text: what do you think about catholics?  what have you heard?   i'm an ex-catholic. now before you label me heretical and pray for me, let me share some of my insights. catholics are christians. they believe that the catholic church and its traditions to be the only true church; the only one established by christ and governed by his representative, the pope, since the time peter was made head of the church. all other factions are heretical and not founded on the true faith.   some of their traditions and beliefs are not accepted by other denominations. some even think of the church and/or the pope as the "anti-christ". they do not agree with the praying to mary and other saints. the doctrines and beliefs include degrees of sin, confessions to priests, rote prayers and ceremony. the church and it's traditions reign supreme, above independent interpretation of the bible. penance is required for the forgiveness of sin. the fear of god seems to be more prevalent than the love of god. there are many websites that go into these and more in greater detail.  people outside the faith look upon the past activities of the church (the inquisition, crusades, etc.) as evidence of the power, greed and corruption of christianity in general. the recent molestation inquiries and reports puts even more enmity against the church.   this is not how all christians, or catholics, feel or believe. protestant churchgoers also have put their faith in their denominational dogmas. some believe simply attending church is all that is required of them. christ is the way, truth and life. may we all transcend the animosity and become one with and through him.