Can we have a positive thread about Catholicism?

[PadgettsDream]

There is currently a thread running where there is a lot of criticism of the Catholic Church which is in many cases fair enough and it needs to be discussed but that thread in my opinion often strays into outright anti-Catholic sentiment and even bigotry against Catholics and Catholicism in general.

So I wonder if anyone would like a space to talk about the positives of the Church? I myself was raised Catholic, went to a convent School and it was wonderful really. I did not have any bad experiences and the Church has always been a source of strength and comfort for me. It doesn't dominate my life, I'm not brainwashed by it but its been an important foundation for me and I am thankful for it. In my own family history the Church stepped in and helped when nobody else would.

Any other positive stories?

I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with illness Redroses. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Yes it's a lovely space here 🙂

Morning, @OscarsAmmonite2 - how are you this morning? I've had a look at the Sacred Space recommendation from upthread, it's lovely.

I have a home altar. Started it through lockdown so I had somewhere to watch Mass online - it didn't feel like Mass watching from the sofa.
I'm a bit of a traddy, so it has some old icons, beeswax candles etc.

Be sure to wish your Parish Priest a happy feast day today, and give thanks for them. Feast of St John Vianney - parton of parish priests.

I'm currently ensconced in a medieval art museum - beautiful religious art work. Might pick up some postcards for my home office. There is a Dürer exhibition too

I think my local Abbey, Pluscarden make beeswax items

I'm reporting your response Ophelia. I'm not making my abuse up.

I didn’t say you were. Report me if you like. I stand by my comments. I’m tired of an abusive organisation gaslighting those whose lives are destroyed by them and really disappointed to see it happening on MN.

Honestly....

'Claiming victimhood' pretty much is negating my experience. There is another thread to discuss what you want to discuss. Just leave us in peace.

Honesty is missing from this thread.

Are you saying I'm a hypocrite Ophelia? Just checking.

I also find the snarky ‘just checking’ and ‘hope that helps’ style comments in response to myself and others asking similar at odds with the Christian virtues you are adhering to.

So what do you wish to achieve then? Do you want the thread to stop? You can raise these issues elsewhere on MN. Are we not allowed to discuss feast days and baptism without people interjecting?

The thread asks ‘can we have a positive thread about Catholicism?’ I’ve responded to it. Others have responded to it. Everyone who thinks there are in acknowledged and unpalatable aspects of the Catholic religion are shut down. That’s not how MN works.

'that they are triggering and preventing peace on the thread hypocritical'

So you are effectively calling me a hypocrite then.

And no, I don’t want the thread to stop. I want you to give proper responses to posters who disagree with you, instead of berating us for disturbing your peace and being snarky, or minimising what has happened in the institution you are keen to be only relentlessly positive about.

@OpheliaPlum, I'm not a Catholic but am Christian.

I think it's about responsibility isn't it? You want the (whole of the) Catholic Church to take responsibility to protect the vulnerable against abusers. But if you are asking individuals within the Catholic Church that are not part of the Church leadership it can be difficult for them to respond - since they do not individually make the safeguarding decisions.

It's like society as a whole should be taking responsibility for protecting the vulnerable against abusers (from all religious backgrounds and none). But how much actual individual responsibility to we each take? Not everyone personally comes across abuse on the scale you are talking about. We all hope of course we would do all we could to support victims of abuse. But does that mean we extricate ourselves from a structurally abusive society (patriarchy, capitalism, class inequality, race inequality)? Does it stop us celebrating the good in society?

Actually there are spaces on MN where people are left in peace. There are threads were those discussions are taking place. I don't see why there can't be two spaces

Not here to trade insults @OscarsAmmonite2 I don’t think being goady very constructive.

But can’t you see, repeatedly telling posters off for asking questions and conflating that with not leaving you in peace is problematic. The thread asks a question. Insisting on one answer, ie a positive one isn’t how debate works.