Reply #88: It's one of those situations, I think, where

[JerseygirlCT]

the positions DO fit nicely, most of the time. The RC laity isn't nearly so lock-step conservative as you'd believe. The church does do a great deal of charity. Social justice is crucial and central. Anti-death penalty. There's a reason that RCs have traditionally leaned Democratic.

The RCC just has this big, honking problem with things sexual. Beginning with those evil women, and extending to homosexuality, birth control, and yes, abortion. Married and female priests would likely go a long way toward ameliorating this problem, IMO.