You are pretty good at pointing out the areas of the catholic church that need a little work, but you forget about the work the church does to to bring a better life to those in need. I am sure you have seen Catholic Thrift Stores around town. Where do you think that money goes to?
How many athiestic societies go to visit assisted living centers, hospitals, and jails on a regular basis? I do not know of a single one. Let me assure you that every single week thousands of good catholic men and women volunteer their time to help people who have found themselves in those places. A great deal of homeless shelters and soup kitchens are fully sponsored by one church or another throughout the entire world.
How about hospitals that are established by the catholic church? Try counting those! As a matter of fact we have the catholic church to thank for hospitals as we know them.
Catholic monastaries and convents all over the world attend to people's need regardless of who they are or what they need. The men and women who staff these facitities have absolutly no profit motive, they are concerned only with the welfare of others.
As far as the elaborate habits worn during religous ceremonies - catholics are far from the first or only institution that has that going on. Besides, the habits worn by most catholics are nothing special, in fact, they were usually chosen because of the lack of value they carried.
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