Catholic Church uses mind control?

Question

Does anyone believe that the catholic church uses mind control techniques to get what they need and want out of people. Through their preachings and private schools. The pope says it is not ok for divorced people to get communion-in this day and age. Catholic clergy do not live in the real world and have no concept. Their teachings on finances and economics have always LEANED towards socialism, marxism, SHARING the wealth. Yet is ok for priests to carry on sexually abusive relationships. It is ok for these people in clergy to sweep things under the rug.

I have to disagree with all of you. I have been catholic my whole life and have experienced the negative impacts of these things.

Your all wrong so far again. Catholic church expects everyone to live within the same standards as they do. If not you get cast aside. "Vow of Poverty"-they have no concept of this country in this day and age. Most of you may not like it but there are many fine divorced people, re-married people who have 100% legitimate reasons for being so. Many were life threatening. Yet you bunch expect me to believe any one of you have ever stood up to a free will challenge. Not one of you could give me a solid explanation as to why the Catholic church is falling finacially on it's face in may areas of the USA. Oh yes i's ok to get on your knees and submit yourself to clergy that does not have a pot to piss in, that engages in coercian, that engages in social promotion is -these things are not functional in the everyday world. Those who do make gains for themselves-whether new marriages, new financial gains, are shunned by members outside of church

Answer 1

NO! the catholics do not use mind control! but why don't you go and ask the MORMONS! OR JEHOVAHS WITNESSES! now those fools are cults who use mind control!

Answer 2

The Catholic church does not use mind control. There is something you fail to see; it's called "free will". There is also several other things you don't understand. That is the truth. The truth can not change. It is steadfast and unshakable. The times, culture, and mindset of those around us may change, but the truth remains the same. You may not like it, but that is the way it is. This holds for divorce and Eucharist, premarital sex, abortion--yes even in this day and age!

In regards to the financial aspect, your complaining about the sharing of the wealth? Isn't that was "Charity" means in the three virtues? Since when is it okay for priests to carry on sexually abusive relationships?? Not one person has ever said that! As far as sweeping it under the rug I will agree with you, and it is disgusting but to state that priests in general think it okay to abuse and harm children or any other member of their parish is ludicrous.

I truly doubt you have been a Catholic all your life. If you have, you have learned nothing. And for that I am sincerely sorry. However you have an opportunity NOW to learn about your faith.

One of the most important things you can learn is this: There is the Mystical Body of Christ which is the Catholic Church, the Bride of Christ and it is immaculate, without a spot or blemish. Do not forget that.

There is the HUMAN aspect which is indeed without question VERY corrupt and that is where you seem to be making your claims against. If you had stated other things I may have been more inclined to agree with you. However you did not and your accusations are inflammatory and quite defaming of the Church you supposedly 'grew up in'.

Do not base your decisions about your FAITH on men for that is a fallacy and a stumbling block. Base it on the fact that Christ founded this Church and He PROMISED us that the gates of hell would not prevail...even when it seems just that is occurring.

Answer 3

The Catholic Church does not use mind control. If anything I have learned as a new Catholic, the Church teaches freedom of choice and a deep personal relationship with Jesus. I used to be a Jehovah's Witness and if you want to look at a religious sect that uses mind control, THEY would be your #1 pick.

The Church teaches that the sacrament of marriage is a covenant between three people - the couple and God, not two. Therefore, when two are joined in His name, no law of man can undo it. This is why if a marriage is deemed valid after a thorough investigation by annulment proceedings, then the marriage cannot be dissolved no matter what any civil court or institution says about it.

It is never okay to assault anyone of any age; I pray for healing for all those who have been hurt by this scandal.

I pray also that this helps to answer your questions.

God bless.

Answer 4

If you are Catholic, then you a Catholic exhibiting independent thought, albeit misguided thought but independent nonetheless. So that fact alone proves the Catholic Church does not engage in mind-control.

Having been Catholic all your life means little because you don't seem to know alot about Catholicism.

Let's start with divorce: When a couple is married, they are bonded in the sight of God. This bond, this Holy Sacrament, cannot be undone by a mere legal procedure. God's Law transcends earthly law. The phrase "Until death do you part" is part of the wedding vows. These are not just some flowery romantics sentiments. They are vows - promises. To break a promise, especially a promise made in the sight of God, it to committ sin. When a couple legally divorces, and begin dating other people, they are committing adultery; a mortal sin. People with mortal sin on their souls CANNOT take Holy Communion at mass.

And what do you mean "this day in age"? What day in age were divorced Catholic couples allowed to take Communion? "This day in age" is irrelevant. Days in age change, the Church remains constant. It is not the job of the Church to mold itself to the whims of it's parishioners. it's the responsibility of the parishioners to accept the ideals of the Church.

And since when is charitable donations synonymous with socialism and marxism? Socialism and marxism entail a "forced" redistribution of weath. Charity does not. The Church teaches that the virtue of charity dictates the rich should give aid to the poor. If you, for whatever reason, choose not to give aid to the poor, remember than when someday you will need the assistance of others - and it doesn't come. You see, in one way or another, we are all poor; whether finanically poor or poor in the Spirit. We need the help of others. It is wrong to believe others are obligated to come to our aid when we refuse to go to the aid of others.

The clergy sex abuse scandal is a terrible thing but Jesus tells us the tares will grow amongst the wheat until the end of days. Are you perhaps guilty of putting clergymen so high upon a pedistal as to believe that clergymen were not capable of sin? Give that there was some measure of a cover-up, we should be greateful that is was found out. You are right to be upset over the clergy sex scandal but you are wrong to assume that, because of it, the Catholic Church is incapable and/or does not deserve credit for the good that it does.

Answer 5

Pastor Billy says: son you want some good old mind control well ya'll come on down to the first bible chapel on Main, and I'll get ya up in the seat a hymmin and hauler-in "Can I get an, Amen?"

seriously mind control? If that was only fractionally true there wouldn't be any Protestant sect as the majority are made up of former Catholics. The fact that Catholicism teaches a openness to debate and reason in our faith journey is in fact what causes some ill prepared and ill formed Catholics to fall away. The reverse can happen within Protestantism also it's been my experience however those who enter into debate with Catholics many times come more prepared to support their position using anti-Catholic preaching and paint an evil caricature of the Catholic Church to reach their end goal of converting the Catholic opponent. Thank the Lord the Catholic Church is built on the kind of truth that doesn't change, that doesn't require slander of one's opponent and that doesn't require a belittlement of other faith communities to be true.

Answer 6

You're not looking for answers. You're looking for agreement.

Here's a new thought in the strain: a Church doesn't need mind control to keep its members attending Mass DESPITE all the problems it faces. It only needs those who forgive and look to move on.

You are right that poverty in the US is nothing like poverty in Southeast Asia. But comparatively a priest in the US is poor, against even many lower-class workers. As compared with the homeless, the unemployed, these are the very people we (Catholics) try to help, as you know since you claim to be one.

It has NEVER been okay for priests (or anyone for that matter) to carry on sexually abusive relationships. Those who have done so are being punished, a punishment which will pales to the punishment they will face in the life to come.

There are times I don't like to agree with the Pope; at the same time, "this day and age" has nothing to do with the universality of morality. I too have had the experience that priests can be unsensitive to a woman fleeing an abusive or harmful marriage; many have since left the Church. Again, such persons will face punishment in the life to come. In the meantime, these are reasons to reform the process by which divorce is granted, not reject wholesale the Catholic Church.

And Socialism and Marxism aren't unique in calling for sharing the wealth. As an economist (check my other posts, if you like) I can tell you that much of Christian thought (I am a member of the Association of Christian Economists) has to do with structural poverty and alleviating unfairness that is empirically inherent in market systems. Besides, Socialism and Marxism don't just call for sharing - they call for destroying any incentive to be different. This is NOT what the Church teaches.

Finally, I must strongly disagree that Catholic clergy do not "live in the real world." Where is your real world - is it in the world of too much communication, excess in every way, profit for profit's sake? Or is it where people are suffering, people are in need, the rich and haughty must be humbled and the poor be lifted up?

Tell that to Brother Mike, who used to walk around the roughest parts of Chicago ministering to youth in gangs. One night he heard gunshots. He ran to find two gangs shooting across the street at each other. He stood in between them and took 19 bullets for those kids.

You are free to dislike the Catholic Church, friend, but be sure you are disliking the Church itself, and not your understanding of it.

In Christ,
V17

Answer 7

The Church has forbidden all forms of birth control different than the Rhythm approach. do you already know what they call people who use the Rhythm approach? mum and dad. The Catholic Church has refused to handle the reality that maximum families won't be able to decently feed, gown and instruct a large kinfolk. until they do, they're going to proceed to work out first international families go away the Church in droves, searching for a faith which will nicely known kinfolk high quality no longer volume, and address different concerns like the finite components on earth. until the Church will become mainstream it is going to proceed to say no in all yet third international banana international locations.

Answer 8

I do not believe that it is mind control in as much as powers of persuasion...... You will find that sharing the wealth is encouraged in all religions.....be it Methodist, baptist, Lutheran etc......it's called Tethys and offerings.....Keep in mind that Priests are human too....subject to human failings just like the rest of us.....I believe that they should get help....and should not be allowed to be a priest anymore..... No the clergy should not be allowed to sweep anything under the proverbial rug......I think that they should pay taxes just like the rest of us too.....where is the separation between church and state in that respect.

Answer 9

There are few orthodox paths that don't use some measure of mind control.. No need here to fixate upon any one Church, for this is nothing so unusual or unpredictive an occurrence.

Answer 10

Sounds like you are dissatisfied with the catholic church. May I suggest that you might be happier out side the catholic church. Search the scriptures and find a religion that fits your criteria of doctrinal truth. Good luck in you search and may God be with you

Answer 11

No.

Religion runs a distant second to the power of brainwashing of popular culture.

A proper exposure to God and religion can help to counteract the real brainwashing that popular culture is constantly throwing at all of us in books, movies, TV, songs, advertisements, and even video games.

Popular culture is constantly bombarding us with intensive, not-so-forcible indoctrination, aimed at setting up worldly convictions and attitudes.

Popular culture comes at us from all directions including books, movies, TV, songs, advertisements, video games and even the Internet.

A few of the these immoral values include:
- Lust and Sex (outside of marriage)
- A disrespect for God and religion
- A disrespect for lawful authority
- A disrespect for our human dignity
- Envy, greed and consumerism
- Anger and Violence
- Drug abuse including smoking and alcohol
- Vanity, outside is more important than inside
- Prejudice and hate

I think that if we expose our children to all this immorality without the moral anchor of God and religion "until they can come to a conclusion of their own" then we would be unwise, irresponsible, and frequently too late.

With love in Christ.