The Rant Thread...

[StephenKingman]

Every year after Christmas priests visit homes here. And today we had a visit. My mum is catholic so there's no way we didn't let the priest in. It is always so awkward Why the hell do they do this?

Visit for what reason, Swing, is it just a trip to see how you are all going and had you a nice Christmas? It seems like a nice idea but i also wouldnt really know what to say in that situation

Visit for I don't know what. Get to know parishioners and get money. But if someone wants, they can go to church, the other way round for me it's like an intrusion.

Ah, i see, i didnt really get it until you mentioned the word 'money', thats quite an inconsiderate act, if they were pushing for money especially in January when money is tight. And if you or your mother have been or are regular mass goers then that should be enough recourse, in my opinion.

[Fran]

Every year after Christmas priests visit homes here. And today we had a visit. My mum is catholic so there's no way we didn't let the priest in. It is always so awkward Why the hell do they do this?

Visit for what reason, Swing, is it just a trip to see how you are all going and had you a nice Christmas? It seems like a nice idea but i also wouldnt really know what to say in that situation

I think some priests still do that in Ireland but not necessarily at Xmas ... think they call it parish visits. A few months ago our priest at Mass on Sat night asked anyone new to the parish who would like a visit from a priest to let the parish office know. Obviously in the current climate in Ireland it's difficult for priests 'damed if they do & damned if they don't' but I do know how you feel Swing about it being awkward ... I guess it just a symptom of how far removed from the lives of ordinary people they have become. A dreadful life IMO

[StephenKingman]

To be frank, i know some priests are lovely people who are somewhat tied by the culture and conditions of their church and superiors etc but i have very strong views on giving any of them money and would rather they never did that.

[GotThatSwing]

I don't doubt that some are lovely people but I think it should be voluntary, not pressured to meet them.

[Fran]

I don't doubt that some are lovely people but I think it should be voluntary, not pressured to meet them.

Absolutely but if it was your mom's house & she was happy to see him ... my mother would still see a visit from the priest as a tremendous honour (she's 87 & very much old guard Catholic). She would generally prefer we weren't there to embarrass her by arguing with him though.

[GotThatSwing]

I don't doubt that some are lovely people but I think it should be voluntary, not pressured to meet them.

Absolutely but if it was your mom's house & she was happy to see him ... my mother would still see a visit from the priest as a tremendous honour (she's 87 & very much old guard Catholic). She would generally prefer we weren't there to embarrass her by arguing with him though.

My mum is happy but I know lots of people who just see the priest because they feel bad about not letting him in but feel awkward and don't like these visits. So, it's still pressure.
I wouldn't mind if my mum didn't pressure me to accompany her during this visit because she doesn't want to be alone

[StephenKingman]

My mum is also an old-skool die hard Catholic and mass goer and would have a lot of time for priests. Priests have behaved appallingly in the past with some of them hassling people for money for 'church repairs' and a hard-up family who hadnt even the money in our parish were threatened with public shaming on a list of people who "didnt see fit to contribute", well the father of this family had a quiet word with the priest in question and there was no more mention of a list. The hypocrisy of the Catholic church sickens me in too many ways to mention.

[Fran]

My mum is also an old-skool die hard Catholic and mass goer and would have a lot of time for priests. Priests have behaved appallingly in the past with some of them hassling people for money for 'church repairs' and a hard-up family who hadnt even the money in our parish were threatened with public shaming on a list of people who "didnt see fit to contribute", well the father of this family had a quiet word with the priest in question and there was no more mention of a list. The hypocrisy of the Catholic church sickens me in too many ways to mention.

Absolutely appalling what they were allowed get away with but I don't think they have the monopoly on hypocrisy though.

[StephenKingman]

My mum is also an old-skool die hard Catholic and mass goer and would have a lot of time for priests. Priests have behaved appallingly in the past with some of them hassling people for money for 'church repairs' and a hard-up family who hadnt even the money in our parish were threatened with public shaming on a list of people who "didnt see fit to contribute", well the father of this family had a quiet word with the priest in question and there was no more mention of a list. The hypocrisy of the Catholic church sickens me in too many ways to mention.

Absolutely appalling what they were allowed get away with but I don't think they have the monopoly on hypocrisy though.

True, they have many bed-friends in the world of deceit, hypocrisy and downright fraud but adding little children to the list of the usual victims of these crimes garners them an extra sheen of pure scum.

[Fran]

My mum is also an old-skool die hard Catholic and mass goer and would have a lot of time for priests. Priests have behaved appallingly in the past with some of them hassling people for money for 'church repairs' and a hard-up family who hadnt even the money in our parish were threatened with public shaming on a list of people who "didnt see fit to contribute", well the father of this family had a quiet word with the priest in question and there was no more mention of a list. The hypocrisy of the Catholic church sickens me in too many ways to mention.

Absolutely appalling what they were allowed get away with but I don't think they have the monopoly on hypocrisy though.

True, they have many bed-friends in the world of deceit, hypocrisy and downright fraud but adding little children to the list of the usual victims of these crimes garners them an extra sheen of pure scum.

Totally agree

[StephenKingman]

I do agree with a lot of the teachings of the church and have my own views but i view them as separate to the preachings of Catholicism and their many rotten practices. It is possible to be religious and not stick to the questionable ethics of the institution behind it. And i know its a side note but i just cant warm to the new Pope, he seems to me a very cold man with not nearly the presence of his predecessor.

[Fran]

I do agree with a lot of the teachings of the church and have my own views but i view them as separate to the preachings of Catholicism and their many rotten practices. It is possible to be religious and not stick to the questionable ethics of the institution behind it. And i know its a side note but i just cant warm to the new Pope, he seems to me a very cold man with not nearly the presence of his predecessor.

I'm in agreement with you ... I too do my best to live by the teachings of the Gospels but I would have very little time for the 'institutional' church which I think is nothing more that another multi-national organisation intent on protecting itself and consolidating it's power. I don't like the look of the present Pope but I didn't like the last one either (too sweet to be wholesome IMO) ... Swing will probably be cross with me for that comment.

[StephenKingman]

Well we will probably all have different views on the Pope its only natural. I agree with you on the whole church as an institution out to consolidate its own power, it took a while for this good Catholic boy (yeah) to accept that the church which had shaped the upbringing and education of so many of this generation and had the country in an iron grip could possible be corrupt but now its out in the open its a good thing, by that i mean that influence and fear has been cast aside forever.

[Fran]

Well we will probably all have different views on the Pope its only natural. I agree with you on the whole church as an institution out to consolidate its own power, it took a while for this good Catholic boy (yeah) to accept that the church which had shaped the upbringing and education of so many of this generation and had the country in an iron grip could possible be corrupt but now its out in the open its a good thing, by that i mean that influence and fear has been cast aside forever.

I'd like to share your optimism but unfortunately history show us that people have short memories.

[GotThatSwing]

I do agree with a lot of the teachings of the church and have my own views but i view them as separate to the preachings of Catholicism and their many rotten practices. It is possible to be religious and not stick to the questionable ethics of the institution behind it. And i know its a side note but i just cant warm to the new Pope, he seems to me a very cold man with not nearly the presence of his predecessor.

I'm in agreement with you ... I too do my best to live by the teachings of the Gospels but I would have very little time for the 'institutional' church which I think is nothing more that another multi-national organisation intent on protecting itself and consolidating it's power. I don't like the look of the present Pope but I didn't like the last one either (too sweet to be wholesome IMO) ... Swing will probably be cross with me for that comment.

I'm not cross, Fran. The last pope was beloved here, he contributed at some degree to abolish comunism in Poland and had some good pieceful ideas, but I don't agree with many points of Catholic church of which he was head, plus even if I was his great admirer I wouldn't get cross for someone having different opinion.