We need to nip this one in the bud, right now, bigoted beliefs should not be respected...

[Solon]

period. I don't give a shit if someone claims it comes from their religion or not. That is not a valid excuse, and me pointing out that it is bigotry is NOT being anti-religious. That is the most ridiculous assertion I've ever seen on this board.

If someone were to come up to you and say: "As a Christian I believe black people carry the Mark of Cain." What the hell would you think? I know what I would think, and say, that they are a racist asshole, and would that make me Anti-Christian? Please, don't be so fucking ridiculous.

Is my mom Anti-Catholic? She was raised in the church, she prays every night, in the privacy of her room, like a good Catholic should. She does not, however, attend Church, nor does she tithe to the Church. Her reasons are many, first the Church's anti-contraception position, first and foremost. When my Mom gave birth to me, it was a difficult birth, and the doctors advised her, for her own safety to wait at least six years before giving birth again. Both she and my dad were NOT going to be celibate or trust the "rhythm method" on her damned health, so for those six years, they used contraception. Violated a Church tenet, but my mom basically thought the Church can go to hell.

She's also strongly pro-choice, and pro-woman's rights, and opposes the Church on those issues as well.

Several years ago, my best friend and her same sex partner showed up on Thanksgiving, and my best friend was sort of "adopted" by my parents because hers were less accepting of her sexuality, they were Mormons. Anyways, they came over for Thanksgiving, and announced to my family and myself that they were going to get married, but it wasn't going to be a legally recognized marriage, unfortunately. :(

They wanted the ceremony and to find a church to accept them. My mom's first reaction was: "I hope we are invited to the wedding!" My best friend said of course you are, and my mom only said good. A little later, not in front of my friend or her partner, I pointed out to my mom that the Catholic Church opposes same sex marriage, that the church believes it is a sin to be an acting homosexual. My mom's only reaction to this information was saying that the church was full of shit.

Never get my mom angry, she will cuss quite liberally. :) So, is she Anti-Catholic because she opposes the Church's own bigoted beliefs? She doesn't think so, as she put it, she was born a Catholic, she will die a Catholic, but it also doesn't mean she doesn't speak her mind when the Church is just WRONG. Oh, and she's not a great fan of the Pope either. :)

I will say my mom isn't as well informed as me, so when I told her today that the Church opposed a non-binding measure in the United Nations calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality, pointing out that homosexuality is a death penalty offense in many nations. My Mom wasn't shocked or surprised, but was quite cynical and simply responded with a saying that was typical of them.

I rarely talk religion with my parents, in my family, it was always a private matter, and we frankly don't care what even those within our family believe. But, on one of the rare occasions that my mother has talked about her religious beliefs, she's said that she hasn't abandoned the Church, that she carries her Church within her, her beliefs are her own, and Jesus is love, and the Church Outside has abandoned that belief. She doesn't consider it valid anymore.

Some may consider her a lapsed Catholic, even I called her that on more than one occasion, or a Cafeteria Catholic. But I have another term to use, she's a Good Catholic.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Historically, some US churches were pro-slavery

pointing out one verse in the Bible about servants obeying their masters. This whole anti-gay thing is something similar, I feel. People are prejudiced against a group and use religion as an excuse for their prejudice.

[Solon]

2. And some, were pro-segregationists...

and some were anti-Semitic, because they had the "religious" belief that the Jews killed Jesus. In all those cases, it was no excuse for the bigotry.

[Jamastiene]

6. Yep.

They use religion as their excuse when really it is their own prejudice. Jesus never said hate anyone. Said we were all the same in his eyes.

[Splinter Cell]

11. Right

"Jesus never said hate anyone. Said we were all the same in his eyes."

Some folks around here need to take this one to heart.

[Shiver]

3. There's a bible verse, I think

about not trusting those who shout their religion on the streets, and that he who prays in private has more respect for god... or something like that.

I've been trying to find it, but with no luck. If it exists, can someone point it out for me? :shrug:

K & R, by the way.

[Solon]

4. New Testament, forget the exact verse...

But basically I think it said that its better for people to pray in a closet than to show their piety publicly, its more pleasing to God.

[Shiver]

5. That's it, thank you

I read it somewhere several years back, but haven't been able to find it since. I was beginning to wonder if I had imagined it.

[kenny blankenship]

8. Matthew 6:5-6

sandwiched in between the Beatitudes and the giving of the Lord's Prayer:
Matthew 6

1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

[Jamastiene]

7. Matthew chapter 6, verses 5-6

5. When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

[Shiver]

9. That's the one, thanks

And thanks to kenny blankenship below as well :hi:

I forgot to post the reason I brought it up, which is simply that the OP's mother is, despite her being a 'Cafeteria Catholic, follows the teachings of Christ and the church far more than any televangelist or megachurch pastor. And despite not being a follower of any form of Christ-based faith, I have far more respect for people like that than I do for those who shout their religion to anyone who comes into view.

[Jamastiene]

10. Kick

[Solon]

12. Thanks for the kick...

Notice how none of the "usual suspects" have commented on this thread?