Religion

[Hautian Domer]

Most cardinals at the Vatican are gay, says Catholic academic


Aye yi yi …

 

[GowerND11]

Most cardinals at the Vatican are gay, says Catholic academic


Aye yi yi …

You know... I've long held a thought in my head that many of the clergy may, in fact, have been gay throughout history. I have nothing to base this on but my own contemplations. I don't mean it as any disrespect, and I can be very wrong, but it is a thought that I have had in my mind from time to time. We all know that homosexuality is a sin, and that for most of the Church's history, being gay wasn't just sinful, but was culturally disallowed/illegal/etc.

Therefore, my thought has been that, I wonder if many young men, knowing they felt "different," decided to join the priesthood in an attempt to do one of two things:
1, purge themselves of that sinfulness, the impure thoughts, living a life as pious as possible to redeem themselves from this feeling and such.
2, to make their family proud and to not bring dishonor upon the family by being a bachelor for life, getting caught in a gay relationship, etc.

Again, I can be off base, and I mean no harm as I love my Catholic upbringing, faith, and have had wonderful parish priests throughout my life. But just something that has popped up in my head from time to time.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

You know... I've long held a thought in my head that many of the clergy may, in fact, have been gay throughout history. I have nothing to base this on but my own contemplations. I don't mean it as any disrespect, and I can be very wrong, but it is a thought that I have had in my mind from time to time. We all know that homosexuality is a sin, and that for most of the Church's history, being gay wasn't just sinful, but was culturally disallowed/illegal/etc.

Therefore, my thought has been that, I wonder if many young men, knowing they felt "different," decided to join the priesthood in an attempt to do one of two things:
1, purge themselves of that sinfulness, the impure thoughts, living a life as pious as possible to redeem themselves from this feeling and such.
2, to make their family proud and to not bring dishonor upon the family by being a bachelor for life, getting caught in a gay relationship, etc.

Again, I can be off base, and I mean no harm as I love my Catholic upbringing, faith, and have had wonderful parish priests throughout my life. But just something that has popped up in my head from time to time.

Homosexual clergy in the Catholic Church - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

WIKI LINKS

15% Identify as Gay or 'on Homosexual Side' (15%)
The challenges and gifts of the homosexual priest (50%?!)

 

[calvegas04]

 

[ColinKSU]

And American Christians don’t see anything wrong with that.

 

[Blazers46]

And American Christians don’t see anything wrong with that.

Very frustrating as a Christian to be tied to a degree with that idiot.

Another person that I can’t stand in the Christian community is Dave Ramsey. Hey, how about spending $400 so I can tell you to not spend money you don’t have.

 

[ColinKSU]

Very frustrating as a Christian to be tied to a degree with that idiot.

Another person that I can’t stand in the Christian community is Dave Ramsey. Hey, how about spending $400 so I can tell you to not spend money you don’t have.

I wouldn’t worry about being associated with them. American Christians don’t consider Catholics to be Christian anyway.

That’s one of the bigger things I don’t get about the political religious alliance in this country. Like, you know they hate you too, right?

 

[NDRock]

Very frustrating as a Christian to be tied to a degree with that idiot.

Another person that I can’t stand in the Christian community is Dave Ramsey. Hey, how about spending $400 so I can tell you to not spend money you don’t have.

I live a debt free lifestyle so I have a soft spot for Dave. He’s definitely a blowhard and his advice is not for everyone but it’s amazing how many people need to hear that. Same with being overweight. The equation isn’t difficult but it’s a struggle for many Americans.

 

[Pete]

Homosexual clergy in the Catholic Church - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

WIKI LINKS

15% Identify as Gay or 'on Homosexual Side' (15%)
The challenges and gifts of the homosexual priest (50%?!)

Lavender mafia

Uncle Ted McCarrick: Queen Pin of the Lavender Mafia | New Oxford Review

www.newoxfordreview.org

 

[Blazers46]

I live a debt free lifestyle so I have a soft spot for Dave. He’s definitely a blowhard and his advice is not for everyone but it’s amazing how many people need to hear that. Same with being overweight. The equation isn’t difficult but it’s a struggle for many Americans.

I don’t mind the guy’s messaging and I will even listen to the radio show or podcast or whatever it is. But I am not a fan of the $300 of $400 financial piece university sign up cost.

 

[NDRock]

I don’t mind the guy’s messaging and I will even listen to the radio show or podcast or whatever it is. But I am not a fan of the $300 of $400 financial piece university sign up cost.

Agree. Heck, you can probably just check his book out at the library for free. Not a very complicated “system”

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I wouldn’t worry about being associated with them. American Christians don’t consider Catholics to be Christian anyway.

That’s one of the bigger things I don’t get about the political religious alliance in this country. Like, you know they hate you too, right?

The bolded has been my experience as well. Even my own mom, when I said I was going through OCIA, had a hesitation within her words. She wanted to be supportive, but you could tell she was holding back. I made a comment in jest like, "It's not like I'm running off to join some pagan cult. Catholics are still Christian." She never verified that she agreed with that latter comment. I learned over the weekend that my maternal grandmother is disappointed in my conversion. She, too, is very anti-Catholic. I knew former coworkers who were of the same thinking. They legitimately had no idea that Catholics and Orthodox are Christian. American Protestant Christians have a very nationalistic view of Christianity; almost as if many of them believe it originated in the U.S. HAHA. It's truly remarkable how religion, like politics, sucks people into their echo chambers and they are completely unable/unwilling to push beyond their own ignorance and see other views.

I don’t mind the guy’s messaging and I will even listen to the radio show or podcast or whatever it is. But I am not a fan of the $300 of $400 financial piece university sign up cost.

I don't remember paying that much for FPU when my wife and I did it 15 years ago. I also taught the course at our church for a few years after and don't recall that kind of sign up fee. Is that new? Kind of steep for generic advice that is legitimately free on his website. I agree, Dave has great messaging. He found a way to get normal, everyday, people to get their financial act together and follow a basic step-by-step guideline. This stuff isn't taught in most schools, sadly, so it's nice that someone is doing it. With that said, each week at church, we offered a "bonus" class. It was free and was a two-hour-long Q&A about personal finance; goals, tips, tricks, etc. People often claimed to have gained more from that class than the entire FPU course. Dave's rigid, one-size-fits-all, approach rubs a lot of people the wrong way. He's gained heat, rightfully so at times, for some of advice. This bonus class sort of cleared the air on some of those topics, as well as provide additional support in other areas.

 

[GowerND11]

The bolded has been my experience as well. Even my own mom, when I said I was going through OCIA, had a hesitation within her words. She wanted to be supportive, but you could tell she was holding back. I made a comment in jest like, "It's not like I'm running off to join some pagan cult. Catholics are still Christian." She never verified that she agreed with that latter comment. I learned over the weekend that my maternal grandmother is disappointed in my conversion. She, too, is very anti-Catholic. I knew former coworkers who were of the same thinking. They legitimately had no idea that Catholics and Orthodox are Christian. American Protestant Christians have a very nationalistic view of Christianity; almost as if many of them believe it originated in the U.S. HAHA. It's truly remarkable how religion, like politics, sucks people into their echo chambers and they are completely unable/unwilling to push beyond their own ignorance and see other views.



I don't remember paying that much for FPU when my wife and I did it 15 years ago. I also taught the course at our church for a few years after and don't recall that kind of sign up fee. Is that new? Kind of steep for generic advice that is legitimately free on his website. I agree, Dave has great messaging. He found a way to get normal, everyday, people to get their financial act together and follow a basic step-by-step guideline. This stuff isn't taught in most schools, sadly, so it's nice that someone is doing it. With that said, each week at church, we offered a "bonus" class. It was free and was a two-hour-long Q&A about personal finance; goals, tips, tricks, etc. People often claimed to have gained more from that class than the entire FPU course. Dave's rigid, one-size-fits-all, approach rubs a lot of people the wrong way. He's gained heat, rightfully so at times, for some of advice. This bonus class sort of cleared the air on some of those topics, as well as provide additional support in other areas.

I've had a few friendly conversations with Protestants in my day. Coming from a very Catholic area, I just assumed we all got along and understood we just practice differently (of course it goes deeper than that, but yeah). My Protestant friends from home were all fine with us being Catholic, and vice versa.

When I got to college, and encountered Protestants that come from very anti-Catholic view points it was difficult. "YOU WORSHIP PEOPLE AND NOT GOD!" "SAINTS ARE IDOLS!" "Mary was just a woman." among other things said. Whenever I tried to talk to them, calmly and engage positively, they wouldn't have it. My girlfriend in college and her family did everything they could to save me from my pagan beliefs.

 

[ColoradoIrish]

The bolded has been my experience as well. Even my own mom, when I said I was going through OCIA, had a hesitation within her words. She wanted to be supportive, but you could tell she was holding back. I made a comment in jest like, "It's not like I'm running off to join some pagan cult. Catholics are still Christian." She never verified that she agreed with that latter comment. I learned over the weekend that my maternal grandmother is disappointed in my conversion. She, too, is very anti-Catholic. I knew former coworkers who were of the same thinking. They legitimately had no idea that Catholics and Orthodox are Christian. American Protestant Christians have a very nationalistic view of Christianity; almost as if many of them believe it originated in the U.S. HAHA. It's truly remarkable how religion, like politics, sucks people into their echo chambers and they are completely unable/unwilling to push beyond their own ignorance and see other views.



I don't remember paying that much for FPU when my wife and I did it 15 years ago. I also taught the course at our church for a few years after and don't recall that kind of sign up fee. Is that new? Kind of steep for generic advice that is legitimately free on his website. I agree, Dave has great messaging. He found a way to get normal, everyday, people to get their financial act together and follow a basic step-by-step guideline. This stuff isn't taught in most schools, sadly, so it's nice that someone is doing it. With that said, each week at church, we offered a "bonus" class. It was free and was a two-hour-long Q&A about personal finance; goals, tips, tricks, etc. People often claimed to have gained more from that class than the entire FPU course. Dave's rigid, one-size-fits-all, approach rubs a lot of people the wrong way. He's gained heat, rightfully so at times, for some of advice. This bonus class sort of cleared the air on some of those topics, as well as provide additional support in other areas.

Like most things in this country, the anti Catholic sentiment is rooted in hate and anti immigrant movements. It's really interesting to dive into.

Being Catholic in the USA

Is there still anti-Catholic prejudice in the United States of America? Depends on just how Catholic we're talking about.

www.catholic.com

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/when-america-hated-catholics-213177/

Guides: Special Collections — Anti-Catholic Resources: Home

This guide describes a variety of Anti-Catholic materials held by the American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives as well as the Rare Books library at The Catholic University of America.

guides.lib.cua.edu

 

[NDVirginia19]

I've had a few friendly conversations with Protestants in my day. Coming from a very Catholic area, I just assumed we all got along and understood we just practice differently (of course it goes deeper than that, but yeah). My Protestant friends from home were all fine with us being Catholic, and vice versa.

When I got to college, and encountered Protestants that come from very anti-Catholic view points it was difficult. "YOU WORSHIP PEOPLE AND NOT GOD!" "SAINTS ARE IDOLS!" "Mary was just a woman." among other things said. Whenever I tried to talk to them, calmly and engage positively, they wouldn't have it. My girlfriend in college and her family did everything they could to save me from my pagan beliefs.

I remember when I was in middle school I was apart of a faith club that would meet before/after school. One of the girls invited me to her baptist/megachurchish youth group thing on a Wednesday night. I was introduced as a Catholic to the whole group and then the youth leader convened a prayer for everybody to pray for me because of that. I was completely thrown off from that lol. I also would sometimes go to my friend's Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) when I would spend the night at his house on Saturdays, the first time of which was on Reformation Sunday and I was super paranoid that nobody find out I was Catholic. I ended up winning the raffle and getting a prize. Maybe that a Catholic won the drawing on Reformation Sunday was a sign from God?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I need to start a protestant reaction video highlight reel with the following:

Q: Jesus walked this earth when?
A: 2000 years ago.
Q: Right, and how old is Protestantism?
A: About 500 years.
Q: Right, so how did Christians practice/worship for the 1500 years prior?
A: Crickets....

 

[Old Man Mike]

I get all this stuff. Growing up in non-northern West Virginia (the Wheeling/Clarksburg area is different) "we" were only about 1% of the population, and occasionally the prejudice overtly rose up. (We had a Church League basketball program in town --- everyone else vs the Catholic team was pretty obvious (I mean on court dirty play. ... True Christianity ).

But, as to who believes what, and who leaves what bit out, I've grown in my own Catholicism to think: OK, I don't believe exactly that bit that this guy is claiming, but in the end, it's all about his relationship with GOD and whether he "loves" soulfully or not. So, if he practices The Beatitudes and has really listened to The Sermon on the Mount, I say welcome brother --- we'll find out who was precisely "right" on that other little thing later --- when it's clear it doesn't matter.

 

[Blazers46]

I need to start a protestant reaction video highlight reel with the following:

Q: Jesus walked this earth when?
A: 2000 years ago.
Q: Right, and how old is Protestantism?
A: About 500 years.
Q: Right, so how did Christians practice/worship for the 1500 years prior?
A: Crickets....

Catholicism has been here longer, that’s like a Michigan argument… How about niether and just call yourself a Christian and live biblically? Follow Christ, pray to God/Christ? What benefits does Catholicism, Protestantism, or any other ism have over the other? Love God, love your neighbor, be in the Word daily…

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Catholicism has been here longer, that’s like a Michigan argument… How about niether and just call yourself a Christian and live biblically? Follow Christ, pray to God/Christ? What benefits does Catholicism, Protestantism, or any other ism have over the other? Love God, love your neighbor, be in the Word daily…

It's not an argument for or against anything other than it benefits a person to learn and understand history. It simply points out the glaring lack of historical perspective as it pertains to Christendom's early church beliefs and practices. Most American Protestant Christians have very little knowledge or understanding of what first, second, third century Christians believed or how they worshiped. Perhaps that's intentional, because I'm not sure how anyone can read the Early Church Fathers and not come away thinking Catholic and Orthodox Christians practice their "ism" a whole lot closer to how the apostles did when compared to every other Christian denomination. Your post is very "Mere Christianity" in nature. It's fine on the surface, but dig deeper. Learn more about history, about worship, about sacraments, about apostolic succession. You'll find biblical references for all such topics. And if you're tiptoeing in the waters of Catholicism, you'll realize this "ism" is the closest thing to what Jesus passed on to the apostles....because.....for 2000 years, that's exactly what's been taking place and still does throughout Catholic parishes all over the world.

 

[NorthDakota]

I get all this stuff. Growing up in non-northern West Virginia (the Wheeling/Clarksburg area is different) "we" were only about 1% of the population, and occasionally the prejudice overtly rose up. (We had a Church League basketball program in town --- everyone else vs the Catholic team was pretty obvious (I mean on court dirty play. ... True Christianity ).

But, as to who believes what, and who leaves what bit out, I've grown in my own Catholicism to think: OK, I don't believe exactly that bit that this guy is claiming, but in the end, it's all about his relationship with GOD and whether he "loves" soulfully or not. So, if he practices The Beatitudes and has really listened to The Sermon on the Mount, I say welcome brother --- we'll find out who was precisely "right" on that other little thing later --- when it's clear it doesn't matter.

Denomination up here in ND is based on region. Western ND is very Catholic. Eastern ND is more Lutheran. I grew up in a largely northern Baptist and Lutheran town, but our basilica is, was, and always will the best church in town.

There were enough Catholics in town that we didn't get heckled too much. But once in awhile the baptists would say the most outlandish stuff like Catholics are akin to Mormons.

Oddly enough one of my college roommates went to Lutheran Seminary after school and while he's not Catholic obviously, he will be the first to tell you he takes Catholicism extremely seriously now. Hangs out with his town's local priest. I think it he wasn't married with a kid he'd strongly consider converting.


My BIL said their priest told them France's confirmations on Easter were up 45% or something like that. We had fifteen adults welcomed in on Easter and another yesterday. Priest had everyone stand who has converted in their lifetime at Mass and most of them were under 40. Pretty anecdotal but I do wonder if something is happening right now.

I think i read that Germany now has more actively practicing Catholics than Protestants. If I read correctly, that would indicate that while Christianity is shrinking, Catholic decline is reduced and may be primed for growth with a younger childbearing population.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Denomination up here in ND is based on region. Western ND is very Catholic. Eastern ND is more Lutheran. I grew up in a largely northern Baptist and Lutheran town, but our basilica is, was, and always will the best church in town.

There were enough Catholics in town that we didn't get heckled too much. But once in awhile the baptists would say the most outlandish stuff like Catholics are akin to Mormons.

Oddly enough one of my college roommates went to Lutheran Seminary after school and while he's not Catholic obviously, he will be the first to tell you he takes Catholicism extremely seriously now. Hangs out with his town's local priest. I think it he wasn't married with a kid he'd strongly consider converting.


My BIL said their priest told them France's confirmations on Easter were up 45% or something like that. We had fifteen adults welcomed in on Easter and another yesterday. Priest had everyone stand who has converted in their lifetime at Mass and most of them were under 40. Pretty anecdotal but I do wonder if something is happening right now.

I think i read that Germany now has more actively practicing Catholics than Protestants. If I read correctly, that would indicate that while Christianity is shrinking, Catholic decline is reduced and may be primed for growth with a younger childbearing population.

 

[MacIrish75]

Just gonna throw this out there, but at our church we’ve been having a series that’s been ongoing titled “Marketplace Multipliers” and at its root, the point is furthering the kingdom of God where you spend your time throughout the week. And, since I spend a vast majority of my time here on IE, I’m wondering if anybody would want to do some sort of virtual IE Bible Study? I’ve found a devotional for athletes and sports fans that I’m going to do anyway, so I’d be willing to lead it on here. My plan is to take it from after Memorial Day, once a week through the start of the season.

Let me know if you’re interested and we’ll get something going. God bless, fellas!

 

[ryno 24]

Just gonna throw this out there, but at our church we’ve been having a series that’s been ongoing titled “Marketplace Multipliers” and at its root, the point is furthering the kingdom of God where you spend your time throughout the week. And, since I spend a vast majority of my time here on IE, I’m wondering if anybody would want to do some sort of virtual IE Bible Study? I’ve found a devotional for athletes and sports fans that I’m going to do anyway, so I’d be willing to lead it on here. My plan is to take it from after Memorial Day, once a week through the start of the season.

Let me know if you’re interested and we’ll get something going. God bless, fellas!

That is an interesting idea and I would be open to doing that.

 

[thekid33]

Just gonna throw this out there, but at our church we’ve been having a series that’s been ongoing titled “Marketplace Multipliers” and at its root, the point is furthering the kingdom of God where you spend your time throughout the week. And, since I spend a vast majority of my time here on IE, I’m wondering if anybody would want to do some sort of virtual IE Bible Study? I’ve found a devotional for athletes and sports fans that I’m going to do anyway, so I’d be willing to lead it on here. My plan is to take it from after Memorial Day, once a week through the start of the season.

Let me know if you’re interested and we’ll get something going. God bless, fellas!

I probably would benefit from something like that.