I know I may be stepping on some eggshells here but I have to say it.
If you consider yourself to be a social liberal and Catholic, you should consider the Episcopal Church.
And here is the reason....
A month of harsh words between Rep. Patrick Kennedy and a strident critic, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin, escalated Sunday when the bishop acknowledged asking Kennedy not to receive Holy Communion because of the Democratic lawmaker's support for abortion rights.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Congressman Kennedy represents a majority Roman Catholic district but the second largest faith community here is with the more accepting Episcopal Diocese.
The Roman Church has no qualms on trying to convert conservative Anglicans/Episcopalians into their flock.
Pope Benedict on Tuesday took a major step to make it easier for disaffected Anglicans who feel their Church has become too liberal to convert to Roman Catholicism.
http://www.reuters.com/...
Therefore, we Anglicans/Episcopalians should have no hesitation on poaching liberal Catholics into our fold.
Many have made the switch.
MIAMI (Reuters) – A popular U.S. Roman Catholic priest photographed frolicking with a woman on a Florida beach announced on Thursday he had joined the Episcopal Church to pursue the priesthood in a faith that allows married clergy.
"I've seen with my own eyes how many brothers of mine serve God as married men and with the blessing of having their own families," said Father Alberto Cutie, whose removal from his Miami Beach parish prompted public debate about the Catholic Church's celibacy requirement for priests.
http://news.yahoo.com/...
There is no doubt that there is a large population of angry Catholics that are sick and tired of the politics that are played from the pulpit.
The church has become so obsessed over abortion and gays that they have forgotten the mission of social justice that is inherent in the Gospels.
So, do you love the mass and the litury but hate the rightwing politics? My Catholic friends, I tell you that there is an alternative for you.
It is the Episcopal Church.
I can give you over 365 reasons to try us out.
But I will leave you with funny man Robin Williams' ten reasons.
- No snake handling.
- You can believe in dinosaurs.
- Male and female, God created them; male and female, we ordain them.
- You don't have to check your brains at the door.
- Pew aerobics.
- Church year is color coded!
- Free wine on Sunday.
- All of the pageantry, none of the guilt.
- You don't have to know how to swim to get baptized.
And the number one reason for being an Episcopalian:
- No matter what you believe, there's bound to be at least one other Episcopalian who agrees with you.
http://jmm.aaa.net.au/...
And here are just some famous members of the church, http://en.wikipedia.org/...