Well, I guess I had better put my two penneth in, especially as I have been mentioned. In my childhood years I met several really lovely nuns and priests and one of my best friends in life was a Bishop. But these people were good people, not because of their religion, but despite their religion - at least in my view!On the other hand, at the age of just 10, I also experienced regularly being given lashes with a thin bamboo cane on the back of my legs, my buttox and on my knuckles by Ursuline nuns and later being repeatedly physically abused by a priest in my own home at just 13 years of age. The nuns were immensely conniving and cruel at times, treating me with disgust when I first got my period, calling me filthy and dirty and mocking me in front of the other children. I was so upset I wet the bed one night and was sent to class with my soiled knickers pinned to my skirt, so the other children could see what I had done. As it later turned out, I was quite ill and the bed wetting was a part of this. Abuse was hidden from my parents by abusers lying to them. I was told that I would be sent to burn in hell for eternity if I told anyone, so out of fear, I didn't. In fact, I didn't tell my mother until I was 38 and had been told I was dying of cancer. So, am I still a Catholic or do I still believe in God or anything these people told me at the time? Simple answer - No, I am now proud to say I am an atheist. And no, this does not make me a bad person. It makes me a free thinking, considerate, happy person, who no longer fears speaking out. Enough said.