As I mentioned on another blog, I have been blessed.  In being able to see several religions from the inside.  And JU has given me an opportunity to see different sects of my religion. 

I was raised Catholic.  I strayed,  Back in the days of the Tridentine Masses and all.  But I came back, once I understood the real meaning.  In my straying days, I tested/tasted some Protestant faiths.  Even when I came back, I tasted/tested them again as my parish was a nomad one. We worshipped in Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, and other churches before ours was built.  And in all of them I found God.

I am Catholic.  I beleive in the Creed of the church, and I try to live it.  But I have seen other faiths as well.  Not all, as I am the first to acknowledge.  But enough to know that my faith is for me, and that faith is the key.

I am lucky.  I have talked to many Rabbis as well on their faith, and  I understand and accept that their faith is a valid one.

I have knowns Mormons.  Before JU, just a few.  But JU was a great learning experience.  My last boss is a Mormon.  A great man! (If not too smart as he still refuses to bill his old employer for his expertise!  And I still call upon him for questions, which he does answer.  He really needs to learn the 5k rule).  And I have not seen anything that would indicate to me that they are not a true faith (just not mine) and true Christians.

Al Sharpton insinuated they are not.  More is the pity for him, not Mormons.

And I have seen the bigotry against Mormons.  And learned some history as well.  Are they pure and perfect?  Hardly.  But their history is not so dirty as one would say they are hipocrites.  They had a hiccup now and then (much less prononouced as the Catholic one).  As do I assume (bad word, but the only one that fits) all Christian faiths do.  As did the Faith of our fathers, Judism.

But I am not Klingon.  The sins of our fathers are not our sins.  I never owned slaves.  I am not a slave owner.  I have nothing to appoligize for. 

I did not persecute the Mormons.  I did not persecute the Jews.  I can accept them and embrace them as fellow human beings and acknowledge that their faith is valid.  And not betray my own.  The same with Muslims, Hindus and Taoists.

Yet recently, we have had an attack on Mormons.  To which, with almost no exception, JU rallied to condemn.  One Mormon, jokingly stated (paraphrasing) "it is ok. After all we are Mormons".

That is not acceptale to me.  Not from Al Sharpton, or anyone else.  IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!

Mormons have a belief that I do not subscribe to.  But that does not mean I cannot accept them, or accept attacks against them.  With the help of 50 years of experience, and many Mormon friends both in real life and here at JU, I refuse to accept such bigotry.  It is as abhorant as Imus' cracks (done with his acerbic wit, but still wrong).

And I will not accept bigtory, ignorant as well, against Catholics.  For in that, the purveyor shows not only their ignorance, but stupidity.  Ignorance is the lack of knowledge. Easily cured.  Stupidity is the rejection of knowledge,  due to preconceived and false notions, and is terminal.

As I said, recently we have been subjected to diatribes from without on Mormons.  By stupid people.  And yes, recently (by less famous people) we have been subjected to diatribes by stupid people on Catholocism.

I have been tolerant.  I guess I will in the future as ignorance is curable, stupiduty is not.  But I dont have to like it.

As for the Mormons?  Based upon my anecdotal experiences, I think they are one of the most devout Christians - as  faith - that I have ever known.  And I am proud to hear them speak each and every day.  To remind the Al Sharpton's what Folllowing Christ is all about.  And that goes for ones in my faith as well.

For the record, the Joke about "tip toeing in heaven walking past doors" (insert religion of faith), I do subscribe to.  There are many paths to the end, not all walk the same mile.  Believe as you do.  Live as you are taught.  The ends do not justify the means.  The end justifies the end.  When you get to the end, you have but 2 questions to answer.  One is yours.  The other is God's. 

I will not tiptoe past any doors (should I be so lucky).  I will open them and look for friends who I know are better than me.