A Personal Response to the Entity of the Catholic Church

I have recently found my train of thought resting on the subject of the Catholic Church. Setting aside the innocent followers of the faith, who find in it one of many possible rocks in times of storm, I think of its bloody history, its superfluous ritual derived from the very pagan traditions that it demonises, its supreme spiritual arrogance summed up in the term ‘heresy’, its Inquisitions, its witch hunts, its bejewelled and corrupt priests who live in palaces amongst the poverty of the needy, its Hitler Youth leader, its discouragement of love and passion, its encouragement of cold and frigid chastity, and one word comes to mind to describe it: perverse. This conclusion is supported by a memorable scene I witnessed once whilst on holiday in Rome. Whilst walking the path skirting the fortress-like perimeter walls of The Vatican City, I happened upon an elderly lady, a beggar, lying on the pavement, face towards the ground, a cup outstretched in which there was some meagre change. Coming the other way were two catholic priests, one dressed elaborately in purple robes and jewels, talking to another in similar yet grey attire. I stood back to watch the impending encounter, keen to see the reaction. Did they give her money? Did they stop to help her, or at least attempt to console? No, they did not. The priest in grey gave her an indifferent passing glance before resuming a conversation, no doubt on Vatican politics, with his companion. Even if we are to suspect the most cynical motives of the beggar; that she was a con artist (doubtful as her begging licence was displayed on the cup), that still did not excuse supposedly eminent spiritual leaders walking past this symptom of social decay on the very doorstep of the Pope himself without so much as a word of concern. Catholics, no Christians in general, for hope of salvation from the contempt of the world, please do this. Tear down your churches, liquidise their grandeur, plant trees in their wake and use the money reclaimed to these monuments of lost priorities, and go forth to help the world. Adopt the world’s orphans, tend the world’s sick, feed the worlds hungry, do not mention your faith until the day comes when one of the lives you have saved asks you what inspired you to do as you have done, and the answer you will give will be Jesus.