Apparently EVERY thread has to turn into a Catholic Bashing thread now.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

It's probably the single most annoying thing going on right now on DU.
Duckie

[AngryOldDem]

1. And someone comes here and has the gall to say

that atheists and homosexuals are the most harrassed people on DU. (I saw this in another thread while surfing yesterday. The poster was one of those whom I call the "usual suspects" who does his fair share of the bashing.)

What gets me is, if these people are so irritated by Catholicism, and if they are not Catholics themselves, then why do they insist on torturing themselves by apparently being so obsessed with it? Same goes for religion in general. Isn't life stressful enough without adding to it, for Pete's sake? Without finding and then wallowing in the stuff that drives you nuts? I don't get it.

Another thing I have noticed is, a lot of this hostility toward religion in general appears to be knee-jerk. (Others here have pointed that out as well.) I was reading another thread (in LBN, I think) yesterday, about how faith-based groups are becoming common in workplaces (employee Bible studies, etc., stuff that is definitely not new). Well, of course, everybody was shouting that this is the beginning of the Christian invasion of the workplace and that nobody can get away from these fanatics. So, I clicked on the link that came with the original post and found nothing of the kind, other than that more employees are meeting to discuss faith issues, and that nobody is doing any prosletyzing on company time.

But all of those facts were conveniently ignored, because the red flag of CHRISTIAN was waved in their faces, and then lit up in neon. That was ALL they focused on.

My next beef involves another thread about a week ago concerning a young woman who was faced with an unplanned pregnancy. She decided to keep the baby rather than abort. Choice, right? Something that most people here SAY they are for? Nope. Choice, apparently, is a very narrowly defined concept with some of these folks. The woman caught all kinds of flak because she made the wrong choice.

I mean, come on. I can't help but to sadly conclude that if DU is a microcosm of the Democratic/moderate populace as a whole, this party is in a world of deep hurt. And if that is the case, I don't know how much of the "party line" I can honestly support.

Sorry for the rant.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. Don't be sorry....You're absolutely right!

[arwalden]

3. Hmmm...

>> And someone comes here and has the gall to say that atheists and homosexuals are the most harrassed people on DU. <<

I've never heard anyone say that they are the *most* harassed on DU, but clearly they are resented. If someone actually said that which you claim was said, then it's likely that they were exaggerating to make a point, or that they were referring to a specific forum (or maybe you just misunderstood them).

(It's only natural to exaggerate, right? Kind of like the dramatic exaggeration that *EVERY* thread on DU is a Catholic "bashing" thread. Eh?)

Regardless, I think it would be not totally be unfair to say that those two groups are largely vilified by the a majority of Christians in the real world, outside the confines of DU. Naturally, those real-world experiences will be reflected in what's written at DU and in their attitudes as well.

>> if they are not Catholics themselves, then why do they insist on torturing themselves by apparently being so obsessed with it? <<

So you're suggesting that the Catholic church doesn't obsess with homosex and atheism? Are we to believe that it doesn't try to inject itself into politics nor try to influence public policy that affects more than just Catholics?

-- Allen

[tigereye]

5. I don't think the church was as political in the recent past

in the US - pre-80s. In the far past, yes, the church WAS politics. And more recently some parishes and dioceses? appear to have been coopted by Shrub et al, which is it's own form of evil. But the Catholic church has done some things right ( some social justice and anti-poverty programs here and in many countries), as opposed to its heinous disregard for children's safety. Also, their academic thinkers do have a reputation for some wonderfully complex moral thinking, at least in the abstract. ;)

[AngryOldDem]

6. Like every other instutution there is a fringe

that harps on some issues louder and longer than most others in the institution do. We saw that this past election cycle with Bruskewitz, Chaput, et. al. But there were only a handful of bishops that did this. The rest, I think, kept out of the arena, especially in the Kerry-and-communion debate, by saying that it was properly a matter for the individual to discuss with his or her confessor.

Likewise, I thought Faithful Citizenship, the USCCB's guide to voting, was fair and nonjudgmental about how Catholics needed to look at issues. I could not say the same for the Catholic Answers book, Voters Guide for Serious Catholics.

And I agree that the Church has been a strong and consistent voice for social justice, not only here but elsewhere.

[pelagius]

7. The Catholic conservatives I know...

...routinely bemoan that the USCCB is filled with liberal bishops more concerned about "social justice" than comdemining immorality (e.g. homosexuality) and heresy (e.g., atheism). It's pretty much a staple over at Free Republic's Religion forum.

[DemBones DemBones]

8. You won't see people making snide comments about

homosexuality in every thread that has anything to do with GLBTs. I defy you to find me a thread that has anything to do with Catholicism and in which no one makes snide comments about Catholicism.

[arwalden]

10. What An Absurd Comparison...

Do homosexual groups wield the enormous political power and influence that the Catholic church does? Do homosexual groups help to create and encourage public policy that strips rights, limits rights, and creates a 2nd class citizenry? Do homosexual groups encourage HIV+ males NOT to use condoms?

On the face of it your comparison is absurd. Do you honestly not see the difference? You seem surprised that that this is happening at all. But does it not makes sense that when the RCC attempts to take such a "leadership" role by injecting itself into the political arena, that it would naturally be the target of criticism? To believe otherwise would be very naive.

If, on the other hand, people were making "snide comments" about Catholics *themselves*... that would be a different matter. All of the "snide comments" (criticism) appear to be directed towards the RCC and its short-sighted, medically-ignorant, or bigoted policies.

-- Allen

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Allen, you need to read the guidelines for posting in our group. eom

[arwalden]

13. Which One Did I Violate?

[Wat_Tyler]

4. I've seen it pretty equally from both sides.

I've seen Atheists being assholes, I've seen Christians being assholes. No group in particular is being harassed.

[DemBones DemBones]

9. I have seen much harrassment against religion in general,

particularly Christianity, and a great deal of it is directed at Catholics. I have never seen a thread harrassing atheists.

[arwalden]

12. I'm Sorry You Personally Feel Put-Apon.... But...

>> I have never seen a thread harrassing atheists. <<

First thing: why do you define criticism as "harassment" (or "snide comments")?

I guess when atheists start dictating public policy that is medically irresponsible, or supporting laws that are bigoted... then they too will become the targets of criticism. When the atheists start to blur and erase the line separating church and state, then maybe they will start getting their "fair share" of criticism.

What exactly does one expect to happen when such a large and powerful organization injects itself into politics and policy?

Second thing: You never see threads "harassing" atheists because (unlike real life) such things aren't permitted here, and any that crop up are quickly deleted by our hard-working moderators.

Third thing: Threads "harassing" Christians aren't allowed here either. (If you see them you should report them.) I think what you're seeing are threads that criticize the Catholic church, not Catholics themselves. There's a difference.

How does one's criticism of the church (or its policies) translate into "harassment" towards you? (Unless, of course, you choose to become a mouthpiece for the church and take it upon yourself to justify their positions... then naturally you'd be the point-person for direct questions and criticism. But, that would be something that you chose to do.)

[Midlodemocrat]

14. I am going to lock this.

I don't think it is productive any longer.

Thanks.
DU Moderator.