A while ago, I found a website that has pissed me off multiple times over the past few months, and I've decided that I may as well write my opinions on it, just because.

I am a Catholic. I think it's a great religion as far as religions go, but then so are most religions, with the exception of weird ones like the Church of Scientology. Here's the thing, though, and I'm sure everyone can relate to this: there are some Catholics out there that give openminded ones like me a bad name. The most prevalent example of this is the Catholic League at [link]

These guys love to state their stupid, closeminded opinions and then say that all Catholics feel this way. They boycotted The Golden Compass movie, spoke out against the "ungodly lies" spread by The DaVinci Code, and even watch every episode of South Park just so they can get pissed off every time Christianity is mentioned.

Here's the thing, though. While I am fine with Bill Donahue and his band of ultra-conservative Catholics stating their opinions on the web, no one should assume that this is what all Catholics believe. I am a Catholic, but like many of us out there, I do not like the current pope. I feel that abortion is appropriate in certain situations (rape victims or women who could easily die while in labor). I liked The DaVinci Code a lot (though the book is a ton better than the movie could ever hope to be). I feel that gay people are born not made. South Park is a great show and their episode on Catholicism was quite relavent; the church could use some changes.

All religions and lack therof have the same problem I am having. For every Baptist bringing fire and brimstone from above on all that are not of their religion there are a hundred who are perfectly reasonable. For every atheist on youtube who denounces all religion just to get a rise out of people there are a hundred who let people believe what they want to. For every pagan who just calls themselves that because they think that makes them dark and weird, there are a hundred who actually feel that is their religion and live perfectly normal lives.

The point is, every person is an individual and has no right to say that his belief is what everyone else of a similar background believes.

and that is what I truly believe.