hmm... Well, I was planning to exercise some
self-restraint here and not get into this argument, but hey, self-restraint was never one of my strong points.
moJoe, I just want to make sure you know to what extent you are distorting the value of Canon law to Catholics. Canon law doesn't take away the necessity of thinking - on the contrary, it gives you something to think about with regard to how you live your life. It's all guidelines, my friend. The Vatican II conference clarified this point by stating that everyone must find his own path to salvation. The Church simply cannot do it for you - you have to make your own peace with God. All the teachings of the Church are there to show you one way to get there. You think you've got a better way to God? Go for it! Don't think there's a God at all? That's your business. But please don't spend your time trying to tell other people what they should and should not believe. That's insulting.