I became an associate member of the Sisters of Mercy today, and it was a wonderful thing to become part of that community. It seems a shame to come back to this crap today. I've worked in the Catholic Church all my life, but Fionn claims I know nothing about the Catholic Church. You MUST be right, Fionn. I'm sure all the blatherings from you and Suibhne are the absolute truth, and all these wonderful people I've worked with are actually horrible and perverted.

If you say so, it must be the truth, and my real-life experience is an absolute falsehood.

Say, by the way, has either of you actually ever known a nun or a priest in your entire life? When was the last time you even dared to talk with a nun or a priest?

I'm sorry, but after a lifetime of membership and work in the Catholic Church, I think what Fionn and Suibne have to say is sheer bigotry. The incidents they cite may be true; but in an organization with a billion members, there's enough anecdotal evidence to prove anything you want to prove. I've studied the Catholic Church all my life, and with a critical eye - so critical that many extremists claim I'm not really Catholic. There's a lot wrong with the Catholic Church, just as there's a lot wrong with every large organization - and yes, Catholics must continue working to right those wrongs. Then again, there's a lot right with the Catholic Church, especially in Third World countries. The Catholic Church has many problems in third world countries, but the Church is also a source of joy and justice for millions of people in impoverished nations. Agencies such as Catholic Relief Services have worked hard to alleviate poverty in Third World nations, with no attempt to convert the recipients of their aid.

-Joe Offer-