To BigJimbo,
I am not sure where you get your crazy conspiracy theories from(my guess is the internet, every deadbeat on the planet likes to throw in there 2 cents so it is quite easy to get confused. Not directed at you!), but you should get your facts straight. Hitler did not speak on behalf of the church, he was against it. Germany along with many other euroupean countries at that time were going communist. Communist countries were beginnig to close down churches and putting priests in jail(ex. portugal). The church only tried to protect the rights of religion by signing treaties and electing people in power who where against communism (Hitler, Moussalini). Well, upon reaching there peak in power they both preached their agreements with the church and entered a state of pure dictatorship. They became monsters themselves. May I add that many catholic priests were also killed by the germans and died martyrs standing up for what they believed (including Pope John Paul II’s family who were taken away and never seen again. His father was the only exception I do believe). Hitler also ransacked churches and stole ancient artifacts from the church until it was reconfiscated by the americans and returned. The catholic church after the war continued their fight against communism and eventually took down the corrupted russian empire who was already suppresing poland at the time.(Thanks to Pope John Paul). If your one of those people who think you can just take bits and peices of the bible how you see fit and put the rest up on a bookshelf, than you can’t really call yourself much of a Christian. You should let Christians be Christians, you can beleive in what you want to believe. Ultimatly, I don’t agree with how some like to break into a church and start making demands to change there beleif system and than go crying to the government when they don’t get what they want. That is a violation of our human rights. And I am also upset on how some of you might portray me to be some kind of hater or bigot! I live in perhaps one of the largest gay/lesbian/transsexual populated cities in Northamerica. I interact with these people everywhere I go. I don’t treat them any different than I would treat anyone else, and I still offer my hospitalty and I have respect for them as a person. I have a cousin who is gay. I would not refuse him a favor, food, clothing or even money if he asked and I had something to give. I love him perhaps more than some of my other reletives. I just don’t respect what they do to eachother (in terms of mating). I think the church feels the same way. I guess that makes us haters! Maybe people should just listen to themselves and how they criticize, maybe than they would see who the real haters and bigots are. You don’t like the book of Revelations, well here’s another one for you than.
Isaiah 4:20-21
Peace be with you.
(I mean that, I’m not trying to be a jackass!)

Most of you very close to making up your own religious sect. That is why we have more than at least 20 different sects of Christianity. Most of course is far from the origional orthodox teachings. Some of you say you ignore the pope and you want to modernize Christianity to accomodate todays sinful generation. Well maybe you should read the last few lines in the bible before becoming so bold as to think your bigger than God that you can change his laws how you see fit!
Rev 22:18-20

Hey Bigjimbo!
I don’t want to argue with you, but for your information, I’m no redneck. And as for perverted, I’m not the one pokin others in the butthole, as the matter of fact, I have chosen to wait until marriage before I engage in sex with my wife. It’s not the easiest thing to do, and I am not perfect, I never said I was. I make mistakes like anyone else. The difference is, I know the mistakes I do and I know that they ARE mistakes. I pray for the strength to overcome the temptations as the come. eventualy you get stronger and stronger. It’s called the process of sactification. Try reading the new testament and you would know this. People now days want to believe everything they do is right, thus, their sin remains.
Jesus didn’t mention homosexuality, BUT, he didn’t mention anything about bestiality either, or murder specifically. Does that mean you can go and have sex with your dog now! Paul specifically mentions the practice of such things are imoral and wrong. I also agree that abandoning the natural function of human reproduction for what is un-natural is wrong to! And as for inclusive love, I don’t think that Jesus meant that you should love actions that are evil or imoral, but to to have enough love and respect for one to guide them on the right path instead of watching them travel down a road that leads to self distruction. I don’t think that is showing love for someone. Would you let a diabetic child stuff his face with all kinds of chocolate just because he loves the sweet taste of candy in his mouth?! And as for bringing up midevil times, I do beleive that Pope John Paul II (along with many other popes before him), apollogized for the evil behaviour of the leaders of those times. Are we now going persecute the catholic church today for what happened hundreds of years ago? Have you ever got into a fight or hurt anyone else in your life, Bigjimbo? If so, than you got some issues yourself! who would you be to judge? A sin is a sin! Jesus teaches us to forgive and show mercy. Have the homosexuls asked god for forgiveness? Has a mother who has just murdered her unborn child asked for forgiveness? I hope so. Because if they think that they are in the right to do such things, they are going to have alot of expaining to do.
It also makes me scratch my head and think how some people like MARK want to call himself a catholic without being a catholic! Jesus also taught us to be obedient! Did he punch anyone out or try to defend himself while he was being beaten and scourged?

Some put the question in terms of a woman’s right to control her own body. That would be valid enough in the realm of smoking, diet, liposuction, or sex - but abortion? Abortion means controlling someone else’s body!
Teresa Calcutta once said,” If a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.

I’m a Catholic, but amongst the many things I disagree with my church on is the idea of the infallibility of the Pope.  And on this issue the Pope is dead wrong.  Personally, I’m going to stop giving any money to the Catholic church and let the basket pass me by each sunday.  And I’m going to give all that money to Amnesty International. An organization I’ve never donated to before but that I know does good work and cares about the practical, difficult choices faced by human beings every day.  The Vatican apparently doesn’t care about pragmatic choices as is evidenced by their obsessions with abortion, their innability to accept the use of condoms even though it would save millions of lives and their refusal to give acknowledge the proper role of women in the church, that is, anything they want, including being priests, bishops or popes.  I think a lot of Catholics are very pragmatic, they pray, they take the bread and they generally ignore the Pope.  I hope they ignore him now and do even, send him a message, stop donating to the church until they retract this policy.

Hello NIKI!
I am not offended by your comment! It just proves how the truth can hurt some people. It was not my intention. I am only defending an assault on my beliefs and the church of Jesus Christ which is really the victim here. However, only a small minded person would resort to namecalling or insults when they can’t back up their opposition or give reason for their dissagreement. Maybe you don’t have one! Who am I speaking to here anyway, a twelve year old!
You don’t have to agree with the Church of Christ, but people should have the respect for other people’s beliefs. Christians only give reasons for their beliefs and stand by them,that is our human right,afterall, we wouldn’t be very good Christians if we didn’t try to help save those who are perishing, it’s everyone else who take things beyond control because they cannot accept the truth that some people believe in Heaven and the only way to get there.
Peace be with you. I’ll pray for you.

#78975
M O N T A N A (Big Sky Country)  That’s a mighty big state and one with endless sky after which such a small-minded person would name himself.

I read bluejean’s comment and remarks on the Catholic Church! I personally think it’s repulsive. I totally agree and support the church on all these issues. First of all I would like to say that if you honestly think that the church should support fornication, pre-born child murder, homosexual marriage which will ultimately lead up to the spread and promotion of sodomy and all kinds of other un-natural and perverted sexual exploitation and try to hide all kinds of depraved issues like that by calling it people’s “human rights”, than you aren’t much of a Christian are you? Jesus was a simple man, yes, but he also stood against sin and caused all kinds of controversy speaking against people like that who are trapped in their rebellious perverted lifestyle against Christianity. Jesus said “It is not the healthy but the sick who are in need of a physician”.
When they can acknowledge their sins,then can they reform their lives and truly say that they have been saved by Christ. Jesus is not a rebellious God, and he did not judge people or put them down, but he stood his ground against sin and temptation and made it very clear to everyone. By judging the Catholic Church and putting it down when they are only trying to take a stand against the sins and wickedness of people today, you are only showing a good example of the types of aggression Jesus had to put up with!
“The reign of God is at hand. Reform your lives and believe in the Gospel”  Mt 1,14-15

RAYOSUN

Sunray, your links are a sting-ray to the culture of hypocracy in organized religion.  Graci !

blue jeanne:  You are correct, the MITER is the official headress of Western bishops.  To you they look like church steeples, to others they may resemble a phalyx symbol.  In any case, they must be an archaic manifestation of POWER.  Scare the people enough and you’ve got control.

If aliens were to visit this planet, they undoubtedly would be terrified by the synod of bishops clothed in bright red robes and wearing those ridiculous and presumably, uncomfortable, headresses. I recall witnessing a two year old
child viewing just such a bishop wearing the trademark apparel, for the first time.  The child just giggled and giggled as if he had just seen a clown.  Oh dear ! Am I being sacriligeous ?

Marjorie . . .  Love your comment.  The others too . . .(including disillusioned ex-Catholics). Ironic isn’t it that the Church Heirarchy (in the name of tradition and history) parade in those giant hats (miters; I believe they’re called) and continue to intrigue the masses with their rituals.  Those steeple-shaped miters add height to the otherwise stooped clergy.  Do those hats (Black women used to like to show-off their hats at church too) add to the Church Heirarchy’s AUTHORITY and mystique ?  If I’m not mistaken those (dunce caps) were worn by dunces and KKK members too.

Did Jesus wear one of those mighty miters?
No, from what I was taught, Jesus was a simple man who preached forgiveness and love of our neighbors.

The Vatican received Bush recently and what I hear about that meeting was appalling!  The Pope was concerned whether there would be any Christians left in Iraq.  Bush assured him that he (Bush) would make certain that there would be “Christians” left. < < News Flash > > to the Vatican . . . The only ones who will be there will be the “evangelists” who will accompany the Contractors and Oil Companies sure to be arriving as soon as the population of Iraq is fully CONQUERED and / or has fled to other countries as refugees. (Thanks to Jordan and Syria). Soon the U.S. can start re-inventing Iraq for its own purposes and specifications. That’s called the New Yankee Ingenuity, or PNAC (Project for a New American Century).

Yet another chapter in the HIS storybooks of the cover-up of the Vatican and War.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Yet another papal bull!

The world should condemn vetican and the idiotic Pope, both of which are parasites on humanity.

If Amnesty International really wants to P*ss off the Pope, they should adopt a new birth control plan:

Castrate All Catholics

That would avoid the abortion and condom issues, and do more to promote world peace and, not so incidentally, relieve the stress on the environment, than any other single action. Other than:

Castrate All ‘Christians’.

The church is losing relevancy at an alarming rate.  You would think they could stop staring at womens crotches and work to stop all the wholesale murder of peoples and entire nations.