[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

I volunteer at our local Foodbank. The accommodation and a material amount of the donations is provided by the Catholic Church and its community.

When founded, and to this day it was funded and supported by denominations across the Christian faiths.

Yet, it provides food, support and guidance on welfare to the wider community. We package up Kosher and Halal food parcels.

As an almost completely lapsed Catholic, I find many tenets of the faith abhorrent. This statement being one of those things.

But as others with critical thought, I reject the tenets I find abhorrent. I know some Priests that have done the same. I remember back in Calgary when my Dad, had terrible drinking problems and the violence that accompanied that, our Priest provided support to my Mom and after time had passed with no prospect of an end to the terror, he supported my Mom in filing for divorce.

These organisations, Catholic or otherwise, you don’t have to buy in it all. I don’t. But I do try to take active involvement in the aspects of it that are good and congruent with my moral compass.

I very much doubt there is a god, and am almost certain, there is no god that is anything like any man made religion (all of them). I don’t expect to be burning in hell as a consequence, but there are elements, I find helpful and I engage in them and have made wonderful friendships as a result and appreciate the support I got as a child when I needed it most.

That's great you had a supportive community. The young gay kid going through struggles around his identity may be having a less positive experience today, which is kind of the issue.