BALTIMORE ? There was a time when the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was a powerful force for bringing the church’s moral teachings to bear on national policy debates.In the 1970s, the bishops led the fight against abortion after Roe v. Wade. During the Cold War, they drew international notice when they questioned the morality of nuclear deterrence.But the bishops now face a different world _ one where their moral authority has been diminished by the clergy sex abuse crisis, where money for church programs is scarce and where many American Catholics have little understanding of, or regard for, church teaching.At a national meeting starting Monday in Baltimore, the bishops are expected to make changes that adjust to their new circumstances. They will channel resources away from broad social pronouncements and focus more on defining Catholicism for an often uninvolved flock.”It’s not that the bishops as a national organization will no longer be interested in sociopolitical issues,”said Russell Shaw, a writer on Roman Catholic issues who spent more than 15 years as a spokesman for the conference.”But the emphasis is shifting to the life of the church itself and its own internal problems.”
This is the beginning folks! Catholics have lost a lot of power (finally) and need to regroup.let us all hope that the conference of Catholic Bishops will revisit the reason for their church — charity — and abandon the philosophy that they need to force their bronze-age views into politics. We want to work with them toward that Great Goal of solving the world’s problems, but they have to first get past making new problems with politics and money.
I thought the reason of the church was “bringing people to Christ.” Definitely don’t want to work with them on that issue.
Religion isn’t worried about working toward the Great Goal of solving the world’s problems. See Biology: Stem cells.
the catholic church’s main concern is preservation of their wealth/empire. concern for their followers is secondary. (how else do you explain them moving known predatory priests from parish to parish?)
i wouldn’t side with them on any humanitarian issue for which they could derive some credit as it would just help them perpetuate their fraud.
and as you said, they have “bronze-age views” of the world that need to die(with them) sooner rather than later.
Charity? Hah!
There are lots of good people within the Catholic Church, I don’t deny that. And I’m sure many of them do just want to do good in the world. But as a whole, I do not trust that this is the goal of the Church! Nope. Their goal is to spread Catholicism. That’s all there is to it.
the church is reacting to the fact it is becoming more nonwhite.i know this sounds racist but it is a fact.in the united states most atheists are white and that is not likely to change.
The catholic church is a power hungry money making institution above all other things and they are in a panic over falling profits and influence. Never forget that.
If they get shut down then that would be great for little boys.
“Hey mommy, ever since the church was shut down my butt sure feels a lot better!”
“Really? Me too…”
alex whats wrong with being a power hungry money making machine?and where is your brother phreedm.
reason
“whats wrong with being a power hungry money making machine?”
Nothing, if there aren’t any religious protections involved. duh.
What’s with calling phreedm Alex’s brother? What’re you smoking?
hello karen hope your weekend has been good.i’m just joking with alex.
boy that was some back and forth between thaddeus and others on the issue of respect.well take care.
reason
OK then. Sorry for whipping my claws out. Sometimes I just don’t know quite how to take you!
Thaddeus has lots of questions and seems to be a good ‘un to have around.
You take care too. I gotta go for the evening.
I think phreedum’s body rejected the recent election results.
speaking for phreedm, does anyone post on religious blogs kinda like he does with us? I might start doing that to see if I can have an intelligent debate…I know I know, it’ll be a stretch. I’m just too optimistic sometimes.
Dangerman:
I do. So does karen. The bacon eating atheist jew does it as well.
BEAJ & I get treated about as roughly as we treat phreddy here (not everywhere, but about 90%).
Good luck.
I have watched KA and Karen and BEAJ and Beepbeep attempt to engage said theists and have even been tempted my own self, but if the likes of the aforementioned can make little headway, it seemed improbable. In fact I have found myself curled up in the Futile Position too often.
if I went to a conservative christian blog I’d be slapped around as a heretic and apostate. I do find http://www.badchristian.com to be a good site. I spoke with my pastor and hopefully we’ll get http://www.progressivechurches.org turned into a blog in the not too distant future. It might be interesting for you to blog with people who likely are politically aligned with you, but perhaps not aligned on religion. My experience here is that if I’m here just to discuss and listen, I don’t have many problems. If I were here to convert, than I’d likely have my head handed to me. In other words, you might have more luck with kooky liberal christians than you do with kooky conservative christians.
Ah, remy!
That is SO good!
Thanks, I needed that!
gasp! liberal christians! lol…just kidding spanders, thanks for the advice though, I’ll try that. I always enjoy having peaceful, intelligent debates over religion. But I’ve only ever found one person who would do that with me