Philip Jenkins is right - anti-Catholicism is the last socially acceptable bigotry. I find your disclaimer at the beginning disingenuous, and the piece offensive.

Stick with food.

The Poor old guy is pittiful and weak leave him alone.

Being an ex-Catholic who was saved, I do not believe in the Pope as our Lord and Savior. Think about that the next time you worship your statues of the "perfect" Virgin Mary. And Philip Jenkins is a moron if he believes Catholics are beyond scrutiny.

Reverend J! I cannot pass this comment up!! Why don't you do some reading of Catholic literature before you PRESUME to tear them apart? Where in hell did you get the outlandish idea that the Pope was Lord and Saviour? Also! We NEVER worship statues of Mary. They are reminders, just as a photo of a loved one is a reminder!

And FYI, I have read that the Catholic priests tortured Galileo until he renounced his heliocentric theory in favor of the Catholic backed Coppernican theory that the Earth was the center of the Universe. What does that say about a religion that doesn't even know astrological facts? Although I do exaggerate about the Catholics believing that the Pope is the Lord and Savior, I have read the Catechism booklet before I joined "The Church" in 1983, which says that the Pope speaks for Our Lord Jesus. Thus the Pope is like "Jesus on Earth". (Which also explains why priests and nuns cannot marry, that being that they are married to "The Church" and to many while in the clergy Catholic Mass uses a "Missilette" for both hymns and Bible verses. Should they use the Bible? And the "Bible" they give out contains the Apocrypha, which has been condemned by Bible scholars as well as most Protestant churches. Add to that the Vatican members read from "cannon laws", in which a few laws, including the existence of Purgatory, have not been proven by the Scriptures, although the Catholic apologists try hard to find any proof. The only thing more I can say, Adagio, is God is more important than any church or religion. And you can worship whichever one you like. Our choices are being seen by Our Lord.

Reverend J...You make extravagant leaps in judgement on what you have read. Most everyone back in Galileo's time had off-the-wall theories. The Catholic Church, of course, is not based on science, much less astrological 'facts' (which may change from what you think you know). Most of the rest of your 'arguments' are based on your trying to put Catholic doctrine to match Protestant doctrine. Ever heard of tradition? That's one by which we go by.

Isn't it "astronomical"? And we should be free to worship -- or NOT worship -- which or whomever we choose. I'm enjoying the lively discussion here! And isn't there a parody up there somewhere, too?

Right on the word, Mari...:D I guess the bottom line is that the parody is offensive to Catholics.

Does it really matter whether the Apocrypha is part of the Catholic Bible or whether or not our priests are married? Does it really matter that we have a centralized hierarchy? Does it matter that we have an authority that interprets the word of God and applies it? The truth of it, Rev., whether you like it or not, Christianity and nearly all Western religious philosophy originates from the Catholic Church. I have nothing against Protestants, except for the ones who feel they can tell me exactly why I'm wrong and why I'm going to Hell. Rev., go be Protestant and let the Catholics be Catholic. Remember, we can't be all that bad if the KKK hates us.

i can understand your feelings towards each other however it is time to place them aside, what is most important is that you live good honest true lives, god will judge all in his holy widsom when it is your time to die, so do not exchange cross words with each other when you are both simply trying to find a path to live a better life