*The Church doesn't even enforce its dogma about contraception on Catholics, let alone non-Catholics*

It sure does, where it can get away with it politically. Smuggling
the pill into Ireland used to be a great busines. In Africa we have
Catholic bishops claiming that a virus can penetrate through
condoms. In the Phillipines, the poor are denied access to contraception
due to Vatican political influence. In Australia they
would not dare try, they would become a laughing stock.

As your so called infallible URL points out, this is not about
Catholics exercising their conscience, but about "individual
disobedience" and is mortaly sinful! Off to hell they go lol.

Clearly the Catholic method of birth control is a dismal failure,
or all those Phillipinos would not be having children that they
do not want nor can afford.

Whilst the Catholic Church operates as a political lobby group
to try and enforce its dogma on the rest of us, it is open to
criticism and should be held to account for its actions, like anyone
who is part of the political process. The more that this is
discussed in places like OLO, so that the truth is revealed, so
much the better

Poirot, I'm not entirely sure what point you're trying to make, so forgive me if I my response is rather general. What you describe is fairly typical in the English-speaking (non-Catholic) world, but not at all typical in other countries. For example, in Nigeria, Sunday Mass is attended by thousands, Catholics are devout and steadfast, and children remain observant even when going through their rebellious phase. The Catholic Church is inclusive, not exclusive, especially compared to Protestant churches. Any baptised Catholic can legitimately claim to be Catholic, and the Church accepts that we're all sinners, whether we follow Church teaching or not. What differentiates Catholics more is probably whether or not they're in communion with the Church, what people often refer to as 'practicing'. Catholics are required to receive Communion at least once each year between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday, and that in turn means going to Confession beforehand. They should also attend Mass every Sunday. Of course, anyone who "leaves" or stops practicing by not fulfilling such requirements (or by excommunicating themselves by their actions) can come back at any time simply by going to Confession (which is a friendly pleasant experience nothing like on TV). Confession is something you can request at any time, but it’s on offer in all parishes at least weekly, daily in some (especially city ones where workers on lunchbreak and non-Catholics predominate), and more often during Lent. Many Catholics, a majority in Australia (and the USA/UK), have not been taught anything but the most rudimentary aspects of Catholicism, mostly due to the misplaced good intentions of a generation of priests whose focus on God's loving forgiveness translated into a failure to communicate the sins requiring forgiveness. This is starting to change, and we’re seeing a new batch of vibrant young priests coming through who are more balanced and intellectually rigorous. As a contrast, I can honestly say that in my parish the children outnumber the adults, and family size ranges from 3 to 13 children, the smaller numbers because of the modern tendency of marrying late (in one's 30s).

Thanks for that, Mishka.

I don't really know that my point was much more than an observation of a "Catholic family" and how after a certain generation, and immersion in secular Australia, that things seem to have altered considerably. I'm always interested in how different faiths find their paths in the modern West.

The local parish does have some vibrant young priests. Mostly they come from the Philippines, although there is also one from Italy at moment. Our town (small city) recently became the recipient of a brand new provincial Catholic cathedral (unusual in these times). I think I was one of the most exited because I love cathedral architecture and enjoyed watching the building rise up on top of the hill. I've often thought it would be nice if I could "believe" (no luck thus far) because I feel fully at home in the sacred space encompassed in these places.

Cheers

Dear Poirot,

"I've often thought it would be nice if I could "believe" (no luck thus far) because I feel fully at home in the sacred space encompassed in these places."

Belief may lead some to feel fully at home,
but as you already feel fully at home, belief is not necessary.

It seems that God loves you anyway!

>>Catholics are required to receive Communion at least once each year between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday, and that in turn means going to Confession beforehand.<<

Fail. A Catholic may not receive Communion if they are conscious of being in a state of mortal sin without first Confessing to that sin. But otherwise, receiving the Eucharist is not contingent upon the Sacrament of Reconciliation. My parents are practicing (I am not) and attend Mass every Sunday and every Holy Day of Obligation - it is not my business how often they receive Reconciliation, but I suspect it is a good deal less often.

For a wider perspective on this issue and the fascist nature of opus dei why not Google the essay titled Opus Dei and the War on Birth Control: Neofascism Within the Catholic Church - available via Alternet.

Referring back to my previous post on the Criminal History of the Papacy, what is remarkable in the face of this documented systematic VENALITY is that catholics still pretend that popes are created or chosen via a process of "holy" apostolic succession, and that the pope is the vicar-of-christ, whatever that could possibly be.

Whereas in reality many of the popes were basically insane, even psychotic, and not in any sense fit for human company.

They were always chosen via a process of power politics between the various factions in their time and place. The faction that had the most political power within the church had their ghoul elected.