my resentment to or rejection of Catholicism

As I've stated many times, I was uncomfortable as a Catholic. I didn't understand many of its concepts like saints (as a semi-divine entity), the Virgin Mary (as a divine entity), the Pope (authority of God on earth), reciting the same impersonal prayers (the Lord's Prayer not included in this list) and confession of sins to a priest (middle-man between humans and God). At the same time, I saw lots of corruption in the Catholic Church like priests charging for their services -- Last Rites, First Communion, Confirmation and other (Catholic) sacraments.

Now that I go to a Protestant church and have learned Jesus only gave us two sacraments (Baptism & The Lord's Supper). I wonder where the Catholic Church got seven sacraments? That's five more sacraments.

• Baptism
• Eucharist (Lord's Supper)
• Reconciliation (confession)
• Confirmation (confirmation of faith)
• Marriage
• Holy Orders (ordination of priests)
• Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites)

See http://www.americancatholic.org/features/sacraments/default.asp for more detailed information.

Further more, I see lots of discrepancies in the doctrine compared to what Christianity originally was.

After almost four decades on this earth, I finally feel comfortable expressing and living my faith -- in a Protestant church, no less. I can say that I'm a Christian feeling that I can dare call myself so. I've studied the Bible and have no trouble to question my beliefs and understanding of the Scriptures -- a behavior that's not encouraged in Catholicism.

The only problem (if ever) is that my oldest son's completely Catholic. He believes in saints, the Virgin Mary (as a divine entity) and impersonal prayers.

Then again, I can be wrong in all this. Maybe Catholicism's the true expression of Christianity, but I can't believe corruption and secondary beliefs (saints, etc) are part of the core of what our belief should be. At the end of the day, I'd still go to a Protestant (Presbyterian) church where I feel at home and can feel that I'm a Christian and not part of a stupid charade.

In all, let's see what God's got to tell us when he comes to separate the sheep from the goats (http://project05952381.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-if-god-came-to-visit.html).

dog biscuits vs church wafers

The following is in response to "Canadian priest sorry for giving dog Holy Communion" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10774706).

Many Anglicans in Toronto are making such a fuss over a Canadian priest who gave a communion wafer to a dog (not the one pictured here, on the left). There have been complaints filed at the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, people leaving the church and other nonsense. The priest even had to apologize for her sin (feeding the dog).

What's the big deal? It's only a wafer, a snack, the same product ice cream cones are made of.

As much as the wafer REPRESENTS the body of Christ during the sacrament communion (the Lord's Supper), it's NOT Christ. OUR FAITH makes it the "body" of Christ, which enters our bodies to live within. This means the wafer was merely a snack for the dog. The "body" of Christ didn't go in its belly. Then again I don't think Christ would be upset to give a dog a snack or to play with this "heretic" dog.

Some people get religion the wrong way. They don't seem to be able to separate things (like a shoe) from faith (God).