Reply #10: You know what, DB2?

[Princess Turandot]

I'm a member of DU and I identify with being a Catholic. I am not expressing my views in a rude or insulting manner. The fact that I was 'late to the party' is irrelevant. (In truth, that had more to do with the fact that I was not a paid DU member when the groups were being set up than anything else.) You have no right to tell me that I cannot express my views in a polite manner or that they are not welcome here. You are not the owner of this group, whether or you crafted the original manisfesto or not.

I wrote my response to what I thought was a question about how to make people aware of the liberal progressive views of Catholicism.On a reoccuring basis, the Church is mocked by posters on DU; frequent complaints about that appear here. A lot of that is due to predispositions on the part of posters which likely have little to do with Catholicism but some of it also results from the Church's teachings or postures. I think this should be a group for Catholics and other interested parties who post on a political board. I expect people to be civil about their comments and respectful to each other. I don't think that means that opinions contrary to Church teachings cannot be discussed here in a civil way. The best way to convince people that Catholicism is not the over-arching evil on earth is for them to interract with progressive Catholics and be able to discuss and yes, maybe even question the Church's teaching in a non-combative but also non-defensive environment.

As you noted above, I brought up the inclusion of Episcopalians months ago because of their broad comparable positions to Catholicism on social justice & other values, as well as many similarities in religious beliefs. I merely asked a question. Your response to me quoted above, was that you excluded them on DOCTRINAL bases. You also specifically mentioned that you felt that they did not belong because of their differences on abortion and birth control, two areas in which you have conservative points of view.
Frankly, your response surprised me, since I thought the purpose of this group was a discussion of Catholicism, not the practice of a specific form of Catholicism via a webpage. So it seemed clear that this group was originally configured for Conservative Catholics and that Catholics who disagree with that perspective were not welcome here. That was why I said that I would not bring it up again because I thought I was being told that it was not open for discussion. Then someone asked a question that I wanted to respond to, and my response naturally included my thoughts expressed months ago.

I still think this is a political website in nature not a liturgical one. I think we should be talking about Church teaching if we choose to, not just parroting what they are. And yes, I think it would be better if this group attracted many more Catholics, including the pro-choice, pro-birth control ones like me who likely represent most DU Catholics, even if they disagree with some of the Church teachings. We can promote the goodness in the Church by dialogue.
Rigidity promotes nothing.