Boycott the Roman Catholic Church (Pittston: condo, garden, best)

[sailordave]

So why the topic only focusing on the religion or church that supported McCain? I've seen outrage from national and cable news anchors regarding churches that preach to their followers to vote for McCain but I never once saw similiar outrage towards Obama's church and majority black churches that preach to their followers to vote for Obama.

[AmeriKenArtist]

"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."

Sadly, people stay with such a dictatorial, self-righteous church. A priest looked me in the eye and said "If we have the children the first five years of their lives- then we have them forever." I knew exactly what he meant. They indoctrinate and spoon-feed guilt during those formulative years. Then, as an adult, no matter how much you disagree with the church, you just can't fathom the reality of not belonging. You may secretly entertain the thought of leaving but as the priest knew... they GOTCHA! So, attend and pay. That's what they want!

My own experiences with personal conversations with three priests made me thank God that I wasn't born into such a thing. My son proved to be strong. In spite of being raised catholic, (I divorced his catholic mother) he questioned the contradictions and attempts to brow-beat him into submission failed and he is now a happy adult with no "obligations" to carry! He denounced them and has never looked back, but of course they still consider him a catholic. (Y'know, like he doesn't know what he's doing and he'll be right back!) It is chillingly amazing how the "church" holds a stoic disregard for a one's personal feelings..... (must... follow... mildewed... doctrine...

What a joy to see him when he stops by on his great adventures!

I attend a church that is so much fun. There is laughter during most of the sermon. I don't go often and when I do, I stay afterward and have coffeee and listen to tall tales of Celtic adventures, home brewing and travels!

[RangerDuke08]

I am Catholic and neither voting for Obama or McCain, problem solved!

[Quijanoth]

Originally Posted by elizamary

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.

Right on! Atheists for government only!

Now, see, this is another polarized position that I have trouble with. Now, as I've mentioned, and will mention again for the last time lest I get called out for proselytizing , I'm an atheist. But the non-religious constitutes, what, like 5-10% of the population.
Religion colors people's life, for bad or good. Every person on this planet takes their cues from some inner voice, be it their own or God or Jah or Buddah or Dick Van Patton or whoever they want. Government and law are fundamental extensions of religious institutions, just as religion is an extention of these collective inner voices. Sure, the basics of morality are covered by nature, but the vast majority of our societal rules have some kind of religious/philosophical foundation. Take the founding fathers, for example: Way into Jesus and John Locke. And their writing shows that.
So, one shouldn't be surprised when religion and government intersect in the modern age. Personally, it doesn't bother me when political candidates have some religion...doesn't even really stress me out when they use religion to direct their policy. Heck, if a true Christian ever got into the White House, that'd be an awesome thing: forgiveness, acceptance, charity, patience...those are wonderful virtues. I'd endure a little bit of the message to have every American fed, clothed, taken care of medically, and tolerated for their individual belief system.
HOWEVER...
It is when they use their religion to exclude people, to forward a negative agenda, when they disguise self interest and smug self-righteousness as piety...that bothers me. Religion, from my perspective, is far more often a person's OWN inner voice given weight by others who agree with them once a week in church. And very few people are truly altrustic or selfless. Most people are petty, vindictive, and unhappy. Misery loves company, and most religions love misery.
Regardless, religion and politics go together like shananananadeedipatidipdedip. People vote on those inner voices. A candidate who isn't religious just doesn't have the built-in audience and publicity for what their inner voice will direct them to do.
So, I'm becoming a little rant-y, and I don't dig that any more than those of you patient enough to read all of this, but I'll conclude by talking specifically to the statement above:

Um...no.

[Jungle George]

I was watching CNN & they re-ran the speeches at the dinner in NYC after Thurday night's debate. Sitting right next to McCain was some member of the Catholic clergy (bishop, arch-bishop, whatever...).

This really bothered me.

If there's a separation of church & state, then why is a clergy member sitting at the head table of a politician running for president in the Waldorf??

[Chefkey]

Originally Posted by Jungle George

I was watching CNN & they re-ran the speeches at the dinner in NYC after Thurday night's debate. Sitting right next to McCain was some member of the Catholic clergy (bishop, arch-bishop, whatever...).

This really bothered me.

If there's a separation of church & state, then why is a clergy member sitting at the head table of a politician running for president in the Waldorf??

The Christian faith is so deeply ingrained into the fabric what makes up this Country we might as well accept the fact that it currently shapes government policy such as pro-life opinion. Christians believe that at the moment an embryo is conceived it now has a soul. This belief is one of the major drives for pro-life people whcih obviously shows a mixing of church and state in this Country. The reality is we will not change Catholic meddling in politics until the Muslims and other faiths out number us which they will some day.

[AmeriKenArtist]

Muslims: 20%, Christians: 33%

[ScranBarre]

Folks, let's please not turn this into some sort of Christian bash-fest. I'm a Christian myself. I'm also pro-life. It irks me to no extent though to see these radical right-wing Roman Catholics attempting to bring religion more and more into our government with each passing year in order to infuse a "moral compass" into our country (i.e. God, guns, gays). I happen to know of a very morally upstanding Atheist (will Ann Coulter's head explode when she reads that one?) It really irks me to no end that one of the primary reasons I can't get a civil union in this state is because of RELIGION, which should have absolutely NO BEARING WHATSOEVER when it comes to public policy or legislation. This is a very important reason why I've now decided to relocate to Connecticut (with the other being I don't want to be stuck at Lowe's with an MBA like some of my co-workers). Our Congressmen should NOT be asking themselves "What would Jesus do?" when they vote on important issues. They represent 305,000,000 people, many of whom are NOT Christians. They were elected to serve ALL, not "some."

It's disgusting that Bishop Martino would tell his flock to vote for the pro-life candidate when there will be no reason to vote against abortion if our nation ceases to exist because that very same elected official dooms us with nuclear Holocaust (or is it "nuke-you-ler?")

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by elizamary

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.

Someone with some common sense finally enters this fray! Thank you for saying what I'd like to say without being so verbose!

[ScranBarre]

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).

Well I intended for your 5-point boost to be a show of "kudos" for upholding a good end in a debate. I didn't throw in the fact that I'm such a forum nerd to brag, as you imply, but rather as to impress upon you that I don't just hand out reputation points like politicians handing out candies to children and that you honestly exceeded my expectations, hence earning you this boost. If you choose to take offense to that, then just let markablue or Yac know and they can very easily erase my comment and bring your reputation back down.

Spin my words however you wish, but that comment was NOT meant to be backhanded. Sheesh! Does everyone have their panties in a bunch tonight? I just lost four people whom I knew within the span of two weeks and have been sick for the past eight days and am feeling sicker with nobody knowing what's wrong with me, but you know what---I'm chipper right now. Does someone need a cyber-hug??!!!