Enjoy This Forum -- Catholic Friends Forum

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Date Posted: 17:45:41 07/18/07 Wed
Author: Neysa
Author Host/IP: user-38lcik6.dialup.mindspring.com / 209.86.74.134
Subject: Enjoy This Forum

Joan, I just want to express how much I like your Catholic Friends Forum. I love reading and posting here. I went to very conservative Catholic Schools ( grade & high school), and we were not allowed to question or express our opinions on the teachings of the church. We were told to accept everything without question. When I was a teenager it made me very angry that I had to keep all my questions and opinions bottled up inside me. As a Catholic I always felt a little like a robot. Doing as I was told by my church without question.

I love how on this forum I can openly ask questions, and give my opinions. Not only am I learning more about my Catholic faith on here. But, I am learning about the faiths of others who are not Catholic.

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I'm glad! -- Joan, 05:52:36 07/20/07 Fri [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)

"I love how on this forum I can openly ask questions, and give my opinions. Not only am I learning more about my Catholic faith on here. But, I am learning about the faiths of others who are not Catholic"

This is exactly what I wanted when I started this forum. I didn't think it was possible, so I opened it as a Catholic friends forum. On other forums, the Catholic Church is trampled by lies and misconceptions, so I opened this place to talk about Catholicism w/o fear of iniviting a string of anti-Catholic nonsense (ie. priests getting drunk on the altar wine).

But look at what is possible when good people come together w/ respect instead of an agenda!!

I'm so happy! :-)

Joan

PS: Neysa, you ask very good questions.

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Re: I want to second that... -- Phil from AZ, 10:17:07 07/21/07 Sat [1] (71-223-21-236.phnx.qwest.net/71.223.21.236)

This is a place where intelligent discussion can take place w/o the usual name-calling that, sadly, is all too prevalent these days.

Thx for the oppor'ty for us to state our views!!! Take care, God Bless,

Phil from AZ

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[> I grew up in a predominantly Roman Catholic neighbourhood......... -- Barb, 16:55:24 07/21/07 Sat [1] (clgrtnt9-port-22.dial.telus.net/161.184.54.22)

with a RC Church at the top of my street. I am not of the faith but many of my friends were...and they included the Nuns and Priests of the Church who would come to visit with us for tea. That they came into a Jewish household (albeit not a terribly religious one) in the 1960's, and that we all had such respect and good humour together, has left me with a lifetime of fond memories for those wonderful, special people! :-)

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[> [> Re: I grew up in a predominantly Roman Catholic neighbourhood......... -- Neysa, 18:20:32 07/22/07 Sun [1] (user-2inik9g.dialup.mindspring.com/165.121.81.48)

Barb, I read a post of yours on here,where you mentioned that you sang Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve at Saint Basils. In this post you mention the nuns and priests having tea at your house. It was so lovely to read.

Pope John Paul II's, best friend from boyhood up until the Pope died was Jerzy Kluger ( not sure if I spelled his name right). Kluger is Jewish and a book was published about his friendship with the Pope. At the moment I cannot think of the name of the book. It was a great book to read.

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[> Re: The Hidden Pope? Is that it? -- Phil from AZ, 19:06:02 07/22/07 Sun [1] (71-38-97-145.phnx.qwest.net/71.38.97.145)

I believe its called The Hidden Pope, which is the story of a lifelong friendship btwn Catholics and Jews, as well as his acquaintance w/ Pope John Paul II.

Hope y'all had a good weekend. Take care, God Bless,

Phil

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[> Yes, that's the name of it, thanks, Phil !!! -- Neysa, 21:40:21 07/22/07 Sun [1] (user-2inik5i.dialup.mindspring.com/165.121.80.178)

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[> Barb....................... -- Neysa, 12:39:16 07/23/07 Mon [1] (user-38lciej.dialup.mindspring.com/209.86.73.211)

You mention growing up in a predominantly Catholic neighborhood. The wonderful relationship you and your family had with the priests and nuns from Saint Basils. Please don't be offended with what I am going to ask. Did you or your family ever experience any anti-semitism, from some Catholics or Protestants in your neighborhood?

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[> [> NEVER, EVER!!!..........Neysa!................... -- Barb, 13:28:23 07/23/07 Mon [1] (clgrtnt9-port-85.dial.telus.net/161.184.54.85)

There were 3 Jewish families on our street and everyone got along brilliantly. It may seem hard to believe, but it's the truth. I know it isn't like that everywhere...I was lucky...but doesn't it show what CAN be if people try! :-)
We did not have any problems in our neighbourhood either. :-)

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[> [> [> Barb, it sounds cliche, but -- Catie, 13:36:39 07/23/07 Mon [1] (h166.243.213.151.ip.alltel.net/151.213.243.166)

if only people could see folks for who they are,and not by any color, religion, creed, national origin or heck any affliation of any kind. How wonderful the world would be. I have no doubt, from your stories, that you had wonderful parents, especially a wonderful Dad who would have made any neighbor proud to live beside him.

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[> [> [> [> Your words about my precious dad, Catie........... -- Barb, 16:16:46 07/23/07 Mon [1] (clgrtnt4-port-241.dial.telus.net/161.184.46.241)

of course brought me to tears! He was wonderful and garnished friends wherever he went.
I was raised to recognize the hearts and souls of people, no matter where they came from or who they were. My parents were wise, and I hope Ian and I did a good job doing the same with our own kids in turn. Thank you for your kind and loving words, Catie. You know how much I appreciate them...always! :-)

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[> [> [> My neighborhood was generally good -- Joan, 05:06:07 07/27/07 Fri [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)

There was on family, though, that really needed a little of Christ's love. They were very religious. They kept their kids out of public school, because it wasn't Godly enough for them.

And yet, when my favorite kid in the neighborhood, a Jewish girl, was playing w/ my son (they were best friends) and went into that family's backyard, the kids stood and stared at her. The mother picked up her baby, took the toddler by the hand, stared blankly at the Jewish girl, and walked into her house. No one would move until the Jewish girl left the yard.

I know that she knew what was going on, but she told me that the family was weird and that the boy they went there to play with doens't like girls.

She was handling it beautifully. And she was trying to shield us (my son and me) from the hate that was in the air there. I never said anything to her.

Well, their son is doing nothing. The Jewish girl is at one of the best MIT-type schools in the country. She graduated 8th in her class of more than 300. She lettered in 3 sports, did the academic decathlon where she won medals, is a member of the national honor society, volunteered for years at the zoo, went to Hebrew school while taking the full AP courseload at regular school. There are oodles of other accomplishments (awards at school, etc). Oh, and she's beautiful--inside and out.

She did all of this at the ungodly public schools.

Think that family might have been a little jealous? ;-)

Joan

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[> [> [> [> Ack, I got wrapped up in praise -- Joan, 05:08:42 07/27/07 Fri [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)

of my favorite neighborhood kid. :-)

I meant to say that, except for the hateful family, our neighborhood is accepting of religious differences.

We're not very accpeting of lifestyle differences, though. There are a few "wacky" families that most of us try to avoid. Their kids are though, and the parents have very questionable morals. But I figure that's pretty normal. :-)

Joan

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Ack, I got wrapped up in praise -- Neysa, 18:32:10 08/01/07 Wed [1] (user-2inikd0.dialup.mindspring.com/165.121.81.160)

What did you mean by "wacky" families ? My neighbors are one big wacky family. I doubt they have any morals! Back in 1998, they allowed their 15 year old grandson to live with them with his girlfriend who was 14. One day my mom asked the neighbor who the girl was with her grandson. It's my grandson's women answered the neighbor.

A year later the girl was pregnant. She just had another baby a few month ago. I think it is her 4th or 5th child.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Ack, I got wrapped up in praise -- Joan, 05:12:42 08/02/07 Thu [1] (ip68-0-253-131.ri.ri.cox.net/68.0.253.131)

Yeah, similar. Nothing that bad, but the same kind of nonsense. One guy was a driving menace. Thought he was very "cool". He finally rolled his car over after hitting a tree on a side street. How fast do you have to be going to roll a car? A lot faster than the posted speed.

Bob was walking our dog several years ago. The same guy told Bob that his dog would be able to "kill that dog". I've never heard anything so stupid in my life! He had a "tougher" dog than we did, and he was bragging and threatening about it. Is having a mean dog a good thing? rotflmbo

They finally lost that dog when it got into the neighbors back yard and bit one of the kids for the 2nd time.

But it's one "tough" dog and his owner was very proud. Sheesh, some people should have their brains examined. :-)

Joan

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