jabs at Catholicism

[avemaria40]

doesn't any one else think its odd that while it's taboo to say anything bad about Jews, Muslims, etc (and nobody should say nething bad, their ppl 2) its ok 2 talk bad about Catholics(i.e. fundamentalists saying we aren't true Christians, Planned Parenthood saying we don't believe in freedom or choice, even ignorant ppl saying we all have 52 kids b/c we don't believe in birth control)? I just thought that was odd that its ok to make fun of a majority religion, simply b/c of things that happened like at least 500 years ago. just my 2 cents

[Didacus]

No, its not odd. Today, its the norm.

The catholic religion is quickly becoming the most opressed entity in the world, and we can't say squat about it.

Expect things to get worse before they get better.

Stand tall,
Stand strong,
Be faithful.

That's all I can say.

[Guest JeffCR07]

There is actually a book about how anti-catholicism is the last acceptable stereotype/bias in America.

[Semalsia]

[quote name='Didacus']The catholic religion is quickly becoming the most opressed entity in the world[/quote]

And how are you being oppresssed?

[quote name='avemaria40']doesn't any one else think its odd that while it's taboo to say anything bad about Jews, Muslims, etc (and nobody should say nething bad, their ppl 2) its ok 2 talk bad about Catholics[/quote]

I hope you are not suggesting that people should not be allowed to speak their minds.

[Aloysius]

okay... fine... people should speak their minds... unless it's about JUDAISM, ISLAM, HINDUISM, et cetera

anyway, it's not even just people speaking their minds... a lot of it would be considered hate speach if used against any other religious group.

[jezic]

but people are not allowed to speak their minds.

We cannot criticize the government if our speech seeks to incite people to uprising. We cannot disclose trade secrets/military info.

We cannot disclose personal information.

We can't even have religious symbols in places (a form of "speech")


I am reminded that Jesus talks about how blessed are the faithful ones. Even in the face of whatever opression we must stay strong.

[avemaria40]

I am not saying that ppl shouldn't be able to speak their minds, im just pointing out from my own experience how we're always being criticized 4 various reasons, whether it's our religious practices, the Crusades, Holocaust, Inquisition, or our beliefs about abortion, death penalty etc. and we're always told we're being 2 Conservative even though clearly other religions are even more conservative but if u critcize another religion, it's prejudice, while if u criticize Catholicism, or even Christianity in general, it's "free speech" b/c we're apparently still stuck in the Dark Ages or something(even though that is clearly not true)

[Melchisedec]

I read national and local publications on a daily basis, and I have almost never heard nor seen any anti-catholic speech. The only thing that I could think of that could be considered a "jab" was the issues with child molesting preist. I believe the only criticism I heard in regards to that were that the catholic church new of instances of priest that were suspect and merely just reassigned them, and that they were not quick enough to act more harshly towards the matter. I dont wish to debate any of those things, but merely trying to point out what might be considered an attack. Maybe up north you are inundated with anti-catholic bias. But down south, no one cares about catholicism. In fact, until I joined this forum, I thought it was in heavy decline. This anti-catholic conspiracy is unfounded.

Edited June 28, 2005 by Melchisedec

[Socrates]

[quote name='Melchisedec' date='Jun 27 2005, 08:35 PM']I read national and local publications on a daily basis, and I have almost never heard nor seen any anti-catholic speech. The only thing that I could think of that could be considered a "jab" was the issues with  child molesting preist.  I believe the only criticism I heard in regards to that were that the catholic church new of instances of priest that were suspect and merely just reassigned them, and that they were not quick enough to act more harshly towards the matter. I dont wish to debate any of those things, but merely trying to point out what might be considered an attack. Maybe up north you are inundated with anti-catholic bias. But down south, no one cares about catholicism.  In fact, until I joined this forum, I thought it was in heavy decline. This anti-catholic conspiracy is unfounded.
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Where you from, Mel? Many parts of the South have very few Catholics, but this is not because of "steep decline," but because these areas are traditionally very Protestant, and there were never very many Catholics in these areas to begin with. The fact is the Catholic Church is growing more in the South than any other region of America. This is due to largely to immigration from elsewhere, but also to converts. Where I'm at (Northwestern VA) there were originally very few Catholics, but the Catholic population has exploded by leaps and bounds as Catholics from all over come to join the strong Catholic community which has grown up here, and as Catholic families grow here.

[Socrates]

Bill Donahue's Catholic League ([url="http://www.catholicleague.org/"]http://www.catholicleague.org/[/url]) documents anti-Catholicism in the media. Insults are regularly made against Catholics that would never be tolerated in our P.C. society against Jews, blacks, Muslims, or any other minority group. Donahue always asks the question about the various offenses, Would this be allowed if it was about Martin Luther King, Anne Franke, etc., rather than Jesus, Mary, the Pope, etc?

If you want examples, go to the archives on their website.

There is indeed a double standard in the media and in society.

Edited June 28, 2005 by Socrates

[Nathan]

Anti-Catholicism is a big problem, but I think Christianity [i]as a whole[/i] is seriously under attack these days in the Western world. Most young liberals today seem to be suffering from acute Christophobia -- everywhere I look I'm seeing a real, geniune hatred of Christians. Of course, the vast majority of these raging atheistic lefties are horribly misinformed about what Christianity actually is...

[Snowcatpa]

[quote name='JeffCR07' date='Jun 27 2005, 04:23 PM']There is actually a book about how anti-catholicism is the last acceptable stereotype/bias in America.
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[/quote][color=purple]
The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice by Philip Jenkins

Anti-Catholicism in America : The Last Acceptable Prejudice by Mark S. Massa [/color]

[Socrates]

[quote name='Nathan' date='Jun 27 2005, 09:27 PM']Anti-Catholicism is a big problem, but I think Christianity [i]as a whole[/i] is seriously under attack these days in the Western world. Most young liberals today seem to be suffering from acute Christophobia -- everywhere I look I'm seeing a real, geniune hatred of Christians. Of course, the vast majority of these raging atheistic lefties are horribly misinformed about what Christianity actually is...
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Very true. Taking a mocking, derisive, contemptuous attitude towards Christians is the easiest way to prove oneself a "tolerant, open-minded" member of our "enlightened" society.

[Snowcatpa]

[color=purple]Sometimes that really frustrates me too... I remember one discussion with a peer back in high school when they said that I wasn't Christian, I was Catholic. I know many of you have heard that before too...

It is so hurtful...and truly distrubing at times...but... then again... Through such trials, we can see that God is calling us to live our faith in every time, especially those of heresy and ignorance, deviance and relativity....

Amidst all persecution and ridicule, what a wonderful opportunity to live for the faith in our often secular and hypocritical society. We are blessed indeed to suffer even this little bit for Christ [/color]

[Didacus]

Anti-catholicism is rampant in the press and in daily lives. Even in my region of the world which is something like 70% catholic, because most 'catholics' don't practice anymore.

When debating a moral subject, I never reveal anymore that I am catholic unless I have no choice or the people with whom I am debating already know. As soon as strangers know that someone is catholic, that simple fact seems to be enough to discredit you entirely.

Quebec (french province of Canada) is one of the worst places in north america when it comes to anti-catholicism. It very sad. Cardial Ouellette was actually one of the last, if not the last cardinal named by JPII. He was considered one of the 20 most propable successors to the throne of Peter, yet, he resides in Quebec, which is the sespool of liberism in Canada. Now there is a cardinal who has his work cut out for him!

Another thing that returns often, is the attitude that no one can be catholic unless they are ignorant and stupid. i got that a heck of alot in my university days - catholic? but aren't you in engineering? how can you be so smart and stupid at the same time? (of course the people saying this thought it was a funny joke, but it didn't take a future engineer to figure it wasn't 100% joke).

Let me end this post by quoting one of the top 5 dumbest things I ever heard a liberal atheist say:

"If ever I get married, I want to get married in a catholic church. It's soo... sooo... traditional. That church has been around for at least 150 years you know?!"

ignorant dumb-****es.

[Nathan]

[quote name='Didacus' date='Jun 28 2005, 06:05 AM']Another thing that returns often, is the attitude that no one can be catholic unless they are ignorant and stupid.  i got that a heck of alot in my university days - catholic?  but aren't you in engineering?  how can you be so smart and stupid at the same time?[/quote]

This is so true it hurts. Admitting that one is Catholic/Christian is akin to admitting that one is borderline retarded in the eyes of most liberal academics. I have no idea when this insane notion took root and spread like cancer, but there it is -- never mind that many of the great academic minds of the 20th century were devout Catholics. Just in the arena of philosophy, we've got Charles Taylor, Jacques Maritain, Etienne Gilson, Frederick Copleston, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Floyd Centore, Germain Grisez...

Not long ago I informed an atheist friend at the University of Toronto that both Marshall McLuhan and J.R.R. Tolkien were extremely religious Catholics throughout their lives -- he didn't believe me until I Googled it and several websites confirmed it. Fool.

[reelguy227]

[quote name='Didacus' date='Jun 28 2005, 06:05 AM']Anti-catholicism is rampant in the press and in daily lives.  Even in my region of the world which is something like 70% catholic, because most 'catholics' don't practice anymore.

When debating a moral subject, I never reveal anymore that I am catholic unless I have no choice or the people with whom I am debating already know.  As soon as strangers know that someone is catholic, that simple fact seems to be enough to discredit you entirely.

Quebec (french province of Canada) is one of the worst places in north america when it comes to anti-catholicism.  It very sad.  Cardial Ouellette was actually one of the last, if not the last cardinal named by JPII.  He was considered one of the 20 most propable successors to the throne of Peter, yet, he resides in Quebec, which is the sespool of liberism in Canada.  Now there is a cardinal who has his work cut out for him!

Another thing that returns often, is the attitude that no one can be catholic unless they are ignorant and stupid.  i got that a heck of alot in my university days - catholic?  but aren't you in engineering?  how can you be so smart and stupid at the same time?  (of course the people saying this thought it was a funny joke, but it didn't take a future engineer to figure it wasn't 100% joke).

Let me end this post by quoting one of the top 5 dumbest things I ever heard a liberal atheist say:

"If ever I get married, I want to get married in a catholic church.  It's soo... sooo... traditional.  That church has been around for at least 150 years you know?!"

ignorant dumb-****es.
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I totally aree . Im sick of it also !!!. :angry:

[Crispy]

the double standard that exists today is ghastly. those of us who are intelligent enough to notice see the enormity of the task ahead of us if we are to go against the flow and teach Truth. those who dont notice (and that is a scary number) are so drunk with the ideas of "tolerance" and other liberal toxics that its almost laughable that they dont see some of these obvious truths slapping them in the face (like the whole deal about it being ok to bash christians for whatever reason). man oh man does the Holy Spirit have His work cut out for Him. stay strong though guys, one thing ive learned from public highschool:

its hard to become fluent in a language until you go to the country and speak it; such is also the case with apologetics

Rise Up!

[Quietfire]

Since Catholicism is still 'new' for me, I especially noticed it before and even now.
If I told you what my brother said to me when I informed him that I would be received in the Church, you'd faint....and he was baptised Catholic.
He later apologized and of course I forgave him, but my point is that it seems to becoming 'ingrained' in especially Americans.

I started to evangelize someone at work a while back, mostly to help him get through the loss of his father and his resulting hatred of God for "taking his father away".

I gave him a book to read, after we had discussed some things in it and he expressed a sincere interest in it. I told him to feel free to ask any questions afterward.

About a month later I asked him if he had read it and he told me no. He said he had given it to a friend who enjoyed ripping the Church apart and asked for the book. After talking for a while on Catholic subjects, since he said he 'was' Catholic but no longer since his father's death, he then said to me that if the Church could produce the Ark of the Covenant then he would gladly come home.
Being that he claimed to have read and understood more of Scripture than I, I just looked at him and said, "Your kidding, right? May I humbly suggest you read that book I gave you and use it with the Bible and your question would be answered."
He then asked if the answer was in the Bible...

Lord, help me.

[FilmGuy127]

I have to say that I haven't noticed this at all. I haven't really looked for it in the press so I won't comment about that. Other than to say I don't think Catholics are the only ones... I'm thinking specifically about Islam which has gotten terrible press in recent years. Much worse than any reported Catholic bashing. Just look at how many stories there have been about the women and headcoverings in Islamic society. This is something that has been a tradition in these societies that grew out of the religion and now western media is putting out story after story about how backwards and bad it is... So, if there is Catholic bashing in the media I dont think we are alone.

I will comment about the level of catholic bashing that i have experienced in my own life. I went to a very liberal school, lots of artists and theater people, if those stereotypes help to give you a picture, so I was understandably wary about telling people i was catholic. But, and this supprised me the most... I almost got more respect when they found out. I have friends who range from atheists, to wicken, to pagan, and just about anything else. Myself and the other 3 or 4 catholics who are in my peer group recieve a lot of respect for our beliefs. People at my school seem to respect us for having a strong belief, even if it is not their own. So, as far as liberal catholic bashing is concerned i havent seen any.

I would say the opposite. I think i have seen more catholics bashing other religions than the other way around. This is especially on this site. I see a lot of people talking about the catholic church being the only church with the "truth" and though this may be the belief, that does not make it a fact. Many times it seems to me that people are knocking down other religions because they dont have the "truth". That may be your belief and you are entitled to it. But, It feels like to me that there is not a whole lot of respect for alternate beliefs and a lot of these other beliefs get bashed by catholics because their belief does not allow for there to be alternate equally valid beliefs.