed by the Congregation of the Holy Cross, but we function very much independently of the Diocese of Scranton. Ask any business in downtown Wilkes-Barre about King's College, and they'll say that they're glad that they have us as a neighbor. I couldn't be prouder to say that I'm an upcoming alumnus of our great school.

My beef here is with Bishop Martino specifically and the local Roman Catholic "sheeple" who see NOTHING wrong with him trampling all over the IRS Code and are willing to martyr themselves for the bishop no matter how far awry he strays. These are probably the very same people who flooded local newspapers with editorials chastising prosecutors for indicting Lou DeNaples when he was an "upstanding family man." It's amazing how so many local people only adhere to the laws which they feel pertain to them.

I'm still waiting for critical assessment of the IRS Code for non-profits in regards to political neutrality from those who think Bishop Martino did nothing improper.