The New Jersey Star Ledger seems to think there’s only two kinds of Catholics: former Catholics and unquestioning and needy Catholics. Seriously. You’ve got to read this. That is, you’ve got to read this if you enjoy being insulted by people who think they’re better and smarter than you.
Last Sunday, Star-Ledger editorial page editor Tom Moran wrote about his struggles with Catholicism, describing himself as a “refugee from the Catholic Church” as he began to disagree with Catholic leadership over issues such as gay marriage, reproductive rights and divorce.
That column prompted a surprisingly introspective outpouring from Star-Ledger readers, a great number of them with stories of similar personal struggles.
Many, including Moran, have broken ties with the church — a difficult decision, particularly for those who spent a lifetime in Catholic schools and the church. Others, despite their conflicts, choose to stay.
For those who remain, they say they pull strength from the fellowship of the church, despite disappointment with church leadership and its political direction. Some say they remain faithful to the infallibility of the church and its hierarchy, and choose not to question it.
So those who remain Catholics are either dumb and unquestioning or just there to make friends with the choir?
To these baboons there’s no lively intellectual pursuit in the Church. There’s no pursuit of faith. It’s just a bunch of unquestioning friendless people looking for unquestioning friends.
October 8, 2012 at 5:00 pm
I get that dreck delivered to my house daily. Mostly for the comics and local news. Saw this yesterday and couldn't bear to read it. I generally can't bear to read any of Moran's nonsense, and so never read the original article. I dare say that many people who haven't mentally checked out, who have wrestled with Church teaching, and came to accept its truth wrote to the newspaper. Their replies don't fit the narrative, so they don't get published.
October 8, 2012 at 6:32 pm
I never question the Faith; some of the slogan-sodden keyboard commandos who profess it are a different matter.
Further, even Catholics tend to forget that science, education (including the creation of the university), music, and the concept of responsible government all come from the Church.
And all the critics have to argue in response are condoms and temper tantrums?
October 9, 2012 at 3:14 am
Being condescended to by journalists is like being condescended to by Stone Age tribesmen. Except Stone Age tribesmen have real skills.
October 9, 2012 at 3:33 am
@ Hall: secular critics are very vile. I have witness them "swarm" a site who posted a rebuttal to "Why Catholics Suck at Their Faith" (or something along those lines), earlier this year, and it wasn't pretty. Bitterness and irritation sums up the responses. The thing with that incident is that the author who wrote the piece linked it from his facebook fan page. I hope that doesn't happen here because it comes the end result will be no good.