Why do people still go to the Catholic Church?

<<I was born a Catholic because for some reason, my grandmother was one. I suspect it's because my Grandmother's mother was Irish.

Anyways, I have never liked the people that constituted the Catholic Church. In America, most of the Irish and Italian Catholics are racist and their families have nasty criminal pasts. I mean, it's pretty obvious just by looking at the occupations or businesses that they own. Many of their parents were union bosses, lawyers or owned businesses that you would associate with the mafia. Every time we went to church, people were stuffy and unfriendly. They just went through the motions. The mass was boring and the priest may as well have been doing it on a TV from Pakistan. They're so out-of-touch.

I knew about 3 or 4 priests, and only one of them appeared to like me. As an Indian person, I could sense that most of them didn't seem to believe or care that a minority like me could be a Catholic. I rang up one at a grocery store when I was in college and he treated me like some Hindu.>>

It sounds to me like they aren't the only ones who have prejudices... People aren't perfect, if we were we wouldn't need a Savior. The Church is for the sick to get better, but it takes time. Many people can be stuffy and strict, but that doesn't mean they don't love God. My husband is Protestant and the church he goes to shuns anyone who doesn't agree with them--that's not loving either. It's a human problem, not a Catholic problem.

<<Needless to say, the sum of everything just stopped motivating me from going to church. The ridiculousness of the church not allowing their priests to marry, in light of all the problems with the pedophilia and homosexuality is disturbing. They just don't get it.>>

This shows just how much you don't really know and that you don't get it. The Catholic Church's report consisted of over 80 years and it was about 80 priests a year and all the cases are 50 years old. There are barely ANY new cases.

The Church of Christ, a Protestant church that allows married ministers, had the highest reports of pedophilia in one year. Over 300 reports from over 200 churches. In one year.

You say they should allow Catholic priests to marry, but the highest amount of reports come from married men: Step-fathers. Fathers. Uncles. It's not a celibacy problem.

<<The Catholic Church is too rooted in their traditions to ever change. Their history is absolutely decadent, extravagant and ugly, yet they never seem to admit or apologize for ANYTHING.>>

Wow, again, you have no idea. The Catholic Church has come out and apologized for many things. Just because you haven't heard them from the media doesn't mean they haven't. The Church has apologized about Joan of Ark, Galileo, the priest scandals, the Crusades (though that wasn't their fault), the Inquisition (though that wasn't their fault) and much more. You need to research before you start just deciding what you think the truth is.

<<Their attitude is "we do it, you take it, we'll take your money no matter what you're mixed up in, end of story." When have they ever excommunicated anyone like they talk about all the time? Gotti? Sammy the Bull? Joe Kennedy?>>

Again, you claim that you met people who are prejudice and yet you come off exactly the same way. The PR does not do that and never will. And they have excommunicated a lot of people, but it doesn't have to be this huge announcement for everyone to know (if the media would even talk about it).

Many people excommunicate themselves, the Church doesn't have to come out and say it. Joe Biden, excommunicated himself by his stance on abortion. And he had to go find a VERY liberal Catholic Church to even give him the Eucharist because all the ones around him refused.

The last person the Catholic Church offically excommunicated was a woman out in California in 1999 who was "ordained" as a priestess and was leading Mass in a Catholic Church and saying that she was in agreement with the Church. Her bishop told her to stop this and she was not a priestess, the priest who ordained her was excommunicated as well, and so she broke off and created her own "catholic church" and so the Church came out and said officially that she was not part of the Catholic Church and those who attending that church were also not part of the Catholic Church because she was claiming she was.

But you excommunicate yourself, you don't have to have the Pope tell you that. A priest can, a bishop can, I can.

<<I'm astounded that anyone is still stupid enough to go to this church. People are only Catholics because their parents were.>>

Again, you are being prejudice. I'm Catholic and not because my parents were. My mother, brother and I are all converts to Catholicism. My father is Lutheran and my husband is Protestant. I'm Catholic because I have studied, read, and discerned that this is the True Church and where I belong and I refuse to leave her.

<<Why would they let a priest counsel them on marriage? That's one thing that enraged my dad when he got married. He's not a Catholic and he found it bizarre a man who never had a woman would try to tell him anything about marriage.>>

Then why would you let a phycologist who wasn't raped as a child counsoul a rape victim? Why would you let anyone who didn't try to commit suicide counsoul a suicide victim? Why would you let anyone counsoul a murder victim if they weren't too? Why would you let a man doctor talk to a woman about pregnancy if he's never gone through it? You can do that all day.

It's stupid that you are going to say that just because he doesn't have a relationship with a woman he can't have advice upon the subject. If you are going to say that, then you will have to agree with every statement about because it's exactly the same. But the priests do have a marriage relationship, to the Church. And they can tell you about what's needed in a marriage even though they haven't been married to a woman because they have studied and learned as well.

Sorry, but all I see is another prejudice person who is trying to come up with excuses and it's not working. Leave Christ's Church if you feel like you must, but don't try to slander her just because you want a good reason to leave.

<<<most of the Irish and Italian Catholics are racist and their families have nasty criminal pasts. I mean, it's pretty obvious just by looking at the occupations or businesses that they own. Many of their parents were union bosses, lawyers or owned businesses that you would associate with the mafia. >>>

Your the one displaying racism here.

<<<people were stuffy and unfriendly>>>

Your the one acting stuffy and unfriendly here.

<<< The mass was boring and the priest may as well have been doing it on a TV from Pakistan. They're so out-of-touch.>>>

Your the one with the comprehension problem. Your out-of-touch.

<<<I knew about 3 or 4 priests, and only one of them appeared to like me.>>>

Why should any of them like you and your attitude? Your fortunate one of them acknowledged you with your bigoted arrogant attitude.

<<<I'm astounded that anyone is still stupid enough to go to this church.>>>

You've done an excellent job of making yourself sound stupid.

<<<he found it bizarre a man who never had a woman would try to tell him anything about marriage.>>>

And Jesus was never married. So, what. I bet your Dad never gave birth to a single child...but, he probably understands the concept.

If you dislike the Roman Catholic Church so much why do worry so much about it?

God Bless You.

"what is the house looking thing under the crucifix at the front of the church called that the pastor puts the communion crackers in after communion? what is it called?" First, the bread is not in the form of crackers, but are called hosts. The "house looking thing" is called a tabernacle. "what is the long prayer that everyone says during mass that everyone knows the words to? is that the sinners prayer?" There are many prayers that everyone says together. If it is at the beginning of the Mass and speaks about sins, it is probably the Confeitor. i noticed there were 2 offerings. The first one was just envelopes or pieces of paper and the 2nd was obviously money. was the first one prayer requests? on the crucifixx there was a banner that said INRI. what does that mean? " I noticed there were 2 offerings. The first one was just envelopes or pieces of paper and the 2nd was obviously money. was the first one prayer requests?" Sometimes there is a second collection for a special project. I believe that last weekend was a special collection for Peter's Pence - a collection to support the charitiable projects of the Vatican. "on the crucifixx there was a banner that said INRI. what does that mean?" INRI is an acronym for Iesus Nazorean Rex Iudea - which is latin for Jesus of Nazoreth, King of the Jews - this is the "crime" that Jesus was charged with. Feel free to contact me with any other questions

What a lengthily rant. I am sure the question in the title was just a pretence.

Sounds to me that it is you that has opted to remain narrow minded, with bigotted predilections. I mean, just read some of these ;

"most of the Irish and Italian Catholics are racist and their families have nasty criminal pasts"

Wow! Really? what statistics do you base this on? How can you honestly portray yourself a person who is abhorred by racism when you make a comment like that?

"The ridiculousness of the church not allowing their priests to marry, in light of all the problems with the paedophilia and homosexuality is disturbing"

So all paedophiles are homosexuals? If we are to take you at your word, then yes. Except, no. 80% of all paedophiles are married heterosexuals. The clergy of The Catholic Church has the lowest percentage of offenders of any organisation. Getting married will not change the fact that some people like children. Not being married doesn't make people go for children. Those people liked children before hand.

"Their history is absolutely decadent, extravagant "

I can see how the vows of poverty, charities and other organisations dedicated to the welfare of our fellow man can give you that impression. I'll give you that. Kudos.

Fail.

You know...you're an idiot. And I mean that because if you don;'t like it, good for you. I LOVE the Catholic Church. I love the people (btw, I'm english...not irish). Priests FREELY give up marriage to serve God. There are more cases of pedophillia among relatives then among priests. The Bible tells us to adhere to tradition. Gotti, Sammy the Bull were excommuncatied. Its called automatic excommunication. when they do stuff like murder or any other mortal sin, they bring excommuncation among themselves. It doesn't have to come from the Pope.

I'm Catholic and Im d@#& proud of it. I'm proud of what my Church teaches. I'm proud my Church is the worlds largest charitable orginization in the universe. I'm proud of the fact we have the Eucharist, I'm honored to recieve counsel from a priest or a Bishop, our modern day Apostles. Why let a priest tell us stuff? Because they have recieved the education to present marriage as a sacrament of Christ. That it is an indissovable bond between two persons.

I'll pray for you

The devil always gives people reasons to leave.

I don't give to hoots what sins the person has standing next to me, nor do I give a crap what sins are on the soul of the priest standing up there on the alter. It doesn't matter. What matters is the Eucharist, which is a pure offering no matter what anyone does. That is why I go.

If you are looking for perfection, you will not find it here on earth. Jesus himself hung out mostly with tax collectors, prostitutes, and all the 'sinners' in society. That's what the Church is there for; for the sinner, not the person who thinks he/she is perfect or better than everyone else. The Church is here for people who need the grace of God which is freely given. If you think you don't need it, well okay then. I do.

I was not born into the Catholic Faith nor are probably half the Catholics on here.Were all converts that the light of truth was shown to and we went to the light. Your so full of self pity and confusion that you have chosen hate. Minority not welcomed by the Church WOW what a truly ignorant statement as Africans right now are the fasted growing membership we now have.I'll nor respond to your confusion and hate any further as others have answered you well. You really need to go into a Church and spend some time before the Blessed sacrament of Christ and think over your thoughts.

Okay, i'm Catholic and nothing you said even made the slightest bit of sense (to me at least), even if I were looking from an atheist's point of view. What are you talking about? How's the history "ugly"? Why would they need to apologize? What for? How do they take our money? I'm not asking these questions to make you mad, I'd just really like to know. Maybe you could teach me something.

Datoneshortmexgirl, you can't generalize that all priests are like that. I actually love the priests at my church cause they relate to you and they can apply the teachings to real world. Why do you need a priest? Because they're trained and they know how to bless the Eucharist. And you think they insult Muslims, Jews, and Gays? They don't even say a thing about Gays in the Bible. Catholics are not against gays, and we even realize that its all probably neurological and it's not a choice you make. And Muslism? Find one thing Catholics say that suggest we are against Muslims. As for Jews, yes Jesus was a Jew and we acknowledge that but no, we shouldn't shun him because like you said, you're supposed to love everyone. So you contradicted yourself there. And, what's the point you don't get? If you actually paid attention and listened ever in church, you'd learn that the whole point of it is to not spend eternity in purgatory and instead, heaven. Isn't Catholicism great? Yes.

And, your little "PS" note down there... You said you're an atheist but you believe in a God? That doesn't even make sense. Do you know what the definition of atheist is? Atheist: a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings. And so once again you contradicted yourself because the last time I checked, a supreme being is a God.

Thank you Aleria.

I am very sorry of the experiences you have had.

I am not a Catholic because my parents were. I had Catholics in my background as my father was Irish, orange and green. My grandmother, who was the only grandmother I grew up with, was mostly green with some orange and my grandfather was mostly orange with some green.

However, there was a marriage in my grandmother's family by one of her Irish ancestors to a woman who was mostly Italian, Spanish and Austrian. I had a Jewish maternal grandfather, but he was part Choctaw and my maternal grandmother's ancestry was southern American colonial, going all the way back to Jamestown, before the Mayflower.

Jesus gave us the Church because we are all sinners. You will find them in all churches. We all have our saints and our great sinners.

The Church today is very slow to exercise excommunication. Some churches don't have excommunication at all. In recent years in Ireland they have not excommunicated any of the IRA. Back during the troubles in Ireland they did and the Church found out it had a very harmful effect. They want to keep the light shining for all sinners no matter how great they are.

One man who became Catholic said the history of the Church is one of the things that brought him in. The Church, despite its checkered past, still exist. It gives proof to "I will be with you always until the end of the world."

I have a feelling something very catastrophic has happened to you and all the little negative things that all people experience in their religious faiths stand out in your mind because of it.

I will pray for you. Jesus loves you very much.

I can't add anymore what outstanding answers Aleria, Catholic @ Heart and others have given.

Stop being such a self-righteous bigot. Do a bit more research on your Grandmother & become a better person. Here's a few things you forgot to mention about the Catholic Church.......http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/history/...

It is an indisputable FACT, that the Catholic church is the largest non-governmental provider of Health Care, Education, and Relief Aid, in the WORLD.

1 in 5 patients in the US is treated at one of the nearly 700 Catholic Hospitals in the US.

8% of all School kids in the US is educated at a Catholic K-12 school.

The Catholic church is active in Africa, combating and treating the spread of HIV/AIDS

The Catholic church is the largest Pro-Life organization in the world

The Catholic church has its own seat on the UN Council

The Vatican runs Europe's busiest Pharmacy giving everyone 40-60% off, and offering medicines from around the world, some of which can ONLY be found at the Vatican. It is open to the public as a SERVICE to mankind. http://www.catholic.com/data/stories...

The Vatican contains the world's greatest collection of Art and Knowledge (in any one place) most of which is open to the public and even more is open to Scholars from around the world.

Name one organization the world has ever seen that has done more for the poor. Name one organization the world has ever seen that has done more for the sick. Name one organization that has done more for indigenous races around the world.

Name one organization that has done more for the oppressed, that has done more to spread Christ, that has done more to support education, that has had more martyrs put to death for their faith, that has had more lies spread about it (like the lies you have posted, for example).

Name that organization, and if those people stand up to the scrutiny that the Catholic Church is subjected to, then maybe I'll give my money to them.

We're waiting, but we're not holding our breath.

The Catholic Church is the only Church that Jesus ever founded, authorized, constituted, empowered, and eternally guaranteed.

He never did anything even remotely similar for any other person or group.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IdLkG_34i8&NR=1

"You fear what you don't understand" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dPNtfxqo8g&feature...

Kennedy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ReAG6jNVs4&feature...