Is anti-Catholicism mostly left-wing or right-wing?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I mean today by the way, not the 1840s.

[RI]

Although anti-Catholicism comes from all sides, I've found the most vehement, rabid hatred of Catholicism to come from the evangelical right. This is not to say that atheists and other non-Christians don't use Catholicism as an easy target, however.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Although anti-Catholicism comes from all sides, I've found the most vehement, rabid hatred of Catholicism to come from the evangelical right.

really?! they're just considered another denomination at my church, and we're evangelical

[JSojourner]

Evagelicals pretty much rediscovered Roman Catholics with the rise of the anti-abortion, anti-gay and pro-theocracy movements.  (Though it's important to note not all Roman Catholics and not all Evangelicals embrace those movements.)

The powerbrokers there -- the Dobsonistas among Evangelicals and the Bill Donohue, Opus Dei and more militant foes of choice on the Catholic side -- regard one another as allies.

The reality, of course, is that "ally" is a stretch.  "Useful idiot" is more apt.  Were either to acheive the wet dream of theocracy, then the less powerful group's usefulness would come to a slow end. School prayer is dandy.  As long as they're not praying to "the whore of Babylon".

[Redefeatbush04]

I haven't encountered a hell of a lot of anti-catholicism and my family is wicked catholic.  I'm also in Burlington Vermont - pretty much ground zero for the left wing. Most atheists and jews seem to lump catholicism with other christian denominations. I'd say anti-catholicism died out in the 50s and that lingering pockets may exists in far right evangelical churches but that it is the exception not the rule.

[RI]

Although anti-Catholicism comes from all sides, I've found the most vehement, rabid hatred of Catholicism to come from the evangelical right.

really?! they're just considered another denomination at my church, and we're evangelical

It is by far the exception rather than the rule, of course. This is from my experience only. Most anti-Catholicism I've seen on the left tends to be either a general form of anti-Christianity/religion or anti-conservatism, and it seems to me that it is a general bias. On the other hand, the anti-Catholicism on the right that I've seen tends to be smaller in number, perhaps, but much more vocal, aggressive, and focused in tone and message.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

If you mean Anti-Catholicism then that seems to be mostly an evangelical trait with occasional radicals/shrill media types adding onto it. Now if you mean Anti-Clericalism well that's something very different.

[KuntaKinte]

Anti-Catholicism is neither left-wing nor right-wing, just very stupid.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Anti-Catholicism is neither left-wing nor right-wing, just very stupid.

What's stupid about opposing one of the most misogynistic and repressive institutions on Earth?

[Hatman 🍁]

Anti-Catholicism is neither left-wing nor right-wing, just very stupid.

What's stupid about opposing one of the most misogynistic and repressive institutions on Earth?

^^^ Seriously.

My anti-catholicism comes from being a leftist. And a Protestant. (but a left wing Protestant, which fits in with the traditions of my particular denomination, which is probably the most left wing mainstream Protestant denomination in the World)

My ancestor's anti-Catholicism was probably from the right however, despite being United Churchers as well. My Great Grandmother (on my dad's side) always voted Conservative. I don't know how my mother's parents voted however, but they were both in the Orange Order.

I have Northern Irish ancestry on both sides, so I guess it's in my blood! I'd be lost in Northern Ireland though, their Progressive Unionist Party is quite small.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Anti-catholicism isn't left-wing or right-wing - it's something that can easily be incorporated into any political mindset (other than a Catholic or Catholic-influenced one) relatively easily. Most people in Britain, regardless of other political beliefs, were strongly anti-catholic until recently and a residual anti-catholicism (again, regardless of other political beliefs) remains. A lot was tied up with anti-Irish sentiment, but some was obviously older.

[KuntaKinte]

Anti-Catholicism is neither left-wing nor right-wing, just very stupid.

What's stupid about opposing one of the most misogynistic and repressive institutions on Earth?

So you more or less hate everyone who is not a secular, western liberal? Muslims, orthodoxe jews, catholics, hindus...?

I disagree with the Pope and the catholic authorities on most issues, but that doens't lead me to nonsense-hatred against a demonination of about one billion believers. That's not "liberal" at all, by the way.

For the record: I'm not a catholic.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I don't see how opposition toward Catholicism is any different than opposition toward the Southern Baptists or Scientology.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Anti-Catholicism is neither left-wing nor right-wing, just very stupid.

[Rowan]

Anti-Catholicism is neither left-wing nor right-wing, just very stupid.

^^^^^^

You can call it whatever you want, it's still bigotry.

[Hatman 🍁]

I have nothing against the Catholic people, just against Catholicism.

If that makes me a bigot, than I am a bigot!

[titaniumtux]

Hatred towards any belief system is irrational (I'm referring to hatred, as in beyond disagreement). For instance I don't hate Buddhism, though I disagree with pretty much all of their beliefs (karma, reincarnation, etc.). In my experience, those who hate the Catholic Church the most are those who renounced their Catholic faith (whether or not they joined another religion).

I don't see how opposition toward Catholicism is any different than opposition toward the Southern Baptists or Scientology.

Though there is a politrickal aspect to opposing Catholicism, Southern Baptists or Scientology, it's usually irrational hate. The Catholic Church has its leader in Europe, meaning it's "un-American" by old-school standards to be Catholic. Scientologists won't participate in military service nor will they sing the national anthem, hence they're banned in Singapore. Certain Southern Baptist groups in the USofA can get quite radical, and can easily obnoxiously offend many people (Caucasians, homosexuals, etc.). Even then, it's not a big left/right issue.

@SOFA Earl:
You are indeed a bigot! I can name some other demographics you don't like, but I'll save that for when we hang out. Say, don't you hate the Anglican church more than the Catholic Church on the account of the Anglicans being more similar to the United church (pro-gay marriage, don't like spicy food, sacramental based)? The Anglican Church seems to be competing for a much more similar Christian demographic than the United Church.

The people who hate Catholicism the most are ex-Catholics, notably in Québec (probably used to be the most Catholic part of North American) where blasphemy is casually used as local slang. Again, the hate is irrational...We all know that one day in the '70s in Montréal, Québec City and Gatineau, the tabernacles flew out of the parishes to attack the locals and hit them with communion hosts and chalices...hence the locals got used to warning their peers of this MDR!! Granted Québec is very socialist, the anti-Catholic sentiments are irrational.

[Sewer]

Though there is a politrickal aspect to opposing Scientology, it's usually irrational hate.

lololol

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

It's true that the people who most viciously oppose Catholicism are ex-Catholics. Most of what I've said on the forum that people have called me bigoted before I've heard from members of family many times, (including things like "fucking Papists" and "Nazi Pope") all from the Catholic side. Meanwhile my father's side of the family includes some very conservative evangelical Protestants (my late uncle was actually a minister of such a denomination, he committed suicide earlier this year) and I've never heard an anti-Catholic comment from anyone on that side. This does in my opinion serve as a valid argument it's bigotry, since that refers to something people CAN NOT change. A person who hates anyone who was raised Catholic is certainly a bigot, but an ex-Catholic can't be bigoted against themselves.

[Hatman 🍁]

Perhaps I should hate Anglicans for the same reason I hate the Green Party? hahaha

Well, I dont mind Anglicans so much. As I told you yesterday, when we walked by that Anglican church, we both have our reasons for not liking them. Mine being that they are too close to Catholicism, while yours being they are too close to the United Church. haha And as you are well aware, I don't even consider Anglicans to be Protestant. (which is a bit ironic, to be honest, but Wikipedia says I'm not the only one )

[titaniumtux]

W00t, I also don't consider Anglicans to be Protestant! Though somewhat controversial, they aren't quite Protestant IMHO. Fortunately we make it easy for Anglicans to become Catholic.

[ChrisJG777]

Anti-Catholicism is neither left nor right wing, but unfounded intolerance pure and simple.

Though there is a politrickal aspect to opposing Scientology, it's usually irrational hate.

lololol

Put me in power and I will assure you that Scientology will be reclassified as a terrorist organisation.  Well, they act like terrorists as far as I'm concerned. 

[Hatman 🍁]

w00t! Now I'm intolerant and a bigot!

[ChrisJG777]

w00t! Now I'm intolerant and a bigot!

You must be very proud of yourself. 

[Hatman 🍁]

w00t! Now I'm intolerant and a bigot!

You must be very proud of yourself. 

These are just labels y'all have given me. My opposition to Catholicism has everything to do with their bigotry and intolerance.