Open letter to Liberal Catholics: ‘It’s time to quit the Catholic Church’

[cleanhippie]

Dear 'Liberal' Catholic:

It’s time to quit the Roman Catholic Church.

It's your moment of truth. Will it be reproductive freedom, or back to the Dark Ages? Do you choose women and their rights, or Bishops and their wrongs? Whose side are you on, anyway?

It is time to make known your dissent from the Catholic Church, in light of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops’ ruthless campaign endangering the right to contraception. If you're part of the Catholic Church, you're part of the problem.

Why are you propping up the pillars of a tyrannical and autocratic, woman-hating, sex-perverting, antediluvian Old Boys Club? Why are you aiding and abetting a church that has repeatedly and publicly announced a crusade to ban contraception, abortion and sterilization, and to deny the right of all women everywhere, Catholic or not, to decide whether and when to become mothers? When it comes to reproductive freedom, the Roman Catholic Church is Public Enemy Number One. Think of the acute misery, poverty, needless suffering, unwanted pregnancies, social evils and deaths that can be laid directly at the door of the Church's antiquated doctrine that birth control is a sin and must be outlawed.

-snip-

You’re better than your church. So why? Why continue to attend Mass? Tithe? Why dutifully sacrifice to send your children to parochial schools so they can be brainwashed into the next generation of myrmidons (and, potentially, become the next Church victims)? For that matter, why have you put up with an institution that won’t put up with women priests, that excludes half of humanity?

No self-respecting feminist, civil libertarian or progressive should cling to the Catholic faith. As a Cafeteria Catholic, you chuck out the stale doctrine and moldy decrees of your religion, but keep patronizing the establishment that menaces public health by serving rotten offerings. Your continuing Catholic membership, as a "liberal," casts a veneer of respectability upon an irrational sect determined to blow out the Enlightenment and threaten liberty for women worldwide. You are an enabler. And it’s got to stop.

-snip-

But we have a more welcoming home to offer, free of incense-fogged ritual, free of what freethinker Bertrand Russell called “ideas uttered long ago by ignorant men,” free of blind obedience to an illusory religious authority. Join those of us who put humanity above dogma.

As a member of the “flock” of an avowedly antidemocratic club, isn’t it time you vote with your feet? Please, exit en Mass.

Very truly,

Annie Laurie Gaylor
Co-President
Freedom From Religion Foundation

http://ffrf.org/news/releases/it-time-for-you-to-quit-the-catholic-church/

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. After a lifetime of being taught how to feel guilty, you want them to feel good?

Fat chance on fat Tuesday.

[cleanhippie]

2. No, I want people to THINK about what they are doing and how it affects everyone.

I do not understand how anyone who considers themselves to be a catholic can continue to fill the pews and the coffers. It is irrational. It is illogical. It is against one's self-interest. It is, by definition, insane.

[CBHagman]

78. You're counseling people to think and yet you insult them, tell them they are irrational, insane.

And you posted a link from a group that is for nontheism. There's a bit of a problem right there. It is not that two people, the theist and nontheist, cannot have a rational conversation, but the nontheist telling the theists what to do and how to conduct their lives is a tad hypocritical.

[cleanhippie]

85. Thank you for your concern.

[pkz]

8. you're right~ I call myself a recovering Catholic

some never get over it

[cleanhippie]

10. But it is tolerable, and even curable.

Im very happy that you managed to break yourself away. Good job.

[goddess40]

3. I quit a long time ago

Didn't like the way they treat women.

[cleanhippie]

4. Good for you. That was the first step toward true empowerment.

Congrats. Now, lets get the rest of them to do the same.

[phylny]

14. I quit 20 some odd years ago.

Didn't think birth control was a sin, don't think the Pope is infallible.

[TexasProgresive]

5. How nice of you to tell me what to think and do.

If there is anything worst than a proselytizing religious fanatic it's a proselytizing fanatic of any stripe.

[cleanhippie]

6. If you need to tell yourself that to sleep at night...

it's none of my business.

Have a nice day.

[TalkingDog]

29. So you would be one of those slaves who thinks abolition is a good idea,

but fully supports the slavery system and plans to stay in it then?

Or, perhaps more accurately... You would be one of the German people who thinks that killing, Jews, Catholics, Gypsies and gays is a bad idea, but you want the Fuhrer to keep chugging along?

I'm just trying to suss out the reasoning here. You are part of a system that doesn't want you (or if you are a guy, the mother who bore you) You could worship Christ in any way, shape or form, but you stick with the one that wants to subjugate half it's population because.....??? ..... you don't want to drive across town to the Episcopal Church? You like the taste of unleavened bread? You buy into the theology of the Catholic Church and, like Mitt Romney - who thinks his underwear is magical, you think the Catholic Church is the ONLY real way people get to heaven?

Not a fanatic... just really, really curious about people who can withstand so much cognitive dissonance.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

52. If there's anything worse than a proselytizing religious fanatic...

It's a spelling and grammar Nazi. Worse.

[TexasProgresive]

71. Fanatics suck n/t

[Dawson Leery]

7. A few notes:

1) "Education" at a religion affiliated school is the equivalent of no education.

2) Why should your money go to the RCC if that money is going to be used to promote policies/beliefs you disagree with?

See this:
"Obama has compromised, but the Church never budges, instead launching a vengeful modern-day Inquisition. Look at its continuing directives to parish priests to use their pulpits every Sunday to lobby you against Obama’s policy, the Church's announcement of a major anti-contraception media campaign — using your tithes, contributions and donations — to defeat Obama’s laudable health care policy. The Church has introduced into Congress the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, ” a bill to place the conscienceless Catholic Church's "rights of conscience" above the rights of conscience of 53 percent of Americans. That the Church has "conscience rights" to deny women their rights is a kissing cousin to the claim that “corporations are people.” The Church that hasn’t persuaded you to oppose contraception now wants to use the force of secular law to deny contraceptive rights to non-Catholics. "

[Ikonoklast]

40. Your #1 is not true in many cases.

Many of the finest institutions of higher learning in this country are affiliated or run by religious entities.

[flexnor]

9. i have the most pragmatic form of protest

it's called 'sleeping in' on Sunday

not saying i never go, in fact i went last sunday

but i never get angry at the church, i just sleep in and not feel guilty about it

[lib2DaBone]

11. I have been a Recovering Catholic since 1990.

What I can't understand.. is why the Catholic Church never helped me in time of need? Why do they always preach sin and guilt? When I needed them.. they were NEVER there.

Yet.. when they needed money.. I was ALWAYS there.
No more.

[cleanhippie]

12. Seems like a parasitical relationship. Glad you got that leech off of you.

[JoeyT]

16. Pointing out the bigotry of an organization is bigotry?

The RCC aren't bigots for hating women, atheists are the real bigots for pointing out their bigotry!

Nice Fox logic.

Edited to add: You can support an organization that hates women and protects pedophiles, but you don't get to whine when people point out that you're supporting an organization that hates women and protects pedophiles.

[TheWraith]

17. Enjoy your stay on DU. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. I gave it up at age 12 when the priest gave me the "God works in mysterious ways" runaround.

[texasleo]

18. All the terrorist bombings and stonings of women....

oh, wait... oops. Attacked a protected group.

[ButterflyBlood]

19. Proud to have done that long ago

I was even baptized in my new church about a week ago partially because I didn't want to recognize my Catholic baptism.

[Lil Missy]

20. This is rude. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

21. It -is- rude. So is knocking on my door and trying to give me "the Good News"

I don't give a shit what anyone believes, and unlike the vatican, I'm also not in the least bit interested in telling them what to do with their bodies or who they can or cannot marry.

Honestly, all *I* want is for them to stop foisting that crappo on other people, like me. "Liberal Catholics" can either leave the church or try to reform it from within or do nothing, it's their call.

[Fawke Em]

31. Catholics don't do a lot of door knocking.

Your beef seems to be with Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses.

[Warren DeMontague]

42. My point is, yes, this is rude, and so is "Jesus loves you"

There's an awful lot of preaching that goes on, and most of it isn't coming from Atheists.

[kwassa]

79. If you think this is true, you haven't spent much time in the Religion forum.

This OP writer is one of the chief preachers.

[Warren DeMontague]

81. I wonder how progressive Catholics can reconcile continued support of that organization, honestly

but, then, I'm not a believer so it's not my problem. But I do find it curious.

[2ndAmForComputers]

22. Sometimes the truth is rude.

...on second thought, it is rude quite often.

[cleanhippie]

37. Rude? What is rude is an institution that hides child-rapers and advocates misogyny.

It would seem you have your priorities our of whack.

[bananas]

23. This unquestionably violates the Statement Of Purpose and should be locked.

"No posts about Israel/Palestine , religion , guns,
showbiz , or sports unless there is really big
news."

There is no "really big news" here,
so this unquestionably violates the SOP
and should be locked.

[mmonk]

25. In ways, it does.

Gratuitous. I will admit, however, Church bishops have brought this on the Church. The blame lies ultimately with them by turning the Church into a political organization.

[Humanist_Activist]

24. I view the Church as nothing more than a hate group against, women, homosexuals, atheists...

and pretty much every decent person on the planet, including many of their own congregants. The Pope is like the Grand Dragon of the KKK, and the Church should be treated like the KKK, shunned.

[mwooldri]

28. I narrow it down to the Roman Catholic Church (and some others).

There are reformed churches these days. It's taken a long time and there's still resistance but anyone who wants to leave the Roman Catholic church would find themselves a welcome home in the Anglican Communion or with the Lutherans.

I respect Dr. Rowan Williams, and agree with a lot of his views. Mr. Joseph Ratzinger... I don't agree with so much.

On edit: There's a lot of churches that have reformed but not in a way that is fully consistent with society at large. the Southern Baptist Convention I have issues with. I have issues with other Christian sects and other faiths too... my belief is that the Anglican Communion is more consistent with Jesus but then I'm sure plenty of people disagree with me on this point.

[Dawson Leery]

68. +1

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Done years ago. As an advocate for children,

I don't even like to admit I was baptized into this cesspool whose leaders protect child rapists.

[ButterflyBlood]

77. I actually got rebaptized because I was so ashamed of that

By a fairly liberal evangelical church. I wish the mainline denominations would move away from infant baptism as well and not just for this reason, but that's for another time...

[proud2BlibKansan]

83. I loved being Catholic as a kid

I went to a wonderful Catholic school. We collected for the poor, worked at food kitchens, wrapped toys for kids with disabilities for the holidays.

It was called social justice and THAT was what the Catholic church was about. No one ever mentioned abortion. And every Catholic I knew was a Democrat. I still remember the joy when Kennedy was elected president.

Then the church began a sharp turn to the right and the cover up of the pedophile priests was the last straw for me. I don't know how to revoke my baptism but would if I could.

[libtodeath]

27. The day

society laughs as a whole at those who cling to a sky daddy the better off we will be.
Anywhere religion holds sway society moves backwards.

[Fawke Em]

30. No thank you.

I'd rather work to change the Church from the inside than have some busybody tell me what to do and think.

[cleanhippie]

32. Wow, do you not see the irony in your statement?

You go to a place where busybodies tell you what to do and think.




Classic!

[treestar]

34. Meh, some priest gives his opinion

And I still think what I want to think.

They have no power over people in the US, they know that. Their power over others went out with the 16th century and the creation of the U.S. They've never been able to tell anyone in the US what to do.

[MattBaggins]

35. Yet they are trying to pull off crap here they can't get away with in Europe

you think European countries with socialized medicine would cotton to this bullshit to exclude women's' health issues?

[treestar]

47. European countries, if anything, would have more church influence

I don't get the comparison.

We don't have national health care here because of our system and the right wing red necks.

Where do you get that the Catholic Church is against a national health care plan? It might well be for it.

[MattBaggins]

59. I think the catholic church has even less infleunce in Europe

I lived for six years in Germany and they have full coverage of contraceptives and abortion is legal. The RCC has no where near the influence in sticking their noses in abortion issues as they do here in the states.

[treestar]

64. The RCC really has no influence here either

Roe v. Wade is the law. I believe Ireland and Italy took longer to get both divorce and abortion rights.

Not seeing how the RCC is really having that much influence. Sure they can blab but so can anyone else.

[Fawke Em]

75. Correct.

Most of the priests I know are shuddering over this debate because they KNOW their parishioners use birth control, have working mothers in the family and want equal rights.

They're not the Pope's boys - they're their communities sons.

[Le Taz Hot]

82. "They have no power of people in the US"

Really? Then perhaps you can explain their funding MILLIONS into passing Prop. H8. If they preach it from the pulpit (and they do), their followers, who are trained from birth to believe everything the Church has told them and to never ever ask questions, will do whatever they are ordered to do.

[Fawke Em]

74. Yeah, apparently it's DU.

Classic.

[treestar]

33. True.

And the Church does do a lot of good too. It is a long term institution. These individuals are judging it solely on one or two issues.

And it does not have any effect on birth control - people who want to use birth control in this country can use it, including Catholics. It's silly to prevent the Church has any real say in this, no matter what it's leaders say.

[cleanhippie]

38. Since when is child rape and institutionalized misogyny "a lot of good?"

Ahh, nevermind. You will probably always find some rationalization to justify you adherence to the church.

Good luck with that.

[treestar]

46. You're taking the actions of a few

and attributing them to all, a big error when it comes to such a long term, large institution.

By your logic, almost every grouping of any kind should disband as soon as someone in the group does something wrong.

[cleanhippie]

55. A few? The entire organization, from the pope down, actively hid child-rapers.

That is fact. that is reality. deal with that how you like, but your opinions will never change the facts.

[treestar]

56. Absurd.

Most people didn't know it happened. Not every single priest did it, in fact it would have been a small minority.

Are you demanding a complete shut down of Penn State University? This could happen in any organization.

[cleanhippie]

60. Like I said, you deal with these facts how you like.

You can attempt to equivocate, or to deny that what happened for decades in the catholic church never happened, but nothing will change the facts. Ever.

[treestar]

66. Well the facts are that there are only so many priests who were guilty

That doesn't invalidate the entire church.

If that were the case, no church could exist.

[cleanhippie]

70. The HEAD of the church, The POPE, actively participated in hiding child-rapers.

THEN he got promoted to Pope. How that does not invalidate the entire organization, I am unsure.

Let's just agree to disagree. We will not see eye to eye on this.

[smokey nj]

67. It's the truth. For decades, it was church policy to protect and hide pedophile priests.

From The Guardian: Vatican told bishops to cover up sex abuse
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/17/religion.childprotection

[DisgustipatedinCA]

51. one or two or three issues, and only for 800, 1200, 1600 years or so.

Outside of that, everything's looking great.

[treestar]

57. Which proves how much there is to know

And what happened 800 years ago is no longer relevant.

[cleanhippie]

63. It's totally relevant.

What happened 800 years ago in the church is the basis for what the church does now. How can that not be relevant?

[treestar]

65. Like what?

There was a time, likely 800 years ago, when the Church allowed abortion, because "quickening" was the standard.

800 years ago the Church would burn you at the stake for hereby. Not able to do so now.

[cleanhippie]

69. I see that reasonable debate is out of the question.

We can just agree to disagree.

Have a nice day.

[earthside]

49. You can't.

The Roman church is not a democracy.

It is an authoritarian institution ... top-down.

If Martin Luther couldn't change the church from the inside, then you have no chance.

[backscatter712]

36. If I were a Catholic, I'd take the classic approach...

and nail theses to the church door...

[Mumble]

39. If you disagree with their teachings...

...and continue to support them financially, you are part of the problem. That church will continue to force their antiquated ideas on others with your money.

[newspeak]

45. I'm an ex-catholic

I remember in catechism a nun explaining the sins, defined adultery. Then she turned to me, I was nine years old and asked me if I had committed adultery. I was being molested by my step father. My step father was a drunken SOB-my mother went to the priest, because my step father would beat the shite out of her, hold her hand over a burner, burn her with cigarettes, throw knives at her. The priest told her to keep praying he would change and ask god to forgive him. That was it!

This was back in the early sixties. Little public awareness of domestic violence or child abuse.
Just something you kept in the family closet. I don't want to go backwards.

[LanternWaste]

41. I suppose it was simply a matter of time

I suppose it was simply a matter of time before both sides decided they know best how people should live their own faith.

[cleanhippie]

43. I suppose it was only a matter of time

when religious faith could no longer rationalize being out of touch with reality.

[LanternWaste]

44. Second verse, same as the first...

Second verse, same as the first...

Seems everyone's an expert on how we should live our faith these days-- according to them, at least.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002338125

[firehorse]

48. I've quit the church, but I want the liberals to stay put for counter balance.

There are power lords in this institution but there are also a lot of liberals doing real work in ways that don't make the news.

There was an amazing liberal catholic priest who created an artist community in Brooklyn, unfortunately his good deeds got him sent to Afghanistan as punishment. But even so, he did good work, and he made a positive impact in the community.

Liberals don't need to leave they need to occupy the church.

[dembotoz]

50. k and r

[hunter]

54. I don't support the raving lunacies and sinful behavior of the Church hierarchy...

... it's as disgusting as the USA government hierarchy.

But at least the Church has no Internal Revenue Service to enforce collections, nor do they have aircraft carriers, predator drones, and standing armies on call 24/7 committing murder.

I don't pay much attention to the clueless rantings of groups like the FFRF either.

-click-

[unapatriciated]

58. No they just let the government collect it for them.

In 2010 Catholic Charities received 2.9 Billion in federal funding. That was 62% of their budget and tax free for them.
They did have predator priest that they shipped overseas to terrorize children in third world countries. As far as their standing armies go, the bishops here in the states are doing a pretty good job against women and their health.

Colbert says it best.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/408347/february-14-2012/contraception-crusade

[unionworks]

61. What right do you have

...to tell others what to believe? Rick Santorum does exactly the same thing.

[cleanhippie]

62. The author is not telling anyone what to believe.

She is making a reasoned, logical argument for why Catholics should leave the church. Two very, very different things.

[kwassa]

80. Your article comes from an athiest advocacy website. This author is telling people what to believe

and do. Especially do.

Including an invitation to join the atheists. Of course, this would require rejecting one's belief system.

But we have a more welcoming home to offer, free of incense-fogged ritual, free of what freethinker Bertrand Russell called “ideas uttered long ago by ignorant men,” free of blind obedience to an illusory religious authority. Join those of us who put humanity above dogma.

[cleanhippie]

86. Thank you for your concern.

[mistertrickster]

72. Come on over to us Episcopalians.

We're just like Roman church without the Pope and the ridiculous BS.

Also, gay-friendly.

[Green_Lantern]

73. I'm Catholic but stopped going to my parish over disability issues w/pastor

I'm disabled and our new pastor pissed me off by stopping Eucharistic ministers from leaving the altar and bringing the consecrated wine to people with difficulty walking.

[sarcasmo]

76. Kick!