Boycott the Roman Catholic Church (Patton: relocate to, medical, rated)

[blip]

I agree with MermanMike. My love of this country includes respecting citizen's right to strongly criticize our country. While I may disagree with their methods and their arguments, I generally believe they're attempting to try to make this country better. It's fine to challenge *what* they're saying, or ignore it if you don't like it; but it's a cop-out to simply dismiss it as unpatriotic.

Originally Posted by Summering

They can make fun of Palin. But she did stop the road before it became the expense of the huge, money costing bridge. She did stop excessive spending and gave those funds back to the taxpayers. She did a great job for Alaska. A bimbo, she is not....as some would like us to believe.

Palin was for the bridge to nowhere until it was clear Congressional support was dwindling, when it become the poster-child for earmark excess. That's real maverick-y backbone, there.

Originally Posted by TheHighHat

Summering, I give you credit for posting this segment. What I want to know is how Ayers got a position at a University? They say you are you you hang around with!!

If we want to play this game, McCain hung out with G Gordon Liddy, the felon convicted in the most troubling un-democratic crime in this country's history. He even went to a McCain fundraiser at Liddy's house. That sounds a lot closer than serving on a board of directors with someone. And, I'm sure in 30+ years in the Senate, he's hung around with even sketchier characters.

Anyhow, this thread is now thoroughly hijacked.

[Quijanoth]

Heh heh. I got a "reputation message" from the OP who said I wasn't nice, and that the point of this thread wasn't to troll (and an equally hilarious assertion that he/she was one of the most prolific and respected posters on this board). As an atheist, I could care less about a person who has negative feelings about the Catholic Church...but I question how warmly this kind of sentiment would have been met if the thread had been called "Boycott the Jews". To condemn one religion for the more unsavory elements of a billion-person group is, frankly, demagoguery at its worst. It is inflammatory, pointless, and, in the context of the anonymous internet, cowardly.
And, honestly, what's the point? Religion is inherently personal. One would meet with greater success starting a thread that said "chocolate is better than any other flavor, and I'm going to tell you why you should change your mind if you disagree." The faithful will remain faithful, the skeptics will remain skeptical. Expository, self-important diatribes like this only serve to stroke the ego of the speaker and frustrate those who dare to disagree.
So, I'll feed the not-a-troll this one last nibble:
If you hate a religion and keep it to yourself, that is one thing. If you hate a religion and want everyone to hear you, you're selling something. Say what you want, man, but getting indignant when people disagree or question your motives is just...just...
Well, it's like taking a dump in the middle of town and asking everyone not to mention it.
Said with love,
Q.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

Originally Posted by Quijanoth

Heh heh. I got a "reputation message" from the OP who said I wasn't nice, and that the point of this thread wasn't to troll (and an equally hilarious assertion that he/she was one of the most prolific and respected posters on this board). As an atheist, I could care less about a person who has negative feelings about the Catholic Church...but I question how warmly this kind of sentiment would have been met if the thread had been called "Boycott the Jews". To condemn one religion for the more unsavory elements of a billion-person group is, frankly, demagoguery at its worst. It is inflammatory, pointless, and, in the context of the anonymous internet, cowardly.
And, honestly, what's the point? Religion is inherently personal. One would meet with greater success starting a thread that said "chocolate is better than any other flavor, and I'm going to tell you why you should change your mind if you disagree." The faithful will remain faithful, the skeptics will remain skeptical. Expository, self-important diatribes like this only serve to stroke the ego of the speaker and frustrate those who dare to disagree.
So, I'll feed the not-a-troll this one last nibble:
If you hate a religion and keep it to yourself, that is one thing. If you hate a religion and want everyone to hear you, you're selling something. Say what you want, man, but getting indignant when people disagree or question your motives is just...just...
Well, it's like taking a dump in the middle of town and asking everyone not to mention it.
Said with love,
Q.

I agree, religion and politics are 2 things that raise the hair on people's head. And if this thread was any other religion such as the one's you mentioned it would have been LOCKED by now.

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I just walked in the door from work in the nick of time to see WNEP's top story, which still has me shaking my head in disgust. Apparently the Roman Catholic Church, as usual, is overstepping its boundaries in "politicizing from the pulpit." Bishop James Martino had priests throughout the Diocese of Scranton read a proclamation urging his flock to vote for Sen. John McCain because he is pro-life. More or less the letter stated that Catholics have a "moral obligation" to only vote for the candidate who is pro-life (in this case Sen. McCain isn't specifically mentioned by name, but we can all read between the lines).

In order to be considered tax-exempt religious bodies must remain impartial in terms of politics. Now that the Roman Catholic Church has begun directing its worshipers, many of whom are poorly-educated senior citizens, to vote in opposition to my favored political candidate I'm going to begin researching the legal possibility of filing a law suit to have the tax-exempt status of the Roman Catholic church revoked. If you're going to potentially alter the course of a nation's presidential election, then you should forfeit that "privilege" that was bestowed upon you for being able to operate tax-free.

I'm going to start "The Church of Paul," apply for tax-exempt status, and then preach from the pulpit the benefits of voting for Sen. Barack Obama. I'm sure that would go over VERY well!

This topic caught my eye just now and I just have to respond.

I'm a roman catholic and furious when they preach politics from the pulpit.

They are not to do this and we need to respect separation of church and state.
This infuriates me and I get so angry.

What you need to do is report them so they do not get their tax break. If their going to get involved in politics, then they should loose the their tax shelter or whatever it is called and get pay like everyone else.

They did this was bush was running in 2000. I was furious then and I'm furious now.

Also, when Kerry ran.........Razinger (our now pope) told the bishop in Boston not to give Kerry communion because he is pro choice.
Disgusting.
They need to be stopped.

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Ummmm....being pro-life is a Catholic doctrine, and the Bishop is just reminding Catholics of this. Nobody's telling anyone to vote for anyone. God forbid the Church reminds the people in the pews of the Church's doctrines....

And just because Catholic doctrine forbids a Catholic to vote pro-abortion, does not mean they would necessarily vote for McCain. I'm Catholic and pro-life (if you're not pro-life, you're not Catholic), and I can't stand McCain or Bush....but that doesn't mean I have to like or vote for Obama either...

Good for you!!! And go Phillies

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Why was I wrong? Why do you Roman Catholics continue to rally behind your bishop when he did wrong by the IRS? You're all just lucky that I have yet to "blow the whistle" in order to bring the bishop's political shenanigans and partisanship to their attention. I'm sure you'll all be singing a different tune when your church's tax-exempt statuses are revoked, and even MORE of your ornate buildings become abandoned. B.S.? You're a fine one to talk about b.s. You disappeared from this forum for how many months, and then you conveniently pop up just to flame me? Nice.

Paul, I think most people don't care about doing wrong to the IRS. They are the invisible but always present government body that we have to pay our taxes to. Most people aren't worrying about wronging them. But when it comes to religion, that a more personal thing.

[sailordave]

I'm not going to read all 13 pages. I get the impression that some people think Catholics blindly obey any and everything their priest or the Pope tells them. Catholics aren't mind numb robots. A priest or pope can tell them to vote for a candidate all they want but the people are going to vote and think for themselves. Did you also want to call for a boycott or removal of tax exempt status of Obama's church which regularly supported voting for Obama? Or do you only have a problem if the church is telling it's followers to vote for a candidate you don't like?

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by sailordave

I'm not going to read all 13 pages. I get the impression that some people think Catholics blindly obey any and everything their priest or the Pope tells them. Catholics aren't mind numb robots. A priest or pope can tell them to vote for a candidate all they want but the people are going to vote and think for themselves. Did you also want to call for a boycott or removal of tax exempt status of Obama's church which regularly supported voting for Obama? Or do you only have a problem if the church is telling it's followers to vote for a candidate you don't like?

Part of this is true but the pope and bishops do get to a good many catholics.

I happen to know a few.
If they are told you will be in sin if you vote for a candidate thats for pro choice, you will go to hell.
Believe.........Not all but still a good many do think twice.

The abortion issue is a big one. I for one am NOT for abortion but don't want to see this mixed with politics.
In voting for a president, there are far too many issues concerning this country than abortion.

Quality of life for all.
These past 8 years has been a nightmare and If McCain wins, we will have a least 4 more nightmare ish years.
God help us all.

[sailordave]

You didn't answer my question or did you choose to avoid the question?

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by sailordave

You didn't answer my question or did you choose to avoid the question?

I thought I did but Now I will spell it out.

Religion and politics should NOT, I repeat NOT mix no matter who you are routing for.

I can't say it any clearer than that.