About this whole Catholic-trashing thing--I offer the following,

[Jamastiene]

13. I loved the Catholics in my area growing up.

I live in the Bible Belt in a small town where religion tends to be the "hellfire and brimstone" kind, complete with hating on gay people and having special PTA meetings to discuss "the problem" (their words, not mine) with white girls dating black boys in schools here.

I always appreciated the Catholics in my area. They were the ones who did NOT harangue me and harass me day in and day out when I came out. They treated me the same as before. The Jewish people here were nonjudgmental too. If only the vast majority of the Christians in this area would have laid off the "hellfire and brimstone" and not called in death threats to my house, I might not have had such a hard time in my late teens and early 20s. Actually, it wasn't until my late 20s, almost 30, that I finally toughened up and decided to just see the hateful ones who had been preaching so much hatred at me for so many years for what they were; bigots.

It was the local Catholics, a couple Jewish people, and a Wiccan who brought me out of my deep depression and taught me I had value as a human being. After that, I was able to get my life together and be happy, despite the fact that the vast majority of the Protestants (except one Presbyterian church here) in this area hate me and think I am the worst type of person in the world, simply because I am a lesbian.

I hated Christians for the longest time, until I met the people I listed above, and some very nice DUers (online), I learned that not all Christians hate gay people. I learned not to hate. I did not want to become like those who had made my life a living hell for so long. So, I learned not all Christians hate gay people and there are some gay Christians too. That blew my mind at first, but eventually, I "got" it.

I guess what it all comes down to is the fact that not every single person in any group is a carbon copy of anyone else. Catholics are not a monolith either. I don't see where hating all of any group is wise. Actually, to me, it seems pointless and poisonous (to yourself) to hate. Yes, there are bad people in the world. There are even bad people who help cover up unconscionable crimes. There are also loving, caring people who would do everything in their power to stop those same unconscionable crimes. Single out the assholes and point out why you are pissed off at those assholes. Don't hold it against everyone who considers themselves Catholic or whatever group the assholes belong to. Every group has assholes, but not all of any group are assholes. If that was the case, the world would be full of nothing but assholes. That would truly stink.