Catholic Church Abuse Scandal: Shaun Hautly

Save for grades 5-8, I attended Lutheran schools from preschool through college. Regardless of my thoughts on Jesus or God, I have had my fair share of classes about theology and organized religion. I don't know which denominations or religious have certain things right: prayer, hats, communion, ordination, sacraments, evangelism, or books. However, across all major (and minor) religions, there is one characteristic which can doom one from success. A human figurehead.

Most religions have presidents or boards of directors, but only a few have humans in an untouchable role. The Mormons have a living prophet, the Catholics have a pope, and the Branch Davidians had David Koresh. Religions thrive on life lessons molded by traditions, morals, ethics, and values. However, the fastest way to destroy morals, ethics, and values are to give a single human being the power to influence and dictate their beliefs. The United States Presidency works because the president only has Veto power. Not the power to pass laws he feels are right. That's why we don't have health-care yet. The people don't want it yet, so it's not forced on them. However, regardless of what the people want, the churches in question are handing down mandates for sexual orientation, birth control, and political opinion.

If a religion truly wants to survive, they need to stop making rules. Cite a book or story from long ago, let its message be interpreted and offered to the followers, but don't cram it down their throats and pass it as law. Soon you're going to say that some people aren't allowed to have sex, and then you get sexually repressed individuals working with children and it turns into a big mess. Let the people take from it what they need to live upright lives-- if they need religion to do so. Otherwise leave them alone. We've got too much healthcare to worry about right now.

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