Im sorry, but i have a different view of catholic answers. They ban people from their blog who try to present alternatives to catholic worship.Now some people who get into blogs are there for pranks ; yes, ban them. It seems just want people in there who will pat everyone on the back.

Mr. Warner, I enjoy your reflections on Catholics in the New Media. But, as an ancient, retired newspaperman I have always been puzzled by what seems to me to be a failure of Catholics in today’s Old Media to make much of an impact upon their employers and colleagues, and ultimately upon their customers. Allow me to offer two examples. Out here in the Golden West the Los Angeles Times has been consistent in its efforts to blame Benedict XVI for the clergy sex abuse scandal. Second, the Times through its op-ed articles, editorials and book reviews has, over the years, defamed the reputation of the late Pope Pius XII. The result has been that its readers actually believe the libel to this day.

Catholic Answers is a wonderful apostolate - but like most of the Catholic apostolates founded by Catholic lay men - they are horribly one-sided in their promotion of ... new young male apologists. It is sad to see that all these great guys in the new media are forming yet another men’s club. Some may disagree - but I do not see the equality of the feminine face which JPII indicated was necessary. And… let’s face it, young women are not being mentored into positions of leadership as the newly graduated young men are. Still feels like a glass ceiling and that presentation affects evangelization.

I do believe what you have said Warner. I found a lot of help in this site too. Well I am a catholic but when I read a lot using this site, I find out that I am a try-catholic, I need a lot of understanding about my Church whom Jesus established. Sometimes friends of mine have asked me a question but I do not know how to answer them. When I find this site, I am moved and ready to assist them. You are right Warner, with all your words about catholic.com I would like to say that I am walking on the right road of my faith. Thank you Catholic.com, plus other catholic sites which are also contributing to defend the Church of Jesus.

Arau ni Babetito

Catholic Answers, like any other man-made organization, is bound to have some imperfections, but I will agree it is one of the best Catholic websites I’ve ever found. I especially enjoy the forums and “fellowshiping” with other Christians in these forums.  It is helping to get me more grounded in the Catholic faith which I have only been a part of for the last 8 years.

After having been banned from *Catholic Answers Forums* twice—the second time *for life*—I’m not as positive as Matthew Warner is in his evaluation of this online resource, whose management seems not to have absorbed the message of section 2495 of the *Catechism of the Catholic Church*.  That section speaks of the value of the “free circulation of ideas.”
My temporary exile was occasioned by my having respectfully argued in favor of the Church’s pro-peace stance.  My final, and eternal, banishment resulted from my having defended, with equal respect, the position that Pope John Paul II should not, and cannot, be beatified.  It is almost as if those in charge of *Catholic Answers Forums* have elevated the putative sainthood of John Paul II to the level of a Catholic dogma.
Something is seriously wrong at *Catholic Answers Forums*.
Keep and spread the Faith.

The people at Catholic Answers are not fair, they do not follow Christ’s teachings/ They ban you for such simple things; I got banned for something simple that I didn’t even know was against the rules. I explained my problems with OCD, I even wrote a letter to them, sending it from the UK to America which they completely dismissed, without even discussing it. They took no notice. They ban a lot more people than they say they do. The moderators should be investigated by the Police. They say on their website, they use charity, they are hypocrites, they don’t!

Having spent some time on the Catholic Answers Forums in the past, the only problems I saw there were those caused by folks not following the rules. Catholics and non-Catholics alike were booted off, not for their ideas but for their boorish behavior. Even a casual examination of the discussions there show plenty of non-Catholic ideas being discussed openly. And while I have a great deal of empathy for those struggling with psychological-behavioral issues, such conditions do not one sanction to disobey their rules.

Catholic Answers is wonderful. I love the radio show, including all of Patrick Coffin’s jokes!

Robert - You think that is what Christ would of said. They are just booting people off that they don’t like. They banned someone because they didn’t agree that John Paul should get a beatification, why did person deserve to get banned!?

Those Moderators are taking things too far. There must be some company that owns that forum. I would like to speak with them, not with the forum moderators.

Karla, yes, I believe that Jesus would have said that. It is a very clear and obvious NT theme. Obey those in authority. If you don’t like the minimal rules for the CA Forums, you do not have to post there. I’m sure there are plenty of other sites that will let you go wild.

As for your example(s), you simply cannot know what you assert. You assume too much. Was the person warned first? You don’t know. Was the person banned before? You don’t know. Did the person say something inappropriate to a moderator? You don’t know. Faced with such a lack of knowledge about the facts, it is best to charitably assume the moderators are acting in good faith.

Here is an example of the kind of John Paul II-related posts that preceded my eventual banishment *for life* from *Catholic Answers Forums*:
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=130163&highlight=Steve+O’Brien
Here is an example of the kind of anti-war posts that preceded my first (temporary) exile from *Catholic Answers Forums*:
http://forums.catholic.com/showpost.php?p=874375&postcount=5
Please judge for yourselves.  I believe, however, that all my posts on the above topics were well within the confines of both orthodoxy and civility.
Again, I do not understand how anyone can say that the management of *Catholic Answers Forums* is taking seriously the following statement in section 2495 of the *Catechism of the Catholic Church*:
“Solidarity is a consequence of genuine and right communication and the free circulation of ideas that further knowledge and respect for others.”
Keep and spread the Faith.

hello everyone

catholic answers can only ban people. They would have liked to burn me at the stake

Robert - I made a simple mistake, something that I didn’t know was against the rules and they banned me for life. I was in contact with them for 2 weeks after that, trying to persuade them to change their mind and explain what I had none, they took NO MERCY whatsoever, they dismissed a letter that I had sent them by post, which was very expensive to post, they hardly acknowledged. There most definitely is something wrong with those people. They would rather protect atheists and non-Catholics on that forum than Catholics. Look at the example for why Robert was banned. Look at this one page - 4 people on this page are saying the same thing, the moderators take no leniency. If that doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what does. There should be some king of warning system, like 3 strikes and you are out. At the moment they just BAN you without warning, without any kind of warning whatsoever.

I’ve been on their forums many times and don’t have a problem with their management style.

Catholic Answers show is outstanding.  Thank God we have Catholic radio here in Columbus!

I was also banned from Catholic Answers.

The mindset there is so right-wing, that complaints about racist post against Barrack Obama during the presidential campaign, got me in hot water with the moderator, who eventually banned me for life.

They still send mail to my home asking for a donation though.

Also, don’t mention Centering Prayer there. They have the erroneous idea that its from Eastern Religion, regardless of how much data you present from the founders, Fr Keating and Fr Pennington that its rooted in the early Church.

For years I’ve been telling every serious Catholic I meet that my most treasured new-found freedom is the ability to share my Catholic faith with anyone. With God’s grace I can boldly and charitably reach out to ignorant Catholics, ex-Catholics, anti-Catholics and even Protestant ministers. With the support of all the priests on the island of Kauai, I’ve given away thousands of Catholic Answers tracts and booklets in a booth at our annual county fair. It’s very popular here! Needless to say, many of my favorite saints work at Catholic Answers. I give Karl Keating and company most of the credit. They deserve our prayers AND financial support. God bless them all, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

I too was banned by CAF for merely expressing my opinion.  The hypocritical part is that the moderator who wrote to say I was banned for life called my post a “rant.”  Now if I had told one of their members they were ranting I would have either received an infraction or an out right ban.  It appears that even CA moderators can not express themselves without violating their own rules.

If you look objectively at what is done at CA you will see that the moderators and administrators are not fair in their application of their own very broad and subjective rules.  I do not think their conduct is something Jesus would approve. 

In an e-mial from administrator Tim Staples he wrote the following:  “I know that you think our Forums should be modeled after Christ offering forgiveness to sinners, but that is not how we operate.”

What more proof is needed?

I have been on Catholic Answers Forum since 2006 and I have been temporary banned twice.  The reasons for the bans were “uncharitable” remarks I have made against “Non-Catholic Christians, and Non-Christians, and non-believers.”  The ban I feel was justified.  CAF needs to read the policy and rules clearly.

I have been not ban since.  I have seen new forum members.  As far as Non-Catholic Christians. I have encountered members who are “Anti-Catholic” in their views, and some are more open minded.

CAF does welcome Non-Catholic and Catholic members have explained their own views on certain Catholic doctrine.  I would hope they would at least understand our beliefs but many of them just refuse.  Faithful Catholics in the forum will not accept any other religion or Non-Catholic Christian Churches because those religions do not have the Real Presence of Jesus Christ (except for Eastern Orthodoxy).  A Faithful Catholic would not leave Jesus for any other religion.  Protestants lack that.

I was banned from CAF for “pushing an agenda” and “trolling.”  I had encouraged greater observation of the daily Rosary (I was told that not everyone is called to recite it), and I had questioned the value in violent sports like football and boxing as anything better than being bloodsports—some time later the injuries sustained by career football athletes in the NFL from repeated blows to the head despite helmets made national news and debate.

I was banned from that site too. They tolerated me at first because my questions were good. I didnt tell them i wasnt catholic. That made my stay a little longer. They dont want different ideas. If i remember correct, if you posted something from an online source, it had to be from a catholic site. Same for Defenders of the Catholic Faith. How could i document my case if i only could bias twisted catholic sources? catholic site down play the horrors of the inquisition. Some sites say the catholic church never killed anyone, that it was the local govt that did the killing. Id want to bury my past if it was like that. What i regret is that i had nade good friends of some in there. Catholic answers, yeah, thats what you get, is twisted lieing catholic answers. All they can do is ban people. An inglorious end to the glory days of the past when they could impale me befor boiling me in oil.

I have read a lot on CA forums.  There are many people with different points of view, many non catholics who are upfront about their beliefs. It sounds like wayne was trying to be sneaky, not a great way to have an honest conversation.

Youre darn right its sneaky.So what? Those idolaters would have cut me off sooner and i wouldnt have a good chance to withness to them.Who knows, maybe one of them might have gotten saved and left that wicked church

It doesn’t matter. At CAF, if you’re labeled a “liberal,” neo-Catholics will constantly report you for anything you post.

The moderators get fed up and ban you for excessive moderation.

What does it matter. Its just a site that pushes a phoney religion.

I am laughing so hard at these comments ... those of you complaining about being banned, trust me: everyone reading your comments here sympathizes with those poor CAF moderators!!

No I do not automatically “trust you.”  Do you know the basis for all the above complaints about unjustifiable bans from CA?  Do you think CAF moderators and administrators are infallible?  In my case I criticized the Pope for stating he wants to give the United Nations more “teeth”, ie power over the United States.  As a person with libertarian views I do not agree and I said so. 

If you toe the Catholic line at CA you will not be banned, but TRUST ME based upon personal experience they will find a way to eliminate dissenters.

Please don’t feel sorry for the moderators at CAF.  They are total authoritarians and love nit-picking liberal comments.  I think it’s what they live for.  Even moderate voices do not last long at that forum.  Catholic Answers has ties to the neocons in the worst way.  Erik Prince is a big contributor.  They only want to rehash homosexuality and every discussion leads to abortion.  Of course they don’t want insurance for pregnant women if they have to pay for it on their insurance premium   After posting and being slapped down in the most uncharitable way, I wonder why I still am a Catholic.  If that what a Catholic is supposed to be like….well.

I was an Anglican who was interested in becoming Catholic.  I was learning a lot from CAF, and I always tried to be respectful and charitable!  Yesterday, I was banned from CAF with no reason given.  There was no warning, no private communication, nothing; and when I appealed it (asking what I had done wrong so that I could avoid it in the future), they said to “stop bothering” them and “give it up, ok?”.  That’s two weeks of my life that I’ll never get back!

I too was banned from CAF after coming into a disagreement with one of the forum supporters. I received a threatening personal message from them first basically that they were going to “get me.” I thought we had things worked out and the past was the past. However, I also found that the Catholic priest who shares a server with me was also in a disagreement with the same person and we each received a message from the administrator that we needed to explain how we had the same IP address. Simply put we explained the type of sever we had, the type of IP address it generated and how each computer was organized under each. I thought this had pleased the administrator as a temporary ban was lifted. 48 hours later and WITHOUT WARNING we both were banned. So much for the idea of having a differing opinion or having the ability to disagree in Christian charity. As an Anglican bishop who was considering conversion to Rome this has greatly soured me on EVER converting. Sadly there is no appealing this, and at this point, seeing how others have been treated who have a differing opinion, why would I want to?

I am a Catholic priest and I was banned from the CAF. The reason was that I also came into a disagreement with one of the supporters of the forum. Like Jay before me I was threatened by other members of the sight, including one of the forum supporters. I have tried to appeal to them but they will not listen. All I have to say is that the Lord warned about causing another to stumble in their faith, what consequence would follow; “It would be better that a millstone be hung about their neck and they be cast into the sea.” Oh I have forgiven the person that did this, but they are treading on dangerous waters with God if they do not turn from their ways.

Well, after being banned from CAF for the past 2.5 years, a friend asked me to see if I could get back into CAF. So, I sent an email asking to have my ban lifted and to review why I was originally banned.

I got an email from the moderator telling me that my membership was reinstated under strict rules. One violation and I would be gone, without warning.

Being its the News Forums that I was banned from, I decided not to post there. 

So far so good, but who knows.

Catholic Answers, thats what they are. If you want biblical answers, you have to open your bible.These unfortunate catholics are saddled with unbiblical doctrines and now they find themselves trying to explain away false ideas. Something that the vatican dreamed up way befor you all were born and now you have to justify them. One is Mary floating up to heaven an being queen and sitting on a throne. The other is…only catholics go to heaven, a scare tactic used on the very young,. Third, you have to bend over backward to justify all the idols in your churches; oh, thats rite, you call them statues, worship aids. Instead of defending these anti christ activities, why dont you get out of that church? Wouldnt that make life simpler?

Wayne - please educate yourself.

Where do people get this stuff?  Sheeesh.

Jay - you are not an Anglican Bishop.

Matthew,
What makes you think that I am NOT an Anglican Bishop? I have never met you before and yet you make such an inflammatory statement. Can you explain this?

Matthew,
I live near Jay and I do know him to be an Anglican Bishop. How can you make such statements if you, as he says, do not know him?

Sorry Jay - I just find it extremely implausible that any “bishop” would make such comments as to suggest that the defining factor of whether they come into communion with the Catholic Church could possibly be that some moderator on some internet forum treated them unfairly.

If we try to determine the true Church based on whether or not there are any imperfect or unfair people in that Church, or by whether or not we have access to a particular internet forum, then we would never get anywhere. I would think that a bishop would understand that rather well.

He should also understand that those moderating the Catholic Answers forum have one of the toughest jobs on the internet. They are attacked/spammed/hacked constantly by serious anti-catholics (many of whom also try to sneak in as regular users and make counterproductive or fake arguments and pretend to be people they’re not) and as a result CA has had to adopt some very strict policies. I’m in no place to lay judgment on either side.  But I would ask that you consider it from their side as well.

All of that said, if I made a mistake, then I would like to apologize. Just send me an email (my email info is available in the side bar) with your full title/name and your diocese and a website where I can find you and your diocese. I will contact you through your diocese office, verify these comments by you on this blog post and then issue a formal apology back here (without revealing your full identity to everyone here of course). And if you’d like, I will also put you into contact with some people that can talk with you personally about the Catholic Faith at a much more productive level for an Anglican bishop who is seriously considering communion with the Roman Catholic Church. I’m sure that would prove much more fruitful for you and for all of us. I’ll look for your email.

And if I don’t get your email and there is no followup here with a formal apology from me that you are indeed a bishop, well…then we all know the truth. And we would also know why you were banned from the CAF.

I sent a portion that you requested to your private email but I also wanted to publicly clear something here that you have obviously have misinterpreted in some way. You say that it is implausible that a “bishop” would make such comments. I do know that there are imperfect people in ALL denominations, lets face it if a church was perfect none of us could belong to it. With that said, let me also say that the written word do not always convey the true intent on a person either, only by speaking face to face can you do such. With this said, the Anglican group I am part of has a great deal of infighting and I quite frankly am tired of it. Now add to this mix I start exploring the Roman Catholic church via the CAF and other clergy and the like and I meet much of the same infighting amongst Catholics who then turn this venom towards those who are not like them. Would you also not say “this would sour me from wanting to join this church” no matter how right or wrong the church was?
I truly understand that the moderators have a great deal to contend with often, and none of them are infallible either. So let me say, If you have taken that my comment was one of a nature that was not that of a person of Episcopal office let me offer my apologies. My journey towards the Roman Catholic church has been one of great obstacles and I know that if it was all mountaintop experience (for lack of better words)that the journey would not have such a great reward. Thank you to those who keep me humble along the way.

Hello Matthew, and thanks for being tolerant of non catholics like me. You said i should educate myself, but you didnt mention what subject i should study. I am reasonably educated, but no one knows everything. Let me introduce myself. I am a watchman. I sit on the city wall and look to see if the enemy is aproaching. When i see danger, i tell everyone, or even one person. If your house is on fire, i beat on the door to wake you up.

Wayne
I think what Matthew was referring to was your comment: “These unfortunate catholics are saddled with unbiblical doctrines and now they find themselves trying to explain away false ideas. Something that the vatican dreamed up way befor you all were born and now you have to justify them. One is Mary floating up to heaven an being queen and sitting on a throne. The other is…only catholics go to heaven, a scare tactic used on the very young,. Third, you have to bend over backward to justify all the idols in your churches; oh, thats rite, you call them statues, worship aids. Instead of defending these anti christ activities, why dont you get out of that church?”
The problem is this shows that you are totally uninformed about what a Catholic actually believes. A browse through the Catholic Catechism would tell you that Catholics do not believe that ONLY Catholics are going to heaven. (Or anything else of what you are espousing here.) YES I AM a Protestant that defends Catholics when a misinformed person or the enemy comes along to attack the Church. You might even say I am standing in the gap to use the phraseology that “Watchman” use.

Hi brother Jay, to each an answer. Im surprised that a catholic in here hasnt corrected you on this. I really dont blame them. Yes, its a fact, catholics believe Mary was taken up to heaven bodily(assumption) and has a throne in heaven as queen. Yes, catholics believe that ” there is no salvation outside of the catholic church” Well, they are supposed to believe it, but its an embarassment now, so they dummy up when it comes to that. Allow me to quote some chruch fathers…....We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”
Pope Boniface;Bull unam santum 1302

Bro Jay, i could quote hundereds more. Now the CC is using clever words to turn that one around,flip flop i believe its called. Its dogma, written in stone, that the catholic church doesnt change.Am i rite or am i wrong? The CC is flip flopping on dogma that is embarassing.Infallable, thats another cruel joke. Lastly, the idols used by the CC. Jay, i want you to tell me that there are no statues in the catholic churches.No icons, no beads, no scapulars. These are OBJECTS used in worship. Let me see, someone remind me, what does god call them? Oh yes, IDOLS. Jay, tell me catholics dont use objects.Say Jay, the catechism is words on paper. Forget that. Look at what they do, not what they say.

“Those, who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and moved by grace, try in their actions to do His will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience — those too may attain eternal salvation” (Catechism, no. 847). This is why I say you need to brush up on your catechism. It is in there that Non Catholics can attain salvation.
  “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians” (966).
The Catechism then quotes from the Troparion of the Feast of the Dormition from the Byzantine Liturgy:
  “In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.” (966)
Thus, the Assumption of Mary is not only a participation in her Son’s resurrection, but a preview of our future resurrections. As such, the dogma of Mary’s Assumption is firmly rooted in the actions and person of Christ, and in the virtue of Christian hope. Protestants say, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the lord” so I guess then what you are saying is that this piece of scripture does not apply to Mary????? In quoting the Orthodox “Dormition” we are going further back into early church history as to what was accepted norm for centuries. The way YOU put it was that Mary “floated up to heaven.” Those words are not in Catholic Marian doctrines.

Idols? So I suppose in your home you have NO photographs of family. If you do, you would be in violation of the same wooden literal translation of making for yourself a graven image or idol that you are accusing the Catholic Church of doing. I would bet also that your church has a cross in it, by YOUR definition, that would be an idol as well or a “tool.” I bet they have an altar rail to kneel against, why have that “tool”?????? Do you kneel for communion? OH MY by the same token that you accuse the Catholics you can be accused of the same brother. I suppose you do not have ANY musical instrument in your church either, because you would not want those “tools” getting in the way of your worship?

Brother Jay, you sure youre not a catholic? By the way, you geussed wrong about my church.Techically the church is the total body of the born again. We call houses churches for some odd reason. The house where we gather has no bench to grovel on. It a square room with folding chairs. No cross anywhere. Im not so scared of a cross, by the way. By the way, i see that you said you are a bishop or something. Where did you go to bishop school? Respectfully, your arguement has been said to me befor. And its shabby theology. Using family photos to justify statues of men. Comparing musical instruments to icons? Im not the one you have to convince. You will have your chance to explain that to Jesus at the judgement. And god hates idols with a passion. Good luck with that. As to the catholic flip flop in the catechism, i got tons of quote of popes and other CCfathers saying there is no salvation elsewhere. I gave you one quote. My point is, that the CC isnt gods true church, like they claim in that ruse called the catechism. My point is, if you want salvation, you have to ask Jesus for it. Not hope some pedophile says the rite words during some ritual. Jay, do you believe the bible? The demons do, and tremble. The bible said Jesus had brothers and sisters.Do you tow the catholic line by saying brother doesnt mean brother? This is all useless.The unsaved believe any and everything. When you are born again, you will see all things. I was unsaved once upon a time

Wayne,
With all due respect you did not answer one of Jay’s arguments but rather put up another straw man that you could knock down. This shows a rather immature form of Christianity OR any form of salvation whatsoever according to the Bible. 1 Corinthians 3 speaks to your kind of faith, it calls it “carnal.” But if you want to believe that the rest of the world is going to Hell and only your church will be there then I suppose that you should allow us each to do as Paul commands us to do in Philippians 2:12-13 “”...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” 
Just remember there are pedophile pastors in ALL churches and the percentage of Pedophiles that are Catholic to Protestant is not any higher or lower. If you wish to continue to do Satan’s work in accusing the brethren please do so. I notice you are quite adept at disguising it as a form of righteousness or light. There is more than one of us who can be a watchman here too.

Bro John, i didnt want to give the impression that my church is gods church.I attend a calvary chapel. It has to have a name by law. Its nondenominational.And its not us against the world. There is no us. Each person has to come to Christ for himself. The body(church of christ) is all the saved people.Im pointing out the flaws in the CC, or any organised religion in hopes the listener would see a need for a personal saviour. Not rely on someone else to dish it out..What argument of Jays did i forget to deal with? Jay put up a quote from that catechism. Obtaining salvation for non catholics. Lots of words. Heres how Jesus puts it; behold i stand at the door and knock. If any man shall open, i will come in and sup with him and he with me. I opened the door, and he supped with me. I met him. I know his voice, and another i will not follow. So friend, you can have the catechism. If you want Christ, open the door. Simple as that. Religion slams the door shut with empty rituals and dos and donts. Gold cups and assorted trinkets. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, its just that simple.

Wayne
We Catholics also believe in pretty much what you have posted in regard to salvation (hence the comment made that you needed education). The Catechism is only a guideline outside of Scripture so that every church would be on the same page so to speak. I looked on the main web site for Calvary chapel under the what we believe section and I wanted to bring your attention to something. “We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ.” While this is a good statement it seems that every comment that you have made on this thread has been one to over-emphasize a doctrinal difference, thus one COULD conclude that you are keeping the Body of Christ separated by your comments. Your church also sells a book called “Calvary Chapel Distinctives” by Chuck Smith that explains how doctrinally different you are. It would seem to an outsider that you also put an “over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ.”  As I have heard many say before, the sins you point out in others tend to be most evident in self.

Wayne
you make the comment, “Religion slams the door shut with empty rituals and dos and donts. Gold cups and assorted trinkets.” Can you tell me this, when you have communion in your church, do you (you here meaning your pastor)use the same prayers to bless the elements? Also, do you use some kind of precious metal object to hold the elements like a chalice or a tray to hold little glasses and a nice plate; OR do you use Dixie paper cups and plates to hold your communion elements? Having visited a Calvary chapel once I highly doubt that you use the paper plates and cups because the communion is a bit more sacred to you than that. I think that you get what I mean here. ALL non-denominational churches have some form of rituals that they do around certain things like communion and baptism, just as mainline churches do. Even if you have a form your service follows like praise & worship, prayer, offering, reading the word, preaching; this is a form of liturgy. Liturgy literally means work of the people as all God’s people participate in worship.
BTW, It is not “bishop school” it is seminary, or Bible college depending on your denominational preference.

As many time as ive been to calvary, ive only run into communion twice. Thats 20 yrs. Not to say they dont have it often. I dont go every sunday.just when i can make it. You place some kind of importance on what the tray is made of. I got money says that the calvary tray , at my church, was bought at the 99 cent store.Jesus said to do this in rememberance of me. Its the only thing he asked us to do to remember him. But it doesnt have anything to do with our salvation. Its a show for the unsaved to see that we still honor Jesus. I can do communion or not. It has zero to do with my salvation. The unsaved religious people attach all kinds of weird thing to communion.Like what kind of trays and what have you. Hey brother, i was unsaved once and was in danger of hell fire.

Bro Jay, in answer to your calvary chapel post, im not sure what doctrinal differences Chuck was talking about. Or what you gleened from that. Chuck believes the bible. But he uses words that are commercially acceptable because of the place he holds in the world of TV and radio. In short, he tries to be nice. I dont have to be nice. Search areond the calvary site for old sermons and if you can, find something about the CC. Chuch never does whole sermons on the CC or any other false religion. They are not worth our time. But you can find snipets here and there. They will be the same things i say. Religions are for the unsaved. Once you become saved you are part of the church and you begin to understand. The unsaved are blind as bats, Jesus promised that.

“A Kind word turns away wrath” “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” and you feel you do not have to be nice????? These are God’s words NOT mine. I have been saved many years and in my journey with God I have found that there are many churches out there, each claiming to be the correct church. But let me just say this, if you have to point out flaws in other churches of other person’s faith practices the Bible says there will be a harsh judgment to fall on you. Our job is to be salt and light (those are Jesus words) not vinegar and venom and seem to be portraying here. The only people you will catch with vinegar and venom are angry people. Salt and light catches people that can be made into disciples. Thank you for attempting to explain yourself. I do hope you find the peace you are looking for.

Bro Jay, you are correct. I will never talk nice about a perverse religion. The judge not verse, folks, especially religious folks, stop there. First, because being blinded they wont understand the spirit anyway. The passage continues to say; ” but make righteous judgements”.Bishop Jay, let me elaborate on that. Jesus didnt judge by sight. He judged the intent, the spirit. A righteous judgement is looking at somes heart, or, in the case of a religion, its practices and ideas. According you your logic, i should join the church of satan, because i shouldnt judge it as wrong. Another righteous judgement is; im not going to hang around that person because he gets drunk and cheats on his wife, when hes not robbing banks. According to you, i shouldnt say nothing, just drive the get away car. The jehovas, i guess you think they are just fine.You dont judge.They dont believe Jesus is jehova. Oh, thats fine, i dont judge them. Bishop, you make judgements everyday. When you put your foot on the brakes to stop at a red light, thats a judgement call. I hope this helps you to understand my position as the watchman. If the watcman took your stance, he wouldnt judge the approaching army as bad. He wouldnt sound the alarm. Your job as shepherd is to warn your flock of danger. Not to stand there and look good in your glittery robe and big hat. Warn them of idols, of false doctrines like praying to dead people, of useless rituals, the dangers of being unsaved.Being their shepherd, you are accountable befor god.

You have taken the righteous Judgment line out of context. After stating that “every tree is known by his own fruit” (Luke 6:44), Jesus states what that fruit is: “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (v. 45). We CAN judge the heart by what proceeds from the mouth. The words spoken are the fruit of the state of the heart.
But is this talking about just any words? Does this mean, for example, that if someone utters a vulgarity we are to judge the person unregenerate? Here is where judging righteous judgment comes in. The standard that the true believer uses to judge saved and lost is THE GOSPEL.
There are two types of speech by which we judge a person to be lost. The first is speech that confesses a false gospel. “If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). “Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (2 John 9). Confession of a false gospel is a confession that any part of salvation is conditioned on the sinner. It opposes the true gospel of salvation conditioned on the atoning blood and imputed righteousness of Christ alone. It is speech that denies Christ (1 John 2:22-23; 4:3). It is speech that denies one’s own sinfulness (1 John 1:8,10). It is confessed by those who, “being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).
The second is speech that tolerates and endorses a false gospel by “saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). He who calls one who confesses a false gospel his “brother in Christ” speaks the lie of Satan, “Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). He “speaks great swelling [words] of vanity” (2 Peter 2:18). God makes it very clear in 2 John 11 that he who speaks peace to one who confesses a false gospel “is partaker of his evil deeds” (see the article on 2 John 11 in this issue for a more extensive treatment of this verse). These are those who judge saved and lost not by right gospel doctrine but by outward appearance, morality, sincerity, and reputation.
Are Christians then to judge that these people are reprobate (i.e., destined for hell)? By no means. We cannot judge their eternal destiny by these words; this is only known by God. We are only to judge that they are now unregenerate. God might save some of these lost people who believe, confess, and tolerate a false gospel; some of them might be among God’s elect. One thing is sure: if God saves them, they will no longer believe, confess, and tolerate a false gospel! Upon regeneration and conversion, God causes His people to believe and confess the one and only true gospel.
With this in mind YOU are to only go after lost sould in the harvest field not attack another church.

Are you not being presumptuous in assuming that I wear a “glittery robe” and “big hat”? You have never met me and yet you have condemned me. I do warn my flock of that type of person all the time; especially the type that just made your kind of assumption. Not all Bishops dress alike, some in humility look like the rest of the clergy. With that said… Any person who judges by the group is a pea wit-which is what you have done with me and the Catholic church. Each person is an individual and has a mind of their own as to how they worship God. Do we not each have to work out our own salvation? If this is the case that we do then why are you attacking those with a relationship with God that they are trying to work out rather than seeking souls in the harvest field that have NO attachment to any church.

Jay, you are correct, Those destined to Hell are known only to God. To place ourselves in that seat of judgment in saying persons are going there is the sin of presumption and placing self in place of God which is the same thing Satan did to get him thrown out of heaven.

I just typed up a good answer and i pushed the wrong button and lost it. It said that the saved know the saved because they both know Jesus personally, like you would know your own mother or brother. When someone talks, the saved can tell real quick if that person knows Jesus or not. They dont even have to be talking church. Its the saved folks job to lead people to christ.Religion wont lead you there. Gold cups wont lead you there.Statues and icons wont lead you there.The lord has to draw you there.

Wayne, Nobody is denying that it is a relationship with God and Jesus Christ that saves you. Why do you keep pushing the hatred? You are focusing on the secondary things and making them what is paramount to a Catholic’s faith. Do I need the trappings to bring me closer to God? No. BUT, By the same token (using your line of thinking) you don’t have to go to any church to be considered a Christian when the Bible clearly states that we are not to forsake the assembly of the brethren. Now you have the NERVE being and irregular attender of a church (by your own admission that you attend when you can) to come here to attack others faith. Lets step into the logic that you have been using to attack the Catholic church a moment and look at your own church. Do you need the praise and worship team of your church to lead you in worship. One could say that those songs are not “spirit led” because they follow the rhythms of the “world’s music.” Also using your logic you say that communion has zero to do with your salvation (Although this is not what the local Calvary Church pastor told me was his understanding we will use yours); you say when you do it “Its a show for the unsaved to see that we still honor Jesus” and then say “I got money says that the calvary tray , at my church, was bought at the 99 cent store.” Would not be a very good witness of how you honor Jesus if the cup you would serve communion out of was dirty or cheap would it? I don’t expect you to answer this directly or even obliquely as when Jay and I have put you into a corner either using your logic or scripture you go back to the same tired straw man arguments. If you want to have an intelligent conversation please feel free to respond directly, however, if you come back with the same tired arguments and hatred I see no sense in furthering any intelligent conversation with you regarding faith.

Wayne,
Neither John or I disagree that in order to be saved you must have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and confess Him as Lord and Savior. It seems every time we do this you put up some other argument that the path WE take to Christ is wrong but yours is the only way; or your church is the only way. I too will have to agree with John, If you want to continue in the line of spewing forth hated and accusations which have no foundations or warrant I see no reason to waste my time with you further either. You made assumptions regarding me without knowing me (in case you forgot the glittering robe and hat line)when I have been trying to educate you that this is not the way that Catholics OR I believe. You seem to have NO interest in listening to even scripture on the matter but revert back to the same old attacks and venom. John and each have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and I pray that you grow stronger in yours. PLEASE, I used to think alot like you when I was fist saved over 30 years ago, then I started asking why Catholics did the things they did FROM CATHOLICS not from anti-Catholic propaganda. Do I agree with them 100%? NO But can I respect their faith NOW that I understand it better? YES. So long as you stay in the closed mind pattern you are in you will only gather in people around you with the same hatred and disguise it as being Christianity. (2 Timothy 3:5 and Titus 1:16)

Hey bro Jay, sorry it took so long to get back. My old computer wouldnt boot up all the way so my customer gave me one hes not using, then imy internet connector went out.Well, anyway, you say im hatefull and have venom. If i hated you i wouldnt be doing this. The body of Christ is invisible. It is made up of the saved, where ever they may be. Hospitals, prisons, wheelchairs, at work, in school. They do not have an organization. They do not have a headquarters with a big cross on top. They have no outward sings.Most have no idea how many are in the area. And theres not many of them. The road to destruction is broad, and theres lots on it.The road to salvation is narrow, and few be on it. You refer to my hatred. Do you mean the fact that i point out false practices in denominations? Like bowing and scraping befor statues? If that practice is fine with you, well,go ahead, but i dont bless that or recommend that.

Just wanted to do as I said I would do and post back here if Jay contacted me. He did. And it looks like I do owe him an apology.  While I can’t verify very easily that he is a bishop as he is not listed anywhere online as being a Bishop for the Anglican church on any official site. It turns out they don’t really have a good website for such things. I made the mistake of thinking the experience of being a bishop in the Anglican church is very similar as being one in the Catholic Church…I’m learning that isn’t all that true. My mistake. It does appear likely that Jay is a technically a bishop from one of the many divisions within the Anglican church and that he now works for a totally different denomination. While I can’t verify it 100%, for the sake of not having to I’m willing to accept that I was probably in the wrong.

So, Jay, I’m sorry for the false assumption and I’ll be praying for you on your journey! Everyone else - please pray for him also, and the many others who are going through similar trials.

Also, thank you, Jay, for your comments here and for being a part of the discussion!

Matthew
Thank you for your response. I think that we tend to place a viewpoint on certain members of the clergy that they NEVER say or do certain things. I remember one time going into a convenience store to purchase gas and the girl behind the counter was shaking, thinking she had been robbed I asked was she OK. Her reply was “I thought you guys didn’t do those things; I just sold a pack of cigarettes to one of the brothers from the Monastery.” You see where I was, I was close to a Franciscan monastery. She asked me “Do you drink too?” To which I replied that some of us do on occasion. I said all that to say this; I think we have a preconceived notion of how a certain person should act or say certain things. The problem is we are all human and do still live in our flesh. Why else would the Pope have to go to confession too.
The problem I have when I just recently contacted CAF is that they felt because I made a spelling error that was the same as another, DESPITE the fact that I can and did prove that we were different persons they are refusing to hear OR investigate the evidence that I can provide, they have banned me and two others. To add insult to injury, they have much as accused me and others of outright deception. A simple google search for banned from CAF will show that I am not that much different than others who have dared to disagree with one of the forum supporters or even an administrator. I was also surprised in my investigation of the CAF to find they have been under investigation by the IRS. I know that apostolates like the CAF do not fall under the jurisdiction of clergy per se; however they are under the authority of a local diocesan bishop or arch-bishop. If enough letters went to local diocese regarding the practices of those who administer the CAF it would put a stop to this. Let me also say, I do feel they are a great place to start to learn about the Catholic faith, but I also feel that those who administrate the forum are pushing an agenda of their own and will not tolerate anyone who would disagree with them. If you don’t want people to disagree, then why have the forum open to all?
Thank you once again to Matthew for your words above. I do pray that we all can become one body again, it will never happen when we do not listen to the other side, nor will it happen when we do not look for the common ground as far as beliefs go that we all share and then start the reconciliation from there.

I too was part of this “banning” that Jay went through. I had at one point sent them copies of my ordination certificate because one person claimed that because I said something that “sounded Protestant” that I must be one. This appeased them and I went for months without a problem until both Jay and I ran afoul of the same forum supporter and disagreed with him. Even when proven wrong by both of us by the catechism he still would not back down. After a few threatening private messages (which the administrators also ignored) we finally got banned despite contacting them with requested information to prove whatever false accusations were placed against us. If they do this to Catholic priests and others who disagree with them it is truly sad. I do agree with Jay that you can learn a great deal from them, but in this case those who operate the Apostolate do not follow the charitable guidelines even set forth by the Church. It is a point well taken that if you do not want differing opinion, then why open the forum up to everyone to participate? I know there will be some who are out there to proselytize a Catholic away from his/her faith but you will get that anywhere. I do find it interesting that the forum rules are written that you cannot make uncharitable remarks to Catholics, it says nothing about how a Catholic treats another on the forum. So what this is saying (and I know this was probably not their intention) is that a non-Catholic cannot make an uncharitable remark but a Catholic can. I ask any of you reading this, IS THIS RIGHT to do this?
Sadly there is no appeal process here with the Catholic Answers Forum, But Jay did put forth an excellent suggestion in writing the local diocese regarding them as that would be the only jurisdictional power they would answer to.

All this talk of banning…I too have been banned; first, a suspension for a ‘threatening post” (which was not in the least threatening—and is still on the board, unedited and unremoved). I used the forum appeals process, only to be told that the very act of appealing was a banning offense..that I should simply ‘accept moderator direction gracefully” and go away. This, of course, raises the question of why an appeals process is given, if using it just makes things worse! I then found out that I was banned for ‘circumvention.”

I didn’t attempt to circumvent anything. I have attempted to contact the moderator and forum administrator, and have been ignored. ....and all this after two years and over 6000 posts. Petty injustice is really—petty.

Diana
May I suggest as has been posted to contact your local Archdiocese regarding them. If you do a search on being banned from the CAF you will find we are becoming quite a number. If you look at some of these blogs you will also find that the CAF has been under investigation by the IRS; that is what truly saddens me to hear.
Sorry to hear of your banning, you must be a pretty good Christian to be banned from the CAF from all that I have seen here and on other sights.
I also forwarded a link of this sight to my Aunt and Uncle who operate an EWTN affiliate radio station and they are not going to run adds for the CAF or support them any longer, not because of what I have said here but from what the others have said as well.

Diana, welcome to the world of the catholic. Now i realize that all the people in the pews dont think like this, but the vatican thinks like this; We cant burn them , at least not now, so we ban them. The vatican calls catholicism a religion. Well i guess it is. It fits the description of a religion…intolerant, exclusive, man made, murderous, thieving, corrupt beyond belief, and wears sheeps clothing to hide the wolf underneath

Their super moderator is abusive and hateful, as well as ignorant.  I had been a long term member with over 500 posts without an infraction.
I recently pointed out a thread in which two posts were flagrantly bigotted toward Jews.
Within 5 seconds, I was banned.
I asked for explanations on 5 occasions and never received a reply.  I then report “moderator abuse” and was told 3 times that I was not banned, even though I was.  Instead they told me to clear all my temporary internet files.
After proving that I was banned by using three different computers, one of which had no cookies or temp files, they said they would send my note to the original moderator but to be patient as the holidays were coming up.  (This was 6 days before Thanksgiving and after having been jerked around for a week.)
Four days later, I asked if any progress had been made, and was summarily permanently banned for life for not showing patience as I had been instructed.

It is shameful the way I was treated by this supposedly Catholic forum.

Catholic Answers forums needs to fire all its admins and start over. Their heavy handed tactics are an embarassment to the Church and to open, passionate debate. I am seeing more and more posts all over the net from people who have been abused and banned by their forum admins, and I hope the leadership over there begins to take notice. I am sure they will given how many threads like this I am finding. I was banned after 2 days for questioning why another poster (a buddy of the admins) was disregarding his local ordinary. Avoid their forums at all costs.

Bill,
Your best bet is to contact your local diocesan bishop and let them know what is going on. If enough complaints come in then the forum will have to either change or close for not following Catholic ways.

Oh I’m glad I’m not the only one needlessly banned by them.
I started a thread on file sharing, used scripture and law to come to a conclusion that it’s not a sin or at most venial. But of course the next post is a typical response from them on anything they don’t agree with, “it is a sin, it is mortal you are going to hell” now after talking to three individual priests and explaining this to them, they said it’s not a sin, but at CAF if it’s not right wing it’s not biblical, I was soon banned for posting “Anti-Catholic lies” I am a freaking catholic, but I refuse to become a right wing extremist on issues that aren’t even biblical ones andindr refuse to interpret law any other way than the way it is stated, and I refuse to bow to the riaa and dmc a who like to call sharing piracy,

I have been banned from posting. They never really give a reason why. In fact, all my postings have been deleted. I think they are very sensitive when proven wrong in any of their theology. They do defend Catholic teaching very vigorously and usually very accurately, but when all else fails, they ban. The fact remains, there are differences of interpretation of scripture, and of tradition, and of early church fathers. Catholic Answer apologists can not cope with these differences without taking it personally. I personally think they need prayer.

Has anyone noticed the number of persons banned and YET, the poster/writer of the article does not seem to be the least bit interested in the number of persons being banned and the alarming number thereof? It would seem that from the miltitude of other sites which mirror the posts of this it would seem that there is more to this story that what is just being put forth here. I know that there will always be a hacker or two and this I fully understand. However, it seems when you post truth of the Catholic faith or something that runs contrary to what a moderator believes, even despite what the catechism may say, you get banned. Funny the Orthodox are banned for putting forth Orthodox doctrine in their arguments, Protestants are banned for theirs. In my mind the moderators are acting like thought police rather that doing what should be doing and that is MODERATE. These actions are giving our faith a bad reputation.
Come on Mr. Warner, when are you going to investigate these bannings? Are you an objective journalist or not?

John - actually, not.  I’m not an objective journalist. And I never claimed to be. I AM, however, a person who’s had enough experience moderating websites to know the difficult challenges that come with it. I also know that there is always a small (yet, often vocal) minority who won’t like the decisions you make.  And actually, I’ve come across quite a few who cry “victim!” and pretend they did nothing wrong in such situations, and almost always with a little digging I find out there is much more to the story. And usually, it ends up that they were being very disruptive to the place, or engaging in a passive-aggressive kind of harassment, or being just plain unreasonable while claiming to just “honestly” disagree or not understand. In order to maintain an environment of productive dialogue, those kinds of people must be removed. Unfortunately, it makes them angry and they often take to the internet to express that anger. I’m not saying all of you complaining here are such people. But, in my experience, many of you probably are. That’s not casting unfair judgment on any of you, those are just the numbers and the facts.

I’m sure the moderators at Catholic Answers aren’t perfect, though. And I’m sure they’ve made mistakes - who wouldn’t trying to moderate one of the largest religion forums on the net? But I also see the enormous good they do. And that the VAST majority of participants in the forum are quite happy. I frequent the forums quite a bit and have NEVER, ever seen any issues and almost always found it helpful. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been “issues” that weren’t resolved perfectly. But I have better things to do with my time than investigate such a thing before recommending them or supporting them, especially when the good that they do is so enormously obvious and all of the “evidence” I’ve encountered to the contrary is precisely what I would expect from any major, well-moderated forum.

Bottom line - it’s their website. Not yours. You have no “right” to be there. And they have every right to decide what kind of place it will be. Obviously, it’s in their best interest to be fair and charitable. And I believe they try to do that to the best of their ability, although I’m sure imperfectly sometimes. I’m sorry if any of you truly were treated unfairly there. But I would ask that you please understand the difficulty of moderating such a forum of so many virtual, faceless profiles from over the internet ON TOP of the fact that it is probably one of the most maliciously attacked sites on the internet with many “sheep in wolves clothing” trying to get in, cause disruption and spread misinformation.

God bless ya.

I’m not someone who has been banned from the forums, but I can definitely sympathize with the people here complaining.  CA Forums tries to act within an offical capacity, but is definitely biased toward a certain kind of thinking which is at times even contrary to the USCCB.  I give CA the benefit of the doubt in that I am guessing it’s just a mismanaged forum, but that’s bad enough.  Certain ideas are tolerated and even protected, such as capital punishment, even when they go against the official stance of the Church.  Other times people are banned and even whole threads are deleted under the guise of “not having anti-Catholic materials” on other issues of disagreement.

It’s really only in certain areas though—for example theological discussions about the supremacy of the Pope in a Catholic vs Orthodox discussion doesn’t seem to bother anyone.  So what I think happens is some of the users get upset, complain to CA, and maybe they’re supporting members or maybe they’re just friends with the moderators because they go on those cruises and so there is bias.  The bias isn’t slight—it’s pretty strong.

I think the best thing to do is just stay off the site.  They got the name catholic.com so I guess people feel they’re some kind of official Catholic forum or something, but they’re not.  It’s a company that needs revenue, and has a certain type of customer.

FWIW, the moderating on CAF is horrible. That’s the opinion of someone that has been both a forum administrator and current forum moderator. They banned me after being on the site for months with no warning. Then if you contact them, they act in an uncharitable and unCatholic fashion. It’s one thing to take a strict position, but it is not a consistent one.

CAF banned me for life after pointing out an antisematic post.  I was not patient enough as I asked after four days if they had researched my ban…so by not following the administrators advice to be patient I can never post there again.
I’ve been a catholic for 60 years.  I was in the process if discussing how to deal with a drug addled son.  In the middle of that forum discussion…banned.
They are an embarrassment to our ideals.  A bunch of HOA or hall monitor wannabees.  They can all go to hell.

CAF banned me for life after pointing out an antisematic post.  I was not patient enough as I asked after four days if they had researched my ban…so by not following the administrators advice to be patient I can never post there again.
I’ve been a catholic for 60 years.  I was in the process if discussing how to deal with a drug addled son.  In the middle of that forum discussion…banned.
They are an embarrassment to our ideals.  A bunch of HOA or hall monitor wannabees.  They can all go to

CAF banned me for life after pointing out an antisematic post.  I was not patient enough as I asked after four days if they had researched my ban…so by not following the administrators advice to be patient I can never post there again.
I’ve been a catholic for 60 years.  I was in the process if discussing how to deal with a drug addled son.  In the middle of that forum discussion…banned.  They are an embarrassment to our ideals.  A bunch of HOA or hall monitor wannabees.  They can all go to

They are an apostolate of the diocese of san Diego.  They get our dfs contributions.  They do unfortunately represent the church.  Then there is the usccb.  Hard to be a catholic these days

CAF represents right wing Catholics.  If you are a forum supporter ($$$) you can break the rules.  Otherwise, you have to participate in the Obama Derangement Syndrome, where everything in the world is Obama’s fault, and Obama is an evil dictator ready to take away your guns and put Catholics into camps.  No kidding, the regular posters and supporters actually think they are persecuted, and if you point out how laughable that is, you get banned.

I was exploring the Catholic faith when I was banned. Honestly, I don’t even know what I was banned for. I never had even one infraction, no warnings, no communication from mods the whole time I was there. And then suddenly I got the message I was banned “forever”. Emailed them 4 times and was never even answered, except once to ask what my username was. No explanation, no common courtesy. It woke me up, though. I’m staying pagan.

I was banned also on 8-06 012.Deserved it. circumvented suspension.Suspension was for improper quotations, making it look like I said something instead of the source i listed/It was great while it lasted .learned a lot.

I’m yet another person who has been banned and is not sure why.  Tried to be authentically Catholic and nice, while gently disagreeing.  Somehow that’s wrong?

Well, it’s obvious something is terribly fishy when so many people are banned.  Just do an online search:  there are many more of us.  I say whoever is the head of Catholic Answers needs to do some investigating and correct the moderators, who don’t seem to understand the real concept of moderating.

I hope either Matthew or some other well-known Catholic speaks to whoever heads Catholic Answers.  This problem needs to be corrected ASAP.

This is a poor reflection on Catholics, and we sure don’t need any more strikes against the Church. What do outsiders—especially those considering converting—think, after such negative treatment?  Not good.

Jeremiah:  I never saw anything like that on the CA forum re Obama, but as I recall, I once saw a forum rule saying something like one could not say Obama is not a Christian.  I thought that was an extremely odd ‘rule,’ and it makes me wonder quite the opposite of what you had mentioned—as if nothing negative could be said of Obama.

In any case, I, like so many others here, am baffled by the moderators on the CA forum and their actions.  An explanation would be nice, to say the least!

Just got banned for circumventing a ban- but I’ve never been banned or suspended! I have no idea what that means and what rule I broke. I’m so sad. I really loved it there for over a year.  It was a regular part of my day. I’m so sad. And I can’t even view the site on my server at all even as an outsder. Been trying for hours. I wish I knew what I did. I won’t lie that am heartbroken over it.

Emma(28th Sept): i agree with you and with all of the other victims. Got banned on 27th of September. Some of their “moderators” are downright vindictive! At different times,i was found guilty of being rude (to very rude anti-Catholics), uncharitable (to a very arrogant individual), derailing a thread (after innocently tackling a promoter of an unapproved, alleged “apparition”). Last year, there was a blood-lust-driven invective-fest against Fr John Corapi. So much for charity. There sure is hypocrisy. And Yes: it`s OK for moderators to verbally abuse their victims. i`m disillusioned and sickened! Emma: i empathise with you. Is Karl Keating aware of this moderator problem? Probably not.

I was banned by Catholic Answers for writing a PRIVATE EMAIL to the forum administrator, as you are invited to do when questioning moderator direction, and expressed my concerns boldly about the constant hypocrisy and protect-leftwing-politicians agenda of one of their moderators, which is very, very blatant.  I was banned forever for telling the truth.
DEATH TO CATHOLIC ANSWERS and DEATH TO IT’S FORUMS. May Almighty God bring this self-perpetuating organization, with it’s well paid staff,
crashing to the ground never to rise again, and may it’s name live eternally in Infamy.

Dale: Ouch!!! Your “comment” reminds me of the last four lines of Johnny Cash`s song “San Quentin”! Your anger and frustration are understandable, though: “The judge`s decision is FINAL.” Yesterday, i posted a letter to their administrator. Based on some of the wording in it, my chance of being reinstated would probably be zero minus. i don`t really care anymore; at least i told them a few home truths. At the end of their lives, their “moderators” will have to explain their actions to God. They desperately need prayers. It`s sad! They`re treating some members like crims, and abusing their authority.

Paul F.:  It’s really outrageous, isn’t it?  You would think after this many complaints, Karl Keating would be aware that there is a major problem—and it’s not those being banned!
Has anyone tried to directly contact Mr. Keating with this issue?  Matthew Warner:  you likely have more ‘clout’ than any of us here; can you bring this to Karl Keating’s attention?

Dear Paul F,  thanks for your comments.  I ***Hate*** saying that about a catholic apostolate, but I truly believe that they deserve it.
And when, and only when, they Repent of the wicked and evil way that they have treated me, and I hear also many OTHER orthodox catholics,
then and only then will I take it back and forgive them 70 times 7.
Remember, Jesus only said to do that when your brother comes to
you and says ” I REPENT ”  Then, and only then, did he require forgiveness 70 x 7, no matter how others try to spin his words.  The one in the wrong must express repentance first.  love to you.

Hello, Catholic gal and Dale: thanks for your responses. Any letters of complaint are probably fed straight into the paper shredder. All of us “bannees” (!) are probably regarded as spiteful little malcontents. If the eastern coast of Australia were not so far from the West Coast of the USA, i`d be prepared to (physically) confront their “top management”! It`s a pity we can`t name individual “moderators”! They probably “work” from home, so they`re doubly unapproachable. Sometimes, i wonder whether they put on the black cap when sentencing someone to death. Some of `em may as well leave it on permanently!!! Dale: you`re right about forgiveness. This crowd wouldn`t believe there`s anything to forgive. In the letter, i reminded one of them that he`ll have to face his Maker!!!
This thing makes a mockery of their cheerful “Welcome to Catholic Answers Forums. Here you can join over 300,000…”, most of whom have never made a post, or have been banned. Sick joke! Those baleful words: “Forum Message Your account has been locked…Never” If only a joint approach could be organised! As individuals, we`re easy meat. On our own, we`re helpless against THE MONOLITH!!!  “United we stand…” If only… At least, it`s good to speak with fellow victims. More power to us!

Hi Paul F:  Right there with you!
I don’t believe any of us are anti-Catholic Answers.  I know all the good they do to educate Catholics and non-Catholics.  But I’m still scratching my head, trying to figure out how this problem has gone on for—probably a few years?  And still, nothing has been done about it, it seems. SIGH.

  Well, anyway, Paul:  yes, more power to us.  Perhaps there are some who have really done the wrong thing on that forum, but there are many of us who have tried to share our faith and did nothing wrong—and gotten banned for it.  Really, I still don’t know why I was banned.  It really is bizarre.  We should all pray about it, I think, and pray some eyes are opened as to what’s really going on.
God bless, fellow bannees!

There is one post above (I won’t say whose) which I believe is by one of the CA forum moderators.  Of course, it defends CA forum/moderators to the max, and no sympathy for the many people here who have been treated unfairly.  Not too Christian, I would say.

To this Wayne character above:  you don’t know squat about the Catholic faith NOR the CORRECT interpretation of Scripture, which is the Catholic interpretation which goes back, nonstop, 2000 years to the time of the apostles who WROTE them and for DECADES explained to all the churches what they MEANT by what they WROTE.  It is, as simple as THAT.
CAF is not merely “right wing” catholics.  I am an orthodox catholic.  I was banned for pointing out one of their moderators’s continuous removal of threads that TOO EXPLICITLY expose the wicked deeds of some of the Dems in Washington.  When I wrote an appeal in a private email, as you are TOLD TO DO,  I was banned forever.  They WILL burn in Hell for this, no matter what they have deluded themselves into thinking.  And someone above said something about having to obey “those in authority.” AUTHORITY MY BEHIND.  They are SELF-APPOINTED little Grand Inquisitors, and they and all their disgusting ilk can kiss my hairy backside.  I do not regard them as fellow Catholics at all, but believe sincerely that they are just businessmen hawking God’s Word for a salary.  To hell with their organization.  May it collapse into utter destruction.  Those who support it are supporting a bastion of wicked and arrogant behavior which is ungodly to the hilt.  The doctrines are okay, the behavior is ABOMINABLE.  I will never forgive them, and yes, indeed, they DO NEED IT, too.  God love all the rest of you.  As for them, these self-anointed Little God “moderators,”  they can ALL take a Long Walk off of a Short Pier.

Hello Catholic gal. You`re right: we`re not anti-Catholic Answers, but anti-[bloody-minded, bureaucratic, mean-spirited, vindictive, “...Do as I say!”, petty, ad infinitum.] It seems that some of Pope Paul VI`s “smoke” has found its way in. As a 58yo, i object to being treated like a delinquent child who has to be severely punished!!! They`re the ones that are childish. By banning us, they`re literally cutting off their nose to spite their face. They`re depriving others of the benefit of our knowledge in areas where we know more than average. They`re like an army executing some of ite own skilled members!!! Petty! Stupid!
The only ones who should be banned outright are the saboteurs. Even the smart alec anti-Catholics and general anti-Christians shouldn`t be kicked out: they should be left there, and the knowlegable Catholics and fellow-travellers should be permitted to tear their “arguments” apart and pin them to the wall. That way, “the whole world” would see it, and our opponents would be made to look…er…stupid. But no! Papa Moderator bashes us if we fight fire with fire (and even if we don`t!)... Unbelievably short-sighted!!! And our banned opponents can say that Catholic Answers Forums muzzles free speech. Talk about an organisation shooting itself in the foot!!! And we Catholics are BIG BOYS AND GIRLS, NOW. We don`t have to have our hands held…AND TIED…by misguided, short-sighted bureaucrats!!!
Does the person you suspect have a six letter name which starts with “R”? Commented in late April 2010? He sounds like a real bureaucrat.
Dale: you`re right about Wayne. Obstinately anti-Catholic, no matter what. Shrug.
At least we`re safer here than we were on those forums! Big grin! i wish we had the smilies here! Only eight MADS permitted though, Dale! Another big grin!
Again, Matthew: can`t something be done? Ultimately, IT`S FOR THE GOOD OF GOD`S CHURCH!!! IT`S DAMNED SAD!!!

You know, what really GALLS me, is that many of us BANNED orthodox Catholics gave TONS OF MONEY, sacrificially, over a period of 20 years, to this self-perpetuatin, money-sprinning, comfy-career-financially for those who work their “Organization” and it’s tyrannical, we-are-gods-whom-you’d-better-abjectly-obey-or-else- “Moderators.”
Not to brag, but to make a point, I gave SO SACRIFICIALLY over the years, to THEM and OTHER “Good” Catholic Groups, that I literally have no savings and am in DEBT for doing so.  THEY DO NOT GIVE SO SACRIFICIALLY at all.  They beg YOU for money. And ME.  THEY, many of them, take nice SALARIES from what you GIVE (again, that they keep begging you to give).  While THEY can afford to, and do, take their fancy, hi-falutin, fine food and wine catholic answers “CRUISES” to Europe, and down the Danube and on the Adriatic and the holy land every year, where they are served apologetics in Grand Style (( we give sacrificially and have NOTHING left, THEY “Take” our gifts and can afford, as we CAN’T, these luxurious Cruises… makes me sick to my stomach.  GIVE AS SACRIFICIALLY AS YOU KEEP BEGGING ***US*** TO DO, and you won’t be ABLE to take those luxury “apologetics cruises” in Europe. ))
And then they have the gall to ban us.  They must have gonads the size of BEACH BALLS to pull this, a good, swift KICK in which would bring them down to size.  Let one of them come to my home, ring the bell, step INSIDE my house, and then tell me that I am “banned forever.”  The person will get a, ahem, “lesson” that they will never forget.  But then again, cowardice hides behinds the anonymity of “you have been banned by the moderators.”  God have mercy on their WRETCHED souls.

And don’t worry, dear friend !!  I’m running out of “MADS” now,
because I have said what, apparently, THOUSANDS of banned orthodox Catholics from CAF are THINKING (( NOW lets take action on that thinking and HIT C.A. and C.A.F. in their POCKETBOOKS )).  And hit HARD.
There are wonderful Catholic apologists and organizations out there.
And even C.A. has some very good individual apologists—- let’s just get them AWAY from THERE, where they can do their work honorably and not be associated with a group with a dictatorial, petulant group of moderators.
One lady as Catholic Answers, her name is Peggy, is an extremely sweet and kind human being.  Her last name starts with an F.  She is PRECIOUS.
Some of their apologists are good people too.  But the organization? ——UGGGGGGGGGGH.

Dale: no wonder you`re enraged! i can`t believe that individuals that call themselves “Catholics” can be so mean-spirited. Milk you and then bilk you! It`s sick, isn`t it: we`re banned, but we can still purchase and donate. What do they think we are??? Masochists??? Loons??? Outright idiots???
Two and a half years back i was bashed so much by an individual(E H)for “rudeness” to anti-Catholics, especially to a nasty little piece of work whose six-letter name began with “z” and ended with “t”, that i seriously wondered whether said “moderator” was a plant. A certain individual who posted on 25th April 2010 sounds like a CAF “moderator”: “Obey those in authority. If you don`t like the minimal[!!!]rules…” ETC. Yeah, right! Re-read both of his “posts”; you`ll choke. My charity towards their “moderators” eventually evaporated: too much evidence.
Peggy? Do you mean Peggy in Burien? A wonderful lady, all right. Met her on only one thread (Better not say which one: “walls have ears.”), but a real lady, and friendly. She`ll probably end up banned for being so good! Just looked up her profile and noticed, of 28 friends, 5 of them are banned!!! More good Catholics put to death! Martyrology… Just think! One day we may be anonymously canonised!
Any other forums? Anyone know? Not extremist ones.

Hi Paul, Peggy in Burien?  I don’t recall if I know HER from the CAF forums.  No, the “Peggy” I was referring to was their staff apologist,
Peggy Frye. SHE is a VERY, VERY, VERY NICE lady.  I haven’t spoken to her in a long time, but I used to from time to time chat with her on the phone.  She was (and I’m sure still is) a sweet and delightful human being.  Some of the other folks at Catholic Answers are good people too, but in general, in my experience,  the moderators are a bunch of fascist dictators.  One is particular egregious and obnoxious, his name starts with an R.  In all sincerity, he makes me absolutely SICK.  And since the rest of them surely condone him or he wouldn’t get away with this abomination(s), then I have no use for, nor respect for, any of the rest of their moderators nor their forum administrators either.  May God chastise them with the utmost severity and intensity until they learn their lesson about abusing people, and may He not let up one bit, until they DO.  No one on earth should tolerate being abused high-handedly like this.

Re Paul F and finding other Catholic forums, I like The Catholic Community Forum.  It seems to be very ‘on track’ with our faith.

I believe there are a few others, but I haven’t checked them out.

Hi Catholic gal,
Catholic Community Forum IS VERY GOOD. 
They, too, have moderators, but in my experience, THEIR moderators are fair and not at all abusive nor overbearing.  I like CCF, VERY much.

‘See’ ya there, Dale49! :)  Yes, it’s a great forum.

I have just received a 3 day suspension and 5 points at CAF.  All I did was ask the question why was it that President Obama said he was Christian, yet ask for prayers from Buddists when I had never heard him ask for prayers from Christians, in public, who believe in God.

My account was locked and the reason was being uncharitable and attacking another religion. I asked a question, I didn’t attack anything.

Kate, I’ll be I know WHO locked your account too, I’ll take 2 (don’t need three) guesses as to who it was.  And that person can be RELIED UPON to shut down any thread that hits too close to home re:  the RADICAL left.
FRIEND me on Facebook, u can email me at RMSDONA6@aol.com (if I get spam email, I’ll just block the addresses), I’ll give u my name and u can FRIEND me on Facebook and I’ll tell u what I’ve learned.  This organization will NEVER get another penny from me, nor from anyone I know if I have anything to say about it.  Prayers for their SALVATION, but never again for that Organization, never again under any circumstances whatsoever.  Not a fan. Not anymore, and never, ever again.

I was banned from CA forums too. It was NOT fair. I think you get Blacklisted if you defend Church teaching too much or state the truth about morals, particularly if you do it well and nicely.  I think it infuriates the moderators and so they ban you. Then you are blacklisted and you cannot do anything right.

You cannot complain about their broadly censoring moderator actions because if you say one word in defense of their false accusations you get banned or threatened forever-banning because you have not been humble and gracious in the face of their “correction” 

The moderators are a little private club with their own brand of Catholicism and their own set of rules, and an idea that they are due silent obedience by all and do not need to explain any of their actions. I guess they think CAF members took a vow of obedience to them when they signed up?

There little club has modernist meanings and they are strictly Obama supporters. They like their power absolute and with NO accountability. Talk about temptation to sin and pride!  And they are full of it and full of the uncharitableness they like accusing others of as a matter of course.

Did you know you cannot read a single thing about a single one?  The moderators are strictly shrouded in total secrecy. At least when I ask Karl Keating a Q I know who I am talking to. The mods are strictly, strictly anonymous.  To make it worse, they have other undisclosed identities that they use to write on the forum as regular members, but you cannot read to get to know them because you cannot know what those identities are. For moderating purposes they have their mod-identities, which they use for mod actions only. So basically, they hide.  Account to no one.  Is Terese Martin in charge? If she/he is not also other mods, one thing for sure is you cannot go to her with complaints or for help.  She she will only say she fully 100% supports ALL moderator actions. In other words, she will not support forum members in any way.  So the identity-concealed Moderators can do no wrong and evil one’s minions their primary action is to ACCUSE. Accuse to those who are not allowed to defend themselves.

How Catholic is this moderator activity? Its not just, so its not Catholic.

Its a serious problem and I will not support CA in any form - not even buy books unless I buy them used on half.com - and I have a pile of books previously bought new from them - until they clean house at CAF.  They need all new moderators that reflect CA policies, not the tight little circle of mod militants.  (Or is it one or two people with the different mod names so they can appear to be an organized crowd? I seriously wonder.)

But look at all these posts here. Google “banned Catholic Answers Forum” and read some more stories about how and why people wer banned. You will see a consistency, and that is: really good, really devout and reasonable, charitable, salt-of-the-earth Catholics with many charitable posts on CAF, 100os sometimes, getting banned for expressing too-Catholic an opinion too well. That means clearly and charitably.  That will get you banned for life.

So I love CA but my action to stop supporting them in any way is just.  They are connected to CAF and they either need to disband it or clean it up completely. Hopefully the latter. Drive out the moderators. However many there are. One or two or more. All of them. The complaints of the rash bannings on CAF for being too Catholic or not being an Obama supporter or being too devout or supporting NFP or being Prolife have been around in reports long enough on the Internet and CA does nothing about it.  CA needs a push from us to overhaul the forum they are connected to..

Overhaul the forum, my foot. You love Catholic Answers?  I don’t.  At first I was willing to cut C.A. itself some slack and just blame the moderators, but not anymore. I regard them, RIGHTLY, as directly responsible for those Evil moderators. To the floor of hell with all of them and with CA itself as well. May they all rot.  IF they repent of their malice, I’ll forgive them and take back these harsh words. Until then, such talk is exactly what they deserve and not one iota less.

What I find particularly disturbing is their history of banning or suspending people for reporting posts that are either antisemitic, anti-Islamic and down-right racist.

I see this uncharitable group called CAF, is still unrepentant.  They do more, as an official sanctioned apostate to drive good Catholics away, than anything else I am aware of.  Unbelievable they are allowed to continue.

MARK,  you accidentally used the word, APOSTATE instead of APOSTOLATE.
GOOD for you!!  Their doctrines are sound, but they behavior is malicious to those that they deign, in their almighty power, to “ban” “forever.”  Apostasy is MORAL as much as it is doctrinal.  Evil, malicious people who stab their supporters in the back, may be doctrinally as pure as the driven snow, but with such hearts, such treacherous people are every bit as apostate as those, for example, who claim that Jesus was “just a man.”
As are all, without exception, who continue to SIDE WITH those abusers.

Judith: what i find particularly disturbing is their history of banning or suspending people…PERIOD!!! Their “moderators” are enemy snipers posing as our own side: JUDASES!!! i wonder if the person who calls himself “Robert” on 25/4/10, and sounds like a real bureaucrat, is Robert Bay: “the minimal rules for the CA Forums” BE DAMNED!!!!!!!!! They suppress free speech!!! Mark and Dale: great comments! Not only is this crowd vindictive, mean-spirited, ill-mannered ETC, it also seems to suffer from extreme stupidity…maybe due to a collective darkened intellect. Dale: I’m sure you’d agree! If only a lot of us could band together and form a united front to approach a higher authority (ie Diocese of San Diego)! Suggestions?

Hah.  Thank you friend, but the troubles that are going to break loose on that group from every direction and from all sides, are going to make mere intense scrutiny from the Diocese seem like a cake-walk.  They’ve stabbed too many good people in the back and throat.  And have gotten away with it for far too long.

But by all means, the more the merrier !! Do approach the Diocese, a large group of you.  And the papal nuncio and the USCCB.  And, since we have a leftwing administration in DC, why not use all the dirt on CAF and turn it over to their various agencies?  I wouldn’t normally advocate turning fellow Catholics over to an anti-Religious administration, but these people I do not consider brothers and sisters, because of their evil behavior, so let the government harassment jcommence.  People who screw their brothers over, who have supported them for decades, deserve to be flayed alive.

“They’ve stabbed too many good people in the back and throat.  And have gotten away with it for far too long.”
Dale: the sooner the fireworks start, the better. Unfortunately, I live in Australia: otherwise, i`d be prepared to confront one or more of them FACE-TO-FACE. They have to be pulled out of their hiding places in cyberspace. Faith`s words on 31/1/13 are spot on.
Some of their “moderators” are going to have to answer to God for the loss of souls. Lisa`s words on 12/8/12 should sound a warning: “It woke me up, though. I`m staying pagan.” The “bright spark” that banned her may be responsible for the loss of her soul, if that unspeakable tragedy happens. Our Lord`s words about scandalising and millstones come to mind.
Ruthless, anti-Christian executioners!!! They act as if they`re answerable to no one…only themselves!  Almighty and unassailable! The words: “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” apply perfectly to that crowd. The sooner Humpty Dumpty is pulled off the wall, and his corrupt, bad egg innards are spilled into the dirt, the better it`ll be for the Church and for the salvation of souls, which, of course, is the reason for the Church`s existence in the first place. Let`s not throw out the baby along with the bathwater, though. Dale: you mentioned Peggy Frye…there may be one or two other decent ones! And, of course, the overall concept is great. It`s the applying of it that stinks (of sulphur, ie brimstone!).

First of all, reading this WAYNE’s comments from 2010, I have to shake my ex-JW, EX-fundmentalist Christian head and say, sadly, what a loud-mouth, stuck-up, IGNORANT, IGNORANT, IGNORANT pompous-ass IGNORAMOUS.  His fundamentalist version of Christianity is false, self-righteous, arrogant and blasphemous. Christ promised that the true church would never disappear from the earth and IT WOULD NEVER EVER EVER BE HIDDEN, as in some REMNANT invisible that no one can discern.  Which means that Marty Luther, Jonny Calvin, Huldy Zwingli, and the rest of that lot, with their doctrines UTTERLY UNHEARD OF IN ALL CHRISTIANITY UNTIL THEY POPPED UP IN THE 16th CENTURY CLAIMING, SELF-ANOINTEDLY, TO BE A “REFORM,” ARE IPSO-FACTO *FALSE* VERSIONS OF CHRISTIANITY, NO if’s, ands, or buts, and NO *legitimate* debate on that matter.  If it didn’t always exist, visibly since Christ’s time, with VISIBLE adherents in many countries, then it IS, IS, IS *FALSE*, in view of Christ’s promise, Christ who cannot lie, no matter HOW MANY “Verses” they bring forth in support of it. That’s one comment.
My next will deal with the latest response regarding (so-called) “CATHOLIC” Answers.

Dale: just by coincidence, i reread Wayne`s “comments” a couple of days ago. Our Lord`s words about the sin against the Holy Spirit came to mind: hardness of heart, a characteristic of Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, Jack Chick (!!!) etc. Makes me wonder whether Wayne has read Chick`s Alberto comics. Wayne`s intellect and will totally refuse to even consider anything which contradicts his anti-Catholic opinions. He doesn`t want to know the truth. He and the abovementioned sects and indivduals and their fellow travellers should remember Our Lord`s words: “Not everyone who says to Me: ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven…” They`re definitely NOT doing the Will of the Father.
Wayne: take note!!! And ditch the idea that you`re aready saved: that`s unscriptural! You`ve been redeemed, and you`re BEING saved…or otherwise!
Something forgotten in that last “post”: Private messaging between “moderators” and their victims is too often to the advantage of the “moderators”, not to their victims. A person is accused, judged and put to death in secret, and “the public” will never know the reason. There`s just the “epitaph”: “BANNED”. Secret trials and executions are the speciality of totalitarian regimes…on reflection, they`re often paralleled on “Catholic” “Answers” “Forums”. Your accuser is also your judge is also your executioner. It`s a neat arrangement!!! In the cases of unjust/harsh/brutal treatment, if the truth were made public, the heady absolute-power days of those “moderators” would be over, QUICK SMART! Banning trolls etc is a different thing altogether, and no reasonable person would deny that they have to be banned for the good of genuine posters. No one is advocating anarchy; but we`re advocating fair play.

PS
Robert(25/4/10): wake up, and stop playing the ostrich!!! We (genuine) victims aren`t completely stupid…or gullible!!! We have first-hand experience! That`s why we`re here!
You`re so obsessed with our obligation to obey authority: tell that to the Christeros in Mexico in the mid-to-late 1920s, or to the residents of Nowa Huta in Poland…and Solidarity!!! The late Pope John Paul II would beg to differ. Your infatuation with “Authority” and “Forum Rules! Forum Rules! Forum Rules!” is unhealthy/dangerous. Totalitarian regimes are born of such opinions, and they continue in existence because of such opinions. [i can`t shut up! Sorry, Dale: more typing for you!]

To Joseph M regarding Wayne and hardness of heart of antiCatholics and cultists vis a vis BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT. A few of them may be guity of that, but I doubt it.  The things that they say against the Catholic faith and church are, frankly, in light of THE IRREFUTABLE HISTORICAL FACT THAT THE EARLIEST CHURCH WAS DOCTRINALLY CATHOLIC,
their remarks are SO asinine, SO idiotic, SO petulant, SO stupid, SO unworthy of consideration by anyone with even a child’s MODICUM knowledge of earliest church doctrine, that we can only pity them and regard them as utterly IGNORANT of True Christianity, no matter HOW MANY bible verses they quote in support of their “position.” They are wrong, PERIOD, and their use of those bible quotes is, in each and every case, a MISuse of scripture, no ifs, ands, or buts.  Reality is what reality is, and the apostolic church, doctrinally, was CATHOLIC/ORTHODOX, not protestant at all.  So no, these people are deceived, they are not guilty of Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit.  THAT SIN is the rejection of the truth when one is looking RIGHT INTO THE WHITE HOT LIGHT ITSELF.  THAT, Wayne and the Witnesses, Mormons, nor even most Jack Chick types, are guilty of.  They aren’t guilty of THAT, no matter how infuriated (righteously) it makes us to hear their gutter garbage arguments and claims.  And ALL antiCatholicism is brain dead, inaccurate, utterly false, stupid, unworthy of a hearing GUTTER GARBAGE.  But the people, themselves, are worthy of a hearing, and of our compassion, friendship, and prayers. But to hear these hogwash anticatholic arguments over and over again, from many different sources, each of whom myopically believes that we have never heard such “BRILLIANT” arguments before, is truly annoying, sickening, revolting, galling, and nauseating.  We have to rise above those 100% righteous visceral reactions and pray for these benighted but love-worthy souls. I for one was in the same boat for over 30 years, thank GOD that somebody prayed fervently for me.!!  peace, friend!

One of the most effective ways, Joseph M, to deal with UNrepentant and REMORSELESS abusive people who are on a power trip and who, by “banning” you have effectively declared to everyone else on the forums that you are a “BAD MEMBER” who “DESERVED” to be cut off from the land of the living, which is LIBEL AND SLANDER ON YOUR GOOD NAME—- which God will slay them without mercy for doing, and they can count on it and when they least expect it, no matter “HOW SAVED” they deludedly believe themselves to be—- one of the best ways to deal with such malicious wicked people, if praying for their repentance does not work, and in these people’s cases, they only get worse and worse—- then find out all the “uncomfortable” stuff about them (in colloquial terms, “the dirt”) and then start making it known to everyone without exception.  It is not wrong, it is not illegal, and since they have blackened your name and are, whenever they feel like it, going to continue to BLACKEN THE NAMES of other innocent people because they are on a power trip and “just don’t like their face,” then this is fighting fire with fire.  Pray for their salvation, but PUT A STOP to their evil.  There is no dirt to find on me, nor on you, but I guarantee you, people with power-trip personalities have a lot to hide.  Find it.  Talk to those who know them.  Then expose it.  Sometimes, regrettably, that is the only way to shut them down. I hate to say it, but the vicious only understand the “language” of having dished out to THEM, what THEY dish-out to others.  They deserve it 500 times over.

On that last bit of advice, fighting fire with fire, seriously with some people on a power trip, that is the ONLY language that they understand. All appeals to them on the basis of common decency without fail fall on deaf, arrogant ears. MANY of those banned on that and other forums did NOT publicly engage in some longwinded stink in view of others, with moderators, but privately contacted the moderators to express serious concerns, and then these dastardly people “banned” them when in fact, in many cases, they ASK YOU to privately contact the moderators to express your concerns rather than air them publicly, and when you do, the scumbags ban you.  This happens on several forums.  Leaving you no recourse but to (1) pray for their salvation which is your Christian duty and (2) use every means available to nail them to the Cross, because that is the only way to stop them from continuing to abuse and mistreat you and OTHERS.
However, not all people are called by God to engage in direct “fight fire with fire” warfare like that, even when it is 100% justified and provoked.  So before you do that, go to the LORD in prayer and find out from Him what He would have you do in this situation.  For me, in my situation, such fighting I firmly believe would not be a sin.  I have taken waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much abuse from abusive people in my 50 years of life, and it has done no good for either side concerned to take it, and in fact it has held me back in every area of my life and has “gotten me nowhere.”  For me, I am convinced it is not a sin to fight back after all these years of being a dove and letting abusive people stomp all over me. As the Jews rightly say, NEVER AGAIN.  For YOU, it might be a sin in your circumstances.  Find out what the Lord would have YOU personally do.  God bless you.

I was banned along with someone else, that someone was the person I reported as posting slanderous comments about the Jewish religion.  I sent Mr. Robert Bay and other moderators a polite note, expressing that I was the one who pointed out the problem and they said they would look into it.  I then sent another note as was told to be patient.  I waited 5 days and asked for a update and for THAT was banned for life for being impatient.  Meanwhile I was conversing with the forum on treatment for a drug addict son, having exhausted all methods of handling that I could fathom.  These moderators are personally responsible for my step change in my 60 year relationship with the Church.  May God have mercy on their souls.  And please, somebody FIRE THEM.

Gee Mark, that moderator whose name begins with an “R” sure is mentioned a lot on here.  Is he one of their BIGGEST and most loathesome persons?? He sure is mentioned a lot. 
Let me tell you, MARK:  As it is LENT, for the past couple of hours, re-thinking my posts on here, I was considering, in honor of LENT, FORGIVING these people 100% and asking for THEIR forgiveness in return (though they, not me, are 100%, 100% in the wrong). I was actually considering doing that.  THEN I read your post.  And what these beneath despicable, loathesome, PURE EVIL people did to YOU, knowing as they did and DO, about your ill and addicted son and the help you were seeking for him via the Forums.  In my sincere opinion, they have hearts far more wicked and heartless than the lowest of the Demons.  Do not turn against the Catholic Church, Mark, because of the behavior of a bunch of SLUGS on a power trip. But do avoid the Church’s slugs. And as much as it understandable would gall you to do so, DO pray for the salvation of these
abominable abusers.  God bless you, brother.

After saying everything above, which they, and they alone, provoked,
still, it is not good that any of us harbor the kind of anger that they, not us, have provoked inside us.  May I suggest sincerely that everyone of us offer up an entire CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY for the repentance and salvation of these people and for us to be given the gift from God of inner peace and the ability to forgive even these extremely offensive people.

Dale: re JWs and SDAs etc, those remarks should`ve been better worded. They weren`t aimed at everyday JWs or whoever “in the street”, but at higher-up individuals in those sects. An example of SDA slander: an SDA tract claims that a Vatican document states that the Church teaches that we Catholics don`t need Calvary. We have the Mass, INSTEAD. Actually, the Church teaches that the Mass IS Calvary, re-presented in an unbloody manner. “Someone” in that sect knows the truth, but chose to lie (in this case, a grave violation of the Eighth Commandment).
The WBTS, as you know, sets up straw-man arguments “in support” of the Doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, and then smartly knocks them down. If the orthodox teachings on the Trinity were as absurd as the WBTS claims, we`d all have a right to ridicule them. Again, “someone” in that sect knows the true orthodox teachings, and…as above. Resorting to lies to “prove” their point is lower than despicable, and deserves severe punishment.
Hardness of heart: everything Our Lord said and did was condemned by His enemies; and everything the Church says and does is condemned by Her enemies.
Something more pressing: After Faith`s 31/1/13 comments and your reply, a decision was made to put up “in public”, a protest letter which was sent to their administrator in October last year. For whatever insane reasons, all attempts to do it have failed! FRUSTRATING!!! This`ll be put up first, and then yet another attempt will be made…

PS These two “paragraphs” were accidentally left out:
Chick`s two main sources of his rhetoric, Rivera and Todd, were exposed as complete frauds, by NON-CATHOLIC publications. Only insanity or hardness of heart could prevent Chick from rejecting their outrageous allegations.
Regarding fighting fire with fire: i`m convinced that if we`re capable, we have a right, AND A RESPONSIBILITY, to do just that. Allowing ourselves to be run over and crushed is unhealthy for both sides: it`s unhealthy for the perpetrators because it makes them think they can continue to get away with it; and it`s unhealthy for the victims because they can lose their self-respect, and/or they can be reduced to the level of submissive worms.

I am getting **really** angry at NCR for flagging my posts as “potential spam,” and they had better stop it.

*** I *** do not post “Spam.”

Same here!!!

Paul F (real name), Joseph M and irate Joe are one and the same. They insist om flagging the letter as “potential” spam. And: “Sorry for the inconvenience”!!! i empathise with you!!! Before this is finished, i`ll probably have to make up a heap more names… Got the shock of my life when “Same here!!!” was accepted.

ANOTHER FAILURE!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT`S UP WITH THIS THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE POWERS OF DARKNESS?????????????

I don’t mean to be upset with the folks here at NCR (I’ve always liked this paper very much!), but I do NOT post SPAM, and they should know this by now.

You are right, PaulF, Satan the Devil himself is at work here at the NCR website. I am trying to post pertinent, accurate, and informative post about these cults, including my own former cult the JWs, and over and over and over and over again the post, no matter how I edit it, is flagged as “potential spam.”  They need to correct this, as I do NOT post SPAM.

I have no objection at all to fighting fire with fire, vis a vis these dastardly arrogant vicious moderators, and even with regard to the LEADERS of those SECTS.  The JWs are the WORST in regard to knowingly LYING about Catholic teachings AND about church history.  In their magazine, SHOULD YOU BELIEVE IN THE TRINITY?, they have a subheading called “What the Early Church Fathers Taught”  and under this, they claim (may God punish them with INCREDIBLY severity for this blasphemous lie): that JUSTIN MARTYR taught that Jesus was a CREATED ANGEL !!  Now, Justin did refer to the preHuman Christ as “angel of the Lord” and other expressions, but made it CLEAR that these appellations were not meant to affirm that the preHuman Jesus, the Logos, was a CREATURE !!  What LIARS these people are at the top of those groups!  (continued, hopefully, in next post).

okay, it ain’t the Devil at work here at NCR (LOL, love this paper still), what’s happening is if your post is long, it is flagged. HERE IS PART TWO of the above post:
LIARS! (these cult leaders)  Not “little white lies” liars, either, but LIARS with regard to sacred things—- i.e., diabolical SLANDERERS.  A cursory reading of the writings of Justin they quote from reveal that Justin believed and taught that the preHuman Jesus was GOD ALMIGHTY.  For the rank and file JWs, I’ll grant that most of them are godfearing, reverent people.  I will *NOT* grant such benefit of the doubt to the leaders.  No way. I’ve seen their obstinacy at work in so many ways.  One commentor, speaking of the late Freddy Franz, former president of the Watchtower Society (the commentor was former WT Bethelite, the late William Cetnar) was asked if Fred Franz had a habit of lying (I heard this tape).  Bill Cetnar replied (he knew Franz personally for years), quote, “Freddy Franz is A **DIABOLICAL** LIAR.”  (continued next post)

final post in the series:
Franz claimed to have, through the Watchtower writers who only published what FRANZ APPROVED to be published, claimed to have “carried away the honors of the University of Cincinnati.”  He was in his 40s or older when this lying crap was published with his permission (nothing in the WT or AWAKE or any other of their publications, is published without the Governing Body’s approval).  What a liar.  Sounds like he GRADUATED WITH HONORS from the University of Cincinnati, doesn’t it?  Truth is, he never graduated at ALL, with or without “honors.”  No shame in not graduating college, I didn’t.  BUT I DON’T PUBLISH ARTICLES ABOUT MYSELF CLAIMING TO HAVE CARRIED AWAY THE HONORS OF the University of Such and Such!!!  What a self-aggrandizing LIAR!  THESE are BRAZEN, HUGE lies!!  Or this one.  With Freddy’s knowledge (and he NEVER corrected the publication, not EVER), the WT Society claimed that Freddy Franz was AWARDED A RHODES SCHOLARSHIP but “turned it down.”  In fact, he was ASKED about it, too, and he replied that Yes he was offered a Rhodes Scholarship but in view of his decision to serve at Watchtower Headquartes, “I TURNED THAT DOWN.”  Now, you only TURN DOWN what you have actually been awarded and offered, NOT something that you are merely filling out an application for!!  SO…..Cetnar and his wife got suspicious, and contacted The Rhodes Scholarship Trust about President Freddy’s audacious claim to have been awarded/offered, and turned down, a Rhodes Scholarship. I’ve seen a copy of the letter the Trust sent in reply.  They checked their records thoroughly and replied that it is NOT THE CASE that Mr. Frederick Franz sat for and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship (that he then turned down). 
These cult leaders, especially the WT ones, are DISGUSTING.  I have taken acting classes at a local theatre workshop run by a professional actress/director. I also took some classes at college but did not graduate.  Can you imagine if I were to start a Theatre School and claim publicly that I graduated with honors from New York University’s School of Fine Arts?  And that I was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship but turned it down?  I’m no Saint, but I would never DARE make claims like that. And these are SECULAR, mere theatrical, concerns!! This liar made such claims while claiming to be one of the Special Remnant of God’s Sole Anointed!!
These cults are sick. They are run by men who are psychopathic, sociopathic liars.

We can add Charles Russell`s solemn oath IN COURT that he knew Greek, and other assorted claims. No wonder he abolished Hell! His successors cited a Bible translation done by an off-the-rails priest who said that spirit-guides helped him!!! Do they have no shame? Obviously not. That book: You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth makes me sick…the slanderous lies and straw-man tripe (eg the illustration and caption on PPs 40, 41) contained between its covers!!! Good thing it`s here, though: it taught me a lot. Childish theology!!! i don`t think length has been the problem with that letter: Faith`s comments on 31/1/13 took up a lot of space. The intention has been to divide it into three segments. We`ll try dividing it into six, and do some rearranging and some (more) word alterations. i`m not savvy with the ins and outs of internet security. If this attempt works, it`ll be almost impossible to read the letter: no address, no salutation, no quotation marks, no paragraph spacing; and it`s long and long-winded. But i still want to put it up in full. It names names…

So: this letter is a strong protest against harsh, unjust treatment inflicted on me by two Catholic Answers Forums moderators, namely Michael Francis and Eric Hilbert. Please keep in mind that i suffer from crippling anxiety and CRUSHING DEPRESSION. Had a breakdown at work in 2006, and now on a pension.
On 6th November 2009, i joined those forums as SunnaB16 (Son of Benedict XVI), and a couple of months later, as Fink, after being spooked by puzzleannie. It turned out she was harmless, but as a new member, i didn`t know that. Switched back to SunnaB16 sometime later. After being bashed a number of times by Eric Hilbert for being rude to anti-Catholics, especially a nasty little individual named zatzat, i registered the name Battleaxe out of frustration, and did a handful of posts. Got fed up with the fear of being bashed yet again and dropped out for weeks or months at a time. In May last year (This was May 2011), under the name SunnaB16, i was accused by Thomas Casey of being rude, with a record of rudeness, after having a dig at a poster who had the cheek to tell me how to handle my life. Might leave it at that. To make it worse, paragraphs have been merged. There`ll be more than six segments.

“POTENTIAL” SPAM BE DAMNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STUPID, THICK-HEADED NC REGISTER “SECURITY”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Try one paragraph at a time. Back to Fink. On 14th September last year (ie 2011), i was accused by Michael Francis of derailing thread after tackling a m promoter on a thread titled Eschatology. i DID throw some angry words at him, and don`t deny it. Later on, i tried to apologise via an administrator, but just got an earful of how i abused him and made false allegations against him and other moderators. ETC.

Early on, his reply to my statement of trying to stop someone from promoting m was: THAT`S MY JOB! in that case, why didn`t he do it? Probably because he didn`t realise it. But, anyone who knows much about m knows the agenda of WW and Michael B. And anyone who knows much about m knows the meaning of the 2nd of each month message (to M). The promoter even included an exerpt from the 2nd of September message. It was still there last time i looked. Still promoting m for all to see. Why didn`t Mr Francis delete it after being told about it?

i`ll be insane before this is finished. There are three pages of this, and we`re only half-way through page one. Anyway: It wasn`t Mr Francis` fault that he didn`t see the clues, but it wasn`t my fault that i DID, and responded in all innocence! His responses were hostile and full of menace, and just added fuel to the fire. My own didn`t help! (Please remember my depression! A sufferer of deep depression is much more irritable than a normal person. Unfortunately, that`s how it is. When it came to being unjustly accused, i saw red! Nine days earlier, he had removed SIX of my posts from a thread titled A and Catholicism. Now, FOUR more!)

Swapped back to SunnaB16 just as a way to be metaphorically distanced from the dispute, and decided to clock up a few points to reach 1,010, a pleasant looking (!) number. THERE WAS NO INTENTION OF CIRCUMVENTING ANYTHING!!! (Dear fellow-victim-reader: by this time, Francis had suspended Fink. Pretty sure i didn`t realise it until i saw one of Fink`s posts with Suspended under the name; and then decided to log out SunnaB16 as a safety precaution. Too late! Now, back to letter:) Circumventing didn`t enter my mind! Mr Francis ignored that statement, though. Abuse? Mr Francis dished out his share! OK for moderators to do it, isn`t it!

BANNED under both names! An appeal resulted in crocodile tears: It`s regrettable, but… The allegation of being ultra-narrow in his opinion of on-topic and off-topic was NOT a lie. He was (and probably still is) ruthless with his wholesale removing of posts which HE considered off-topic. A quick reading of a post doesn`t necessarily give a moderator a poster`s intentions. He`s not in the trenches.

TWO PARAGRAPHS TO GO BEFORE WE GET TO THE END OF PAGE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I`VE JUST ABOUT HAD IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We`ll miss one paragraph, and make YET another attempt to put it up later: A couple of months or whenever back, Battleaxe received a Happy birthday… so sometime after that, i decided to have another go under that name by using a plug-in emergency-use operating system…and now this!!! (Dear reader: banned by E Hilbert.) As far as i`m concerned, it`s bloody-minded and mean-spirited!!! Punished like a delinquent child! Some of those moderators couldn`t give a damn about the good i (and countless others) tried to do: answering anti-Catholics, and helping to explain the Faith to genuine enquirers! One slip, and we`re out! No forgiveness! While on there, it was distressing to see the number of Banned titles under the names of good defender-of-the-Faith Catholics! What`s going on? WAKE UP, MODERATORS!!!

The next part deals with a thread titled: Will the real Islam please stand up!, an extremely arrogant and offensive individual with the screen-name Contarini, my saying his responses (to Battleaxe) were arrogant, and Hilbert`s hatchet job on me. Whether it, or anything else from that letter, ever gets put up here is another matter. i`ve had it!!! Something inside this skull will snap or explode if i don`t call a halt. There`s definitely high blood pressure!!! The original intention was to name names, and to show readers some home-truth words to their administrator. Dale, and all fellow victims: best wishes with your endeavours to proclaim the truth. May they be more successful than mine. And: may God bless our beloved Benedict! The only thing left to say is: Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in THIS hour of battle…

Paul F, pops listen:  the moderators are, I am firmly convinced in my heart, for the most part ruthless, arrogant, and diabolically wicked people who are on a power trip and worship themselves- full as they are of their putrid, dastardly, hate-worthy egotism.  Their time has arrived, and it’s about to start crashing down on them from all directions, all at once.  They were warned by many people to knock of their revolting and hate- and destestation-worthy behavior, but they fancy themselves as having the right to ruin other, GOOD, people’s GOOD names with their vile and demon-inspired bannings.  They are now going to reap what they have so wickedly sown, they and anybody who sides with them.  I am glad that I know no specific details about the many angles the lawful punishment is taking, but even if I did, I wouldn’t act to stop it if I could.

Dale: thanks for responding. i wish you could be right about justice catching up with those individuals, but…who knows? i have to admit to missing those forums: for a (now) 58y/o who can`t mix, and lives alone, there were friendly encounters, and often it later seemed that we`d been talking face-to-face. It was a great feeling. Most days, those forums were the only thing that got me out of bed, and the only contact with other human beings. The brutal, vindictive acts of Francis and Hilbert shoved me even deeper into the depths of depression. How many more of their victims have ended up the same way…or worse? Those two have a lot to answer for. Speaking only from my own experience, Hilbert seemed to employ double standards: he allowed anti-Catholics to use language which was off-limits to us. The Contarini/Battleaxe exchange wasn`t in that category, but he allowed Contarini to use extremely arrogant ad hominem language, but crushed and buried me for calling his posts arrogant. Without feeling any scruples, i charge Hilbert with having double standards: hypocrisy! It had to be said! i charge Francis with vindictiveness/cruelty! No scruples there, either! There are still two names which haven`t been banned, plus a couple tied to a different ee male address, but i can`t go back there under their police state rules. The constant fear of being bashed yet again got too intense. More than one poster said it felt like walking on egg shells.

Postscript
Since naming those names, there`s been an unexpected feeling of relief, even of peace; so some good has come out of Matthew Warner`s article and the comments of fellow victims. May you all find the same peace.
May we all meet with joy in the next life.
May those moderators et al wake up and change their ways.
Emma: may your heart be healed.

Thanks Paul F.
Banning people (and posting that filthy word, BANNED, under their names for all to see) and thereby BLACKENING their good names unjustly, is a sin SO HEINOUS that there are few words in any human language sufficient to describe the MORTAL WICKEDNESS of it. May the Moderators AND THOSE ENABLING THEM, for they are JUST AS GUILTY for knowingly enabling them, may they all wake up, IN THIS LIFE, and Repent ABJECTLY of this and MAKE AMENDS.  If they don’t, you can bet that as their souls depart their bodies from this life, they will be suddenly, rudely, and HORRIFYINGLY awakened—too late!!—from their DELUSION that they could do these malicious things and actually BE in the state of Grace.

I joined Catholic Answer Forum (CAF) in July 2011.

I was a regular poster to that site.

However in a discussion this week about the Iraq war, I started to receive “counselling” private messages from a moderator called Robert Bay.

Bay contented that my views were unpatriotic. When I pointed out that I was not American and that american patriotism was meaningless to me, I received a message from Bay telling me that I was banned for life.

It seems to me that there are a number of members at CAF who have been banned for spurious reasons.

I reckon that the problem is with the content of their moderation rather than the content of the banned members posts

Dear L1, while you and I *might* have a few differing views about the Iraq War (though I never supported it and still think it was a horrendous idea), I personally can relate to your experience with the “person” named Robert Bay ((I sometimes wonder if these are REAL people’s names, or made up names, but it really doesn’t matter)).  I can not judge his soul, but in my opinion, my sincere opinion, he is perhaps the person I truly believe to be one of the most onoxiously arrogant moderators at that website on those forums.  Anyway, I am over the forums and utterly OVER Catholic Answers.  There are plenty of places—- far more worthy places, run by people who are demonstrably moral and decent to their supporters—to learn Catholic apologetics and engage in good dialog with other orthodox Catholics.  Catholic Answers is not worth my time, nor your time, nor the time and CERTAINLY NOT THE DONATIONS, of ANY orthodox Catholic.  There was a time when I felt that they did some good. Not anymore, babe. That time has long since passed.  Overall, I sincerely believe that it is a very harmful organization run by people with Titanic egos who seem to enjoy being arrogant and malicious. That’s my experience with these “people,” it is the experience of many OTHER good Catholics too, and so I will never be convinced otherwise.  Good riddance.

Yup…thats the worst of them…Robert Bay.  May God have mercy on his malicious soul.  Actually, my honest feeling is that he should rot in hell.

Wow, where there’s smoke, there’s fire!!  I long suspected that his obnoxious and arrogant behavior was, by far, not limited to me.  Just think how much more money Catholic Answers could be making in donations if “Pee Are Eye See Kays” didn’t work for them and drive away their long-time supporters and contributors, such as many of you, turning us completely against them forever and causing our donations to go bye-bye, forever, along with us ((plus the fact that those abused and banned, like militant activists, pro-actively warn would-be contributors, against ever giving C.A. one thin dime under any circumstances whatsoever, and to cease donating if they are already doing so.  They may still be making it, but they’d be making it “a lot better” if they didn’t allow their little Prince Charmings to abuse orthodox Catholics and others.

I recently tried CAF for the first time. I made it about 50 posts before being “warned” with some kind of infraction for being “uncharitable”.

Frankly, these people are an embarrassment to Catholicism. For the past month, I have seen three threads in which I participated deleted. Then it would appear that because a person with the label “forum supporter” disagrees with my opinion, I get some kind of infraction and the content removed.

Catholicism is better than this. It’s dishonest and it stinks. I had no idea what a joke that site was until this happened and I began searching for more information. At first I thought it was an aberration or just a poor moderator. Nope.

What they have created is not a place where people can honestly discuss things and conduct intellectual discourse. It’s impossible. All that will happen is you getting a massive database of people patting each other on the back.

Addendum: now I kind of regret not pushing the issue and getting banned under that username I used. That label seems almost a mark of honor judging by this list of comments spanning several *years* of abusive behavior.