The priest would always have some collection going, to send for missionaries in Africa. It bothered me in two ways, and still I wonder now.
Why force people to convert to your beliefs? Why tell them you will give them food and help them improve their lives, if only they "convert"?
Today, I still see churches of different denominations collect money for Africa. Why Africa???? Why not help feed, clothes and house the needy in this country, our country? Should we not take care of our own home before we go try to help others? Africa should be rich by now! Money has been sent there since I can remember, I am in my forties!
The other thing that bugs me is that when I was growing up, I was told to pay for a mass for the souls stuck in purgatory, so they can be released to Heaven. Especially in case my mom was being held there. What is this? my mom is in prison? Heaven-prison? I told my aunts, my mom was wonderful, loving, respected, selfless. Why would I think she got stuck somewhere before getting to Heaven? Why would a loving caring, forgiving God and Father, hold her from coming into Heaven? They told me my mom was good, but not perfect, go donate money for a mass. So I collected my allowances and paid for a mass. This still confuses me, and I could never believe that I could pay to get her out of purgatory. Is this a bribe to God? Is this like bailing her out of "heaven prison"? Very confusing stuff indeed.
I firmly believe that God is a loving forgiving father. He wants us to succeed, to learn to be better. I doubt He's setting us up for failure. So why am I paying a priest to get souls out of purgatory? What extra special power does a priest have that makes him that awesome? Just saying.
