MisterLove Wrote:the Church plays an essential role in our society - not just spiritual but material, as well (the Catholic Church is the world champion of charities)
Catholic Church:"Too many deeds and not enough faith", I heard a protestant once say. And not even that.
As one living in a country that suffers from that sickness called Catholic Church allow me to differ.
The Church doesn't educate, it doesn't promote welfare (as much as people delude themselves into thinking it does) it doesn't advocate for human rights.
Proof?
I seem to recall every fascist regime from Franco in Spain to Mussolini in Italy to Latin American right wing dictatorships to be publicly supported by the Catholic Church and by Catholic parties.
I seem to recall every law against workers/women/LGBT/Native Americans rights to have full support by The Catholic Church.
If things are a bit different in Europe with the Church they are certainly not in Latin America.
When it comes especifically to my country:
I can recall the case of one Daniel Zamudio, a gay young men beaten to death in 2012 by a neo-nazi gang.
Even the right winger president went to personally visit him before he died of his injuries, condemned the action and pushed for a full anti-discrimination law to be finally passed after 7 years of stalling it by the Church and the Catholic politicians.
The Church stated this: "You don't know how this young man lived nor what his "condition" lead him to do"
They were talking about a responsible college student loved by his parents. And to put the cherry on top the allmighty authorities and the Bishop of Santiago went on to visit a priest facing charge of child abuse while everyone else was mourning the death of the young man.
Did you know Chile didn't have a proper divorce law until 2004, and not even fully implemented until 2010? GO CATHOLIC CHURCH!
Did you know you can barely see a condom around here, while Chile remains as one of the top Latin American countries in HIV infection incidence? GO CATHOLIC CHURCH!
A moral role, a good example to people so they may thrive and be good, perhaps? Not really.
I turned out to be a top student, decently responsible worker, who doesn't drink, smoke nor does drugs, nor steals, nor kills.
And I didn't recall anyone within my household opening a Bible ever.