The World is Better Off Without the Catholic Church

There certainly will still be groups which claim that homosexuality and contraception are wrong. But as LosLambda states in his first argument, “...I do not agree with how much influence they have.” If another group started what the Catholic Church did after the Church disappeared, then it would be incredibly hard to reach the position of what is probably the most influential institution in the history of the world. The Catholic Church is trusted, which is one of the things that allows for the horrible papal pedophilia. If the Catholic Church disappeared, then the obstacles preventing a myriad of beneficial things would disappear. As I said earlier, barriers would be lifted for stem-cell research, funding for HIV/AIDS research, access to contraception (which is essential to the only known cure for poverty, the empowerment of women), and the list goes on. LosLambda said it himself/herself. The influence that is currently held by the Catholic Church would not suddenly be gained by an institution with similar values in the course of a week. Or a year. Or ten years. Probably more than a hundred.“...it is the people that share those beliefs in powerful places that deny the people those particular rights... not the church, so once again... no effect if the church vanished, not the people who have the beliefs.” If the church vanished, the people who have those beliefs and were actively seeking to oppress others would not be in places of influence or power. The Vatican has its own ambassador from every country. It has a representative in the United Nations. The people do this through the Church.As to the molestation, it is not a fallacy to say that molestation would be reduced. These are not just the acts of a few bad guys -- they are priests. Children constantly and consistently return to these priests to speak to them, to open up to them, to share and talk with someone whom they believe is a respected and trusted official. And it is this way, in this position of power with children, that priests convince children to do horrible things with them or force them to. They literally have a supply of children coming to them, and trusting them -- only because they are a priest. They also know they have a safety net -- the largest institution in the world behind them to save them if they are ever caught. As I stated earlier, between 1992 and 2002, in Boston alone, almost 70 cases were quietly settled regarding priests sexually abusing children (1). If the Catholic Church disappeared, then these people would not have the credibility which leads to the horrible things that they do. The arguments I posited in the first round still stand. Without the influence of the Catholic Church, of which no institution could equal within hundreds of years, the fight towards social equality for homosexuals would be that much closer. Millions of more people could use contraception without any kind of moral dilemma, allowing for less HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. And a lot more young boys would probably feel safer. If the Catholic Church continues its life, which it will, they will continue to oppress millions of innocent homosexual people, leaving them to die and be imprisoned in Catholic countries. If the Catholic Church continues its influence, how many more Catholics in Africa will die of HIV/AIDS because their Church said it was wrong? Without such an institution, these people could feel safe using contraception. If the Catholic Church continues its work, how many more boys will have to experience the betrayal of a trusted figure? If it disappeared, then one could argue that the effects would be minimal. But it is almost without doubt that the effects would be beneficial. Respectfully,voltairelines.Thanks so much for doing this debate with me! I enjoyed it a lot. For lack of a better phrase, good game. :)1. http://www.boston.com...