We used to joke that my great-grandmother was paying for teh gold plating on the pearly gates. It was really no joke. She would get her social security check and give it to her priest. She had no money to eat. She had no money to bury herself. As afr as the rest of us go we're not rich people. We asked the priest if he would give the money back to us. We tiold him to keep a certain portion, but needed the money to buy her the basic necessities. He refused to give us the money. He said it was her choice to give to teh church. We had to go to the diocese to have them tell the priest to give the money back. I wonder if he skipped the part about Jesus and the synagogue in his studies to become a priest?
The last time I went to mass the priest appeared intoxicated. He was having a hard time staying on his two feet. He ended up going into this tireade about how gays, Jews and people who live together will be going to hell. He went in to say if you associated with the likes of them you would be headedd for hell too! My mother and I didn't ahng around to hear the rest of his 'sermon'. I have never been back since.
Now there is the current the sex abuse scandal. What more can I say that ahsn't already been said. I am of the Christian faith. I believe in Jesus and God. My FAITH has never been shaken. I have not confused the man made institution with my real spiritual leader! I stopped supporting the Catholic Church a long time ago. If I didn't feel justified before I definately do now!