Thanks dude for your reply


So Shane, I see you do not see these things (with the obvious exception  with
the child abuse) as real serious issues and you objected mostly based on  this.
But I was not trying to raise that they were (even though I do think they  are).
I was simply saying there are similarities and for the most part as per  your
responses it seems (to me) you agreed (although Im not sure youll agree to
that). Ill go further now however and say that many of the same reasons we (or
rather, I) discredit JW's we (or I) can use to discredit Catholic faith. Now an
important point, I could make this thread and make similar lists for jws and
almost any other religion, so its not just Catholics.


Ill add one
more to the list that I was reminded about from another post.  The belittling of
women. Neither jw's nor catholics can have women in any high  position. One may
argue its because the bible says so, and sure Ill agree the  bible is
masochistic but its still a parallel. And notice I say parallel and not"exactly
like."



You are right that there are glaring similarities. I wont dispute that and accept that was your reason for the post.

I did nearly comment myself that I felt there could be similarities between all religions. I have found though that JW's do seem to have a particular hate for Catholicism though. Why this religion and not Islam, Hinduism or any other christian/non-christian religion puzzles me? Does that make us as ex-JW's more likely to pick the faults of catholics over any other religion? (btw I'm not suggesting you are in this thread. I'm mearly putting the question out there.)



Im not attempting to bash Catholics because if I was, the first thing I  would
mention is the Vatican's stance that while AIDS is a bad thing, its not  nearly
as bad as condoms. Thankfully this is not something JW's preach (yet).


I was actually surprised that you didn't mention this example when I read you OP. Interestingly a lot of Irish people I know (who in all likliehood classed themselves as Catholic in this years census) have a problem with this teaching. They are also hesitant to fully agree with Mother Theresa of Calcutta being made a saint because of her teaching those very poor women that contraception was wrong when these poverty stricken people couldn't provide for the families they already had.

In Ireland contraception is still almost taboo. In Ireland, legal condom sales were allowed for the first time in 1978 and it was during the 90's before you could purchase them anywhere else besides the Chemist/drug store. Before that you either had to travel up North or try to pull out in time to hit fresh air. The morning after pill is only available on prescription from the Dr which as most commumities in Ireland are small can be an embarassment for many young women to have to go through. Abortion is still illegal in Ireland although the government have relaxed the laws that family planning org's can give women info about obtaining abortions in the UK.

Most of these laws are a hangover from a time when the Catholic church exerted a huge power over the state.



And i just wanted to add I empathize with your sons condition and it makes
things difficult. I normally would be against my (nonexistant) son doing
something just to fit in, peer pressure... but under the circumstances its very
understandable. It is difficult enough growing up with autism without standing
out as "different." Much love to you and your family Shane, and best of luck to
your sons progression.



Thank you.
Sometimes when faced with these conditions you learn to pick your battles. I know deep down he doesn't consider himself any more catholic than I do. He doesn't attend church apart from the occasional wedding or christening and doesn't look to do so either. So I am not worried for him on that score anyhow.


Now to Andria's comments:




As most of you know, I believe ALL religions are as bad as one another.    It's
a long-running tit-for-tat thing with the Catholics being vilified by the jdubs
and I'm sure the sentiments are returned by Catholics who bother to
banter with  the exceptionally one-eyed jdub zealots.




I have yet to hear a catholic actually rundown the JW religion in the same manner that JW's vilify the Catholics. However there may be some who will but as a whole the catholic org tends to steer clear of publically denouncing other religions.



It's a shame that the jdubs don't take a leaf out of the Catholics book and
practice charity, rather than what the jdubs do ... which is to preach about
loving all mankind and then only helping their own.    Sending out copies of
magazines and NWT bibles isn't going to provide the poor with food in their
bellies or a roof over their heads!     At least the Catholics ... strings and
all in some cases ... have historically helped the poor.

Both our boys
were born in the St John of God Hospital ... a Catholic run private hospital.  
Jdubs don't have privately run hospitals or charity shops or soup kitchens.




That is a very interesting point Andria. Here in Ireland most hospitals , schools (including special needs schools) are built on church property and in the not too distant past were also ran by the catholic orders.
Our newly elected government are looking at a new model of primary school that would not offer Catholic children preparation for the sacraments during the school day.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0401/education.html

The catholic church are voicing their concern already.

However not withstanding those points many in the catholic church nuns and priests did provide invaluable health care and education for the children of Ireland. My Mum her parents and family were all delivered by Nuns, looked after by them in hospital stays as children and taught by Nuns or priests at school. I know certainly up to the 90's the Irish standard of education was considered to be one of the highest in Europe. So it has to be said it's not all bad and certainly they have done far more for their community than the JW's ever have.





Last Edited By: Jul 6 11 4:53 AM. Edited 1 times.