Why the venom?
Remorse from putting 5 cents on the plate as a kid?
Each to their own.

@carnivore: Why the venom?

Oh, I don't know -- how about institutionalized misogyny, child rape committed, condoned and covered-up, taxpayers' money spent on supporting a corrupt and wealthy hierarchy, billions of dollars channelled from third world nations to the Vatican, governments fawning to a phony 'head of state', Tim Fischer's salary, Amanda Vanstone's salary, deaths from AIDS caused by papal opposition to contraception, deaths of women caused by papal opposition to abortion, years of agony caused by papal opposition to assisted dying... is that enough to go on with, do you think?

Correct Jon J ,this is what the press should be reporting , the truth about the Vatican and all of its corruption, how misled the gullible public are.

Anti-Catholic and anti-Christian feeling sometimes
bubbles to the surface in this country. One sees
anti-Catholicism in the comments made about Catholics
that you would never hear made about other religions,
except for the possible exception of Islam.

In contrast, church leaders often use this to claim that
the collapse in religious belief and practice isn't
really their fault. That it's not about Church structure,
poor leadership, dull sermons, uninspired ministry,
lifeless worship or the failure to address the real issues
facing contemporary society that has led so many people
to abandon the Church. It is really the fault of the
materialism and relativism of the unwashed punters. That
it's society that has to change, not justified and righteous
Church leaders.

Dear oh dear.

JON J...

So shall we place all the world's woes at the feet of Christians, more specifically, the Catholics ? You really don't get it do you ?

I couldn't care less, what you allege the Catholic Church has done. Two things I said earlier. Personally, I believe in nothing ! Secondly as I said, there are many people, millions in fact all over the world, who continue to derive a great deal of comfort and peace, (even support), from all branches of the Christian religion, including those dreadful Catholics.

You've alleged herein JON J, the Catholic Church has committed every imaginable crime and evil against humanity ? Therefore in order to arbitrarily divest the Church of some of their power and influence, you'd be very happy to see many of these ignorant people give up their faith, and their peace. Ostensibily all because of your shock revelations of wrongdoing by them. Is that the thrust of what you argue for ? Then who or what exactly, would you have them turn too, for that same degree of peace and faith they had before your denouncement and vilification of Christanity, and more specifically the Catholic Church ?

Perhaps it could be you, JON J ? Hail JON J., the great emancipator of all those poor deluded fools, who were hitherto under the terrible yoke and tyranny of the atrocious Catholic Church !

I'll tell you another fact for nothing too my academic friend, in the jungles of South Vietnam, it was the Priests, Ministers, Pastors and Rabbis, that came around to our FSB's, 'the Dat' and other shitholes in the place. Not the academics, they were too busy back home, demonstarting against the war and all of us in the war, yeah that's what they were doing JON J.

And may I share a secret with you as to why they were demonstrating JON J. ? Because many of them....................? No, JON J. I'll keep 'my powder dry', and I'll leave that little piece for another time ?

@o sung wu: "You've alleged herein JON J, the Catholic Church has committed every imaginable crime and evil against humanity ? Therefore in order to arbitrarily divest the Church of some of their power and influence, you'd be very happy to see many of these ignorant people give up their faith, and their peace. Ostensibily all because of your shock revelations of wrongdoing by them. Is that the thrust of what you argue for ? Then who or what exactly, would you have them turn too, for that same degree of peace and faith they had before your denouncement and vilification of Christanity, and more specifically the Catholic Church ?"

1. No, I haven't.
2. I'd be happy to see anyone -- not just Catholics -- give up their religious faith. If you think that religious belief is necessary for people to achieve 'peace', then you need to explain how it is that many atheists have attained exactly that. Or are you taking the patronising view that although YOU don't need 'faith', we should let dumb people hold on to it to keep them placid?
3. Why should they need to 'turn to' anyone other than themselves?