[freedomdefender]

Catholicism in a largely Protestant country,like ours, has an attractive aspect to it, I'll admit. It's where Catholicism is in power - political, demographic - that it's less attractive side reveals itself. My sister did a semester abroad in Spain, in the 70s. She recounted meeting an Anglican vicar there who, under the Franco government, wasn't allowed to put a sign on his church. You wouldn't have found a similar restriction against Catholic churches, in any modern protestant country that I know of.

This Catholic uptightness with other kinds of Christians is something that shines through the "Catholic radio" station in my home town. Rarely do the hosts or guests talk about converting non-Christians to christianity. Instead, they're focused on converting protestants to catholicism. I get the impression they're really bugged by the fact there are christians who aren't catholic - - but they're not that concerned about the "heathen" who don't believe in Christ to begin with. In contrast, protestant evangelicals put a lot more emphasis on reaching out to non-christians. Ironically, a lot of the converts to catholicism who are highlighted on this radio program, were first converted to christianity by protestant evangelicals. So the evangelicals seem to be a necessary "cog" in the Christian machine - but the Catholics on this radio station can't stop talking about how they're wrong and they must convert. It's that (soft) intolerance with other forms of Christianity that reminds me how things can be uncomfortable for Protestants in countries where Catholics are in charge.

[red irish]

As I sit here and read all of this,and all I can think of are the churches out there now preaching abortion,homosexuality, is ok. There will always be people who will not have the desire to believe anything other than what they want to believe for many different reasons.But the one holy scripture which stands out every day for me is Isaiah 5:20,Woe unto them who call evil good,and good evil.who put darkness for light.and light for darkness,who put bitter for sweet,and sweet for bitter.And we can see our youth today falling away if we Christians do not unite. Our young people today,in elementary schools are being taught homosexuality is ok and look to yourself and if you are it’s ok. Young children. We see millions of children murdered every year through abortion but can’t understand the violence in school shootings. There will always be a difference in opinions of what scripture says because we all WANT to be right.But how many times has the world been coming to an end,the rapture,end time prophecy,over and over,using holy scripture to lay it all out.And yet we have been told not even the angels,or Christ himself knows the time. But we can see evil in front of us every day and telling us that it is not evil and it’s ok.I am not a college graduate or that smart,but I try to humble myself before God and tell him I don’t understand what you are saying in holy Scriptures.Am I the only one who needs help? lol So I look to the church to see what they have to say and then go back and read scriptures to see if it makes sense to me. lol I love reading books written by Scott Hahn and yes he is a convert to the Catholic faith and makes makes scripture come alive through his talks and books. I am reading the Lambs Supper now,along with the bible. Gods’ peace to all.

[nanetteclaret]

What Catholic radio do you listen to? All the Catholic programs I listen to are very much concerned with the salvation of those who do not know Christ.

You are deluded if you think the Catholic church has any direct political power anywhere in the world. Any laws or restrictions are put in place by those who are running the government.