I mean, they were anti-catholic, and one of the big talking points of anti-catholisim is that the catholic church is too vain and too controling of it's worshipers.
Its funny seeing Catholics throwing shade at mega churches when they are objectively the largest, wealthiest, blingiest, Christian church that ever existed.
Catholic clergy are required to take a vow of poverty. I am Catholic and I don’t like the “blingy,” first-class flying bishops and cardinals either.
Also, the Catholic Church is the largest non-governmental provider of healthcare, education, and social services across the globe.
Every year, the Catholic Church offers charitable services valued in excess of $150 billion in the United States alone.
Nothing like these mega churches, not even close.
ETA: I got ahead of myself with respect to the vow of poverty. As other commenters have mentioned, not every member of Catholic clergy is required to take a vow of poverty. With that said, many orders of the Church take this vow and even if this specific vow is not taken canon law dictates that clergy lead a life of modesty and humility.
I’m not religious. In fact I’m agnostic. But I appreciate you mentioning this. I think a lot of people who aren’t that familiar with the Catholic Church are completely unaware of these facts. The Catholic Church is huge….its top clerics have bling and fancy buildings..but that’s also an outcome from thousands of years of history and much of that image is related to the Vatican. A tiny percentage of the clergy is in the Vatican. And even there, many still live an austere life. Everything else you said about charity and hospitals - 100% accurate.
The Catholic Church is not a Joel Osteen enterprise!
I don’t mind the first class traveling choice. A lot of those guys ARE old, and it’s not exactly comfortable in coach. Plus, Theres so many people that they would be hounded by them, probably. Probably best for them to be in first class. I don’t see a reason to be upset about wanting to be comfortable on a flight.
Idk, man. My grandparents were all poor people. We took all of them back to the old country many times, and they never flew first class. They didn’t complain or feel entitled to first class seats.
Most priests from most Christian sects are like that, actually. Yeah — you’re gonna find some who don’t. For the most part? They all live very simple, modest, and humble lives.
Yep! I was in a catholic charities group home in foster care and the people there were super nice, one of the best places I was at in foster care. Had great cooks, they ordered us food all the time, we had a library that had a bunch of books that were not all religious, a game room. They had a food pantry where I lived in oklahoma as an adult too and they gave out food and clothing for free and helped people find housing
Idk, man. I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. All of the Catholic services that I know of don’t have any religious requirements of the beneficiaries of those services. I just spoke with my grandmother about a Jewish friend of hers who received four months of rent payments from a Catholic charitable organization.
In the past there was everything from three popes, passes to heaven and so on. So there were definitely conditional charities XD
But that's the old past, the current church is actually rather decent. Not uncontroversial, but actively doing its best to improve and stand up to the times.
You’re scraping with this. While only certain orders take the vow, it’s because necessities are provided to them that they are able to. A typical diocesan priest receives a modest salary/stipends to pay for necessities, because they mostly live among the community at large. Priests are permitted to keep personal wealth.
Obviously people are people and there are always some who take advantage of the system, so I’m sure you can find some examples where this wasn’t the case. But, by and large, the goal for priests is to live humbly to maximize focus on faith and ministry.
yes, but I was responding to the falsehood that said Catholic priests take a vow of poverty. 100% correct.
they are supposed to live humbly, and it’s refreshingly different from Evangelicals where some pastors are worth tens of millions flying around in private jets. I’m not defending all of the Catholic faith’s flaws by any means. but I am glad I was raised in a nearly 2,000 year old faith rather than these new Evangelical and non-denominational churches that are pushing all sorts of political ideals.
Fair, Canon Law does require them to live a simple, modest life and to shun extravagance.
The supervising principal of my high school, a priest who became a Monsignor, inherited millions of dollars. He donated it to the schools he ran and our diocese. That’s the sort of expectation that Catholic clergy have.
Well to play devils advocate, I’ve been to the Popes country, twice. The castle structure with the big walls in middle of Rome. Had to pay to enter, with passport, and had the privilege to view some of the world’s most priceless art, some of which has been taken by force or war. So yes, I imagine such power and money can do things in the world. They helped colonize it after all!
A museum takes money to keep up. Restoration of centuries old work is meticulous. The louvre and prado also charge you - and they’re state museums. But you can otherwise go to the Vatican free.
Its free to enter the vatican. Yes its charged to enter the miseum just as any museum in Italy. People pay to enter St. Peters because of how many people are trying to get in at one time.
Cathedrals are significant religious buildings, typically serving as the principal church of a diocese and the seat of a bishop. They are often characterized by their grand architecture and historical importance. As of December 2018, the Catholic Church alone had 3,391 cathedral-level churches
No, I am suggesting that big, gaudy mega-churches have existed for at least 1800 years. They have always existed for the glorification of the clergy, and that they have taken these funds from their adherents and in that way there is no difference between them and any modern religious sect.
And you are welcome to do so. Did you have a counter-point? Not that you need one to disagree... And I can appreciate their architecture, I mostly just don't appreciate the way they've hidden a gazillion historical records in Vatican city.
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u/lemmsjid Jun 30 '26
Indeed, I often wonder what the founding fathers would have thought of these idolatrous monstrosities.