If Catholics stopped being welcome in the Democratic Party, rightst fundies would soon go unchecked.

[Tom Rinaldo]

21. To parse your words just a bit

"criticizing people for associating and identifying with a homophobic and misogynist organization" moves toward the territory of saying "Catholics can't be liberal" given what our pretty much consensus definition of what being a liberal involves. Not precisely I admit, but there are strong undertones of that type condemnation implied within that quote. Look, this all falls within the realm of subjective to an extent. Asking legitimate questions is a horse of a slightly different color including respectfully asking something like "How do you as a liberal in good conscience feel comfortable being in the Catholic Church?" if that question is sincere and not a set up for pouncing on someone no matter what they reply.

See, that is the personal part. I think most liberal Catholics are not offended about criticism of the Catholic Church in and of itself. And that includes the Pope and pedophile priests and current church dogma on priests having to be males etc. Plenty of Catholics are unhappy with many aspects of the Catholic Church, but they want the dignity of having their choice accepted or at least not attacked should they chose to remain in the Catholic Church for other reasons, or to fight for change from within it.

You know there is that ancient folklore saying that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Asking Catholics to consider refraining from giving any financial support to the Church in any form comes across quite differently than condemning those who still do.