Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

I willfully pay for the education of the many children at our parish school, many of whom are on partial or full scholarships for their education.
I willfully pay for the supplies to support our parish’s food kitchen and winter shelter.
I willfully pay for Catholic Charities, which is one of the largest charity organizations worldwide.
I willfully pay (in man hours) to support the shelter and the parish pantry.

You choose to see evil. I understand. I definitely acknowledge it exists within the Church. I just choose to fight against it. I see the good and support it.

It’s three hours. If you’re going to be miserable and spiteful, then just don’t go. I suspect your family would prefer it that way.

This is your decision, not DCUMs.

We were Catholic. My kids went to Catholic Schools. I loved our local parish. I taught Religious Ed. I supported the church through all the changes they made. I led so many "Protecting God's Children" classes. I helped reorganized the church so that there were fewer areas where kids might be unsupervised around adults. I really thought the Catholic Church was committed to being better.

Then, the second scandal hit. Pedophiles were hidden BY THE CHURCH. That was it for us. We left the Catholic Church. I could never support an organization that helped promote pedophilia. Never.

You must have taken a wrong turn. This isn’t the Catholic-bashing thread.

This is the "expressing your feelings" thread, like all threads in DCUM

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

I willfully pay for the education of the many children at our parish school, many of whom are on partial or full scholarships for their education.
I willfully pay for the supplies to support our parish’s food kitchen and winter shelter.
I willfully pay for Catholic Charities, which is one of the largest charity organizations worldwide.
I willfully pay (in man hours) to support the shelter and the parish pantry.

You choose to see evil. I understand. I definitely acknowledge it exists within the Church. I just choose to fight against it. I see the good and support it.

It’s three hours. If you’re going to be miserable and spiteful, then just don’t go. I suspect your family would prefer it that way.

This is your decision, not DCUMs.

Lol, come on. I can’t believe I’m being sucked in by your trolling but here goes…

Please link to all of the efforts where you have affirmatively chosen to fight the evil in the church.

You can go to heckle and point out the hypocrisy.

If you don't want to go, don't. You don't even have to explain yourself.

But what you can't do is force others not to care or to have an opinion about you not going. You also can't force others not to "pressure" you.

You control you, not them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

I willfully pay for the education of the many children at our parish school, many of whom are on partial or full scholarships for their education.
I willfully pay for the supplies to support our parish’s food kitchen and winter shelter.
I willfully pay for Catholic Charities, which is one of the largest charity organizations worldwide.
I willfully pay (in man hours) to support the shelter and the parish pantry.

You choose to see evil. I understand. I definitely acknowledge it exists within the Church. I just choose to fight against it. I see the good and support it.

It’s three hours. If you’re going to be miserable and spiteful, then just don’t go. I suspect your family would prefer it that way.

This is your decision, not DCUMs.

We were Catholic. My kids went to Catholic Schools. I loved our local parish. I taught Religious Ed. I supported the church through all the changes they made. I led so many "Protecting God's Children" classes. I helped reorganized the church so that there were fewer areas where kids might be unsupervised around adults. I really thought the Catholic Church was committed to being better.

Then, the second scandal hit. Pedophiles were hidden BY THE CHURCH. That was it for us. We left the Catholic Church. I could never support an organization that helped promote pedophilia. Never.

This is the way. ❤️❤️❤️

If it's such a big deal for you, why'd you marry someone who supports the Church?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

I willfully pay for the education of the many children at our parish school, many of whom are on partial or full scholarships for their education.
I willfully pay for the supplies to support our parish’s food kitchen and winter shelter.
I willfully pay for Catholic Charities, which is one of the largest charity organizations worldwide.
I willfully pay (in man hours) to support the shelter and the parish pantry.

You choose to see evil. I understand. I definitely acknowledge it exists within the Church. I just choose to fight against it. I see the good and support it.

It’s three hours. If you’re going to be miserable and spiteful, then just don’t go. I suspect your family would prefer it that way.

This is your decision, not DCUMs.

❤️

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

I willfully pay for the education of the many children at our parish school, many of whom are on partial or full scholarships for their education.
I willfully pay for the supplies to support our parish’s food kitchen and winter shelter.
I willfully pay for Catholic Charities, which is one of the largest charity organizations worldwide.
I willfully pay (in man hours) to support the shelter and the parish pantry.

You choose to see evil. I understand. I definitely acknowledge it exists within the Church. I just choose to fight against it. I see the good and support it.

It’s three hours. If you’re going to be miserable and spiteful, then just don’t go. I suspect your family would prefer it that way.

This is your decision, not DCUMs.

We were Catholic. My kids went to Catholic Schools. I loved our local parish. I taught Religious Ed. I supported the church through all the changes they made. I led so many "Protecting God's Children" classes. I helped reorganized the church so that there were fewer areas where kids might be unsupervised around adults. I really thought the Catholic Church was committed to being better.

Then, the second scandal hit. Pedophiles were hidden BY THE CHURCH. That was it for us. We left the Catholic Church. I could never support an organization that helped promote pedophilia. Never.

You must have taken a wrong turn. This isn’t the Catholic-bashing thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

I willfully pay for the education of the many children at our parish school, many of whom are on partial or full scholarships for their education.
I willfully pay for the supplies to support our parish’s food kitchen and winter shelter.
I willfully pay for Catholic Charities, which is one of the largest charity organizations worldwide.
I willfully pay (in man hours) to support the shelter and the parish pantry.

You choose to see evil. I understand. I definitely acknowledge it exists within the Church. I just choose to fight against it. I see the good and support it.

It’s three hours. If you’re going to be miserable and spiteful, then just don’t go. I suspect your family would prefer it that way.

This is your decision, not DCUMs.

We were Catholic. My kids went to Catholic Schools. I loved our local parish. I taught Religious Ed. I supported the church through all the changes they made. I led so many "Protecting God's Children" classes. I helped reorganized the church so that there were fewer areas where kids might be unsupervised around adults. I really thought the Catholic Church was committed to being better.

Then, the second scandal hit. Pedophiles were hidden BY THE CHURCH. That was it for us. We left the Catholic Church. I could never support an organization that helped promote pedophilia. Never.

Anonymous wrote:My family wouldn’t dare even suggest it. They would be worried I might burst into flames in the vestibule. If they did ask, my answer would be uncontrollable laughter. I don’t do cults.

This is me above. I feel like I need to clarify. First, I am an ordained interfaith minister, and Jesus is my way-shower. I am a Christian. A Christian and a witch. My parents, sisters, etc all attend a southern baptist cult. This is the same church that kept 800 pages of information about credibly accused and convicted child sex abusers secret until it was finally leaked. They allowed these people around children, ffs. The same church that teaches hate towards the LGBTQ community. My youngest is gay. The same church that is full of hateful magas who want a white, straight, evangelical American controlled by men. There are no female pastors in the SBC. This church operates under "dominion theology". They believe they were chosen by their God to rule the US. They don't even recognize my ordination. And, I experienced abuse in that church.

So.....hell no. Our family will not attend a SBC. Maybe for a funeral, but that's about it.

My in-laws are Episcopalian. I love attending mass with them. Totally different than the creepy cult my parents are a part of. I don't hate religion. I'm a minister. I do despise everything about the evangelical faith paths. Anyone who believes their way is the only way is to be avoided at all costs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

I willfully pay for the education of the many children at our parish school, many of whom are on partial or full scholarships for their education.
I willfully pay for the supplies to support our parish’s food kitchen and winter shelter.
I willfully pay for Catholic Charities, which is one of the largest charity organizations worldwide.
I willfully pay (in man hours) to support the shelter and the parish pantry.

You choose to see evil. I understand. I definitely acknowledge it exists within the Church. I just choose to fight against it. I see the good and support it.

It’s three hours. If you’re going to be miserable and spiteful, then just don’t go. I suspect your family would prefer it that way.

This is your decision, not DCUMs.

Who says it's "for appearances"? Maybe they just want to spend time with you doing something they love (and had assumed you'd at least not hate). If you're only visiting for a day or two, this might be "for the shared time".

So don't. Join me in rebelling. My grandma will not be happy but I'm just not doing it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.

So you are also against OP ever visiting the in-laws, as well?

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here. It's three hours out of 365 days in the year. Is it really going to kill you sacrifice three hours, if "sacrifice" is the right word for spending time in the company of your family? It's not like you have to spend a single moment pretending you believe or agree with anything you hear.

NP. Three hours in the company of people who willfully pay for the defense of child abusers is three hours too many, thanks.