Jim, there's no doubt that such things happen in churches - and in just about every organization you can think of. And those things are wrong - no question there, either. I do my best to make sure those things don't happen within my sphere of influence, which is quite strong within one parish and fair to moderate within one diocese (because I join with like-minded people in the diocese to ensure that problems are controlled). And within my parish and my diocese, things are generally pretty good.

Some people are sheep - maybe it's better to say that many people are sheep. And where there are sheep, there will most always be a wolf waiting to take advantage of them. If it isn't somebody in a church, it will be a Murdoch publication or FoxNews or the like - or maybe even a Mudcat troll.

Shit happens, Jim. If you take away the place where it happens, it will happen somewhere else. You need to target the people who are actually causing the wrongdoing. You're right in saying that bad things happen in churches - but good things happen in churches, too. The institution of "church," as I said before, is ethically neutral. It's people who do bad and good things.

So, I must conclude that you have failed to prove either the universality or the rationality of your statement, "Religion messes with your mind and uses spiritual blackmail to do so". Sorry, but I've been a church member all my life, and have experienced little or no mind-messing or blackmail. I've seen it happen, but not very often.

-Joe-