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	Questions for Catholics, Past and Present. By Pete Simon Daily Kos May 21, 2009 http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/20/733835/-Questions-for-Catholics,-past-and-present. This diary is in response to the Catholic Church's latest atrocity. There is the usual grief and sorrow expressed by religious leaders, but there doesn't seem to be much grasp of the idea that the Vatican was involved in a massive cover up of criminal abuses. From the link: Pete Simon's diary :: :: But the commission said its fact-finding which included unearthing decades-old church files, chiefly stored in the Vatican, on scores of unreported abuse cases from Ireland's industrial schools demonstrated that officials understood exactly what was at stake: their own reputations. You and I share at least one thing in common, we were both raised as Catholics. I left the church for reasons I will not share, maybe you did too, or maybe you remain. I have journeyed far into the wilderness in search of my true self who turned out to be a different person than my church would have me believe. But now that I'm divorced from the church, I've struggled to relate to those who continue to claim membership. There is little I can say, but a lot I can ask. My question to every Catholic reading are as follows... At what point do you feel so misrepresented by the church that you no longer belong to it? With so many victims of abuse from churches around the world, why do you trust your priest? Why are you convinced he's different than one who has abused his followers? What makes him different? If a child is raped and abused by a priest, and his superiors cover up the crime, do you not see them as complicit? Have you ever felt personally hurt by Catholic policies? Have you ever felt inadequate as a person, because of the stated beliefs of the church? Why do you support a leader (the Pope) whom you have no vote for, no direct channel to, and no ability to influence? Why is a man sworn to chastity and obedience closer to God? What makes him more pure or better served to preach the word of God? Why are the church's efforts to thwart off-message media (ie. Da Vinci Code) reasonable or just? Why is the church failing to attract younger followers? Is there a generational divide among Catholic families? Have you struggled in your family because of the Catholic faith? Do you have any friends who are former Catholics? Do you know why they left? Do you feel there are more people leaving the church than joining it? I ask all these questions because I wonder, as a former Catholic, why people remain with the church when they have so little ability to influence change in it, while it has shown so much need for change. If nothing else, I feel its a valuable exercise to ask these questions to yourself. I have no further comment, but am happy to read those of any reader. Peace.
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