re: Attended Catholic Church for the first time in a while and it wasn't the same

As was Buddha. Just because they may have been real people does not mean that they really were divine.

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Implied in your comment is that some church leaders are still trying to sweep it under the rug, which is true. And we absolutely should hold our priests to a higher standard.

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I assume you are an atheist or agnostic. If you have any affiliation with almost any other religion there is likely empirical data showing your religion is involved in sex abuse in droves.

Any member of a Christian Church is imperfect. We are all sinners. No one is perfect. Unfortunately, a church’s beliefs conflicts with another denomination’s beliefs, and we have separation because the absolute truth about Sacraments and salvation can not be known with 100 percent certainty.

Faith is a gift from God. The greatest gift is Love. I will never know if the Catholic Sacraments are 100 percent valid. We all believe in something. Some people believe Xenu is God and we need to be cleared of thetans. Some believe we are a simulation. Some people believe reality is a dream state. Philosophers have debated God and the intelllect for thousands of years.

In the end, it comes down to realizing that religion and political beliefs will always separate the societies of the world. No one has the absolute truth as of today.

Neither the institution itself, it’s doctrine, not its beliefs have committed a single crime. Filth within it have done the crimes and covered them up. If someone tried to use a spoon to kill someone, does that make the spoon illegitimate? Do you not think it’s possible that there was also a coordinated effort for this filth to infiltrate the church to do this very thing? Sounds similar huh? Government, universities, religious institutions?????

I'm a cradle Catholic. While I deplore the scandal that is rocking the Church my faith in the Catholic Church remains undaunted. I go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to worship Jesus Christ Crucified. I focus on Him and try not to judge folks, including the worthiness (or lack thereof) of the Celebrant. Over the years my experience has been that a big majority of the priest I was associated with were godly men who only wanted to serve the People of God.

Satan hates the Church and is working to destroy it. You know.....strike the shepherd and the flock will scatter. Now, no way am I implying we should excuse the deplorable actions of those predator priest. I read the statements of some of the victims of abuse and it was just awful. Absolutely horrible. The Church must make restitution to those poor folks. If that is even possible given what they have endured. Like many of my fellow Catholics, we were appalled and angry at the actions taken to hide/shield/protect these predators.

Ultimately I must follow the example of Jesus Christ Crucified. I must pray for our Priest (unceasingly) and all who labor in God's vinyard regardless of their church affiliation. Most important, I must forgive as Jesus forgave his executioners on the Cross.

Gloria Patri.

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wonder if they will be using this money to pay off their victims of abuse. Obviously they aren't

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Legally unless the collection is specifically set aside for some other use, then yes they are.

Last time I went to church I thought the priest was speaking directly to me. It was about how faith isnt easy and that there is nothing wrong with having doubts. I went to thank him after mass and he tried to finger me.

Deus carnitas esste

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Neither the institution itself, it’s doctrine, not its beliefs have committed a single crime.

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So if I was told that your child was abused at my place of business, by one of my employees, and not only did I not report the crime to authorities, but helped the perpetrator avoid prosecution, and offered you money to not report the crime because it would be detrimental to my business, as an institution, myself and my business haven’t committed a crime?

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Filth within it have done the crimes and covered them up.

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Filth did the crime, and the same filth in the form of the clergy, all the way up to the pope, mind you, worked to cover up those crimes, and prevent the perpetrators from facing justice. Have you ever heard the phrase “accessory after the fact?”

The filth has infiltrated alright. At this very moment, it sits at the head of the church.

if the priest ain't driving a lambo truck, I ain't listening to his sermon