As I said, I am not Catholic (though raised in a Christian household) therefore I do not know all the details concerning Catholicism. I've read, even though all the Popes (except perhaps for one questionable) have been male, prayers are sent via a woman, Mary, Jesus' mom, or through a Saint. Not even to Jesus that I am aware of.
We've always just prayed straight to God. Does that make us upstarts?
As far as I know a Catholic (and no, the name is not derived from people obsessed with cats, like a cat addiction [er beneaddiction?], at least I don't think so :) can be both excommunicated and can also be absolved of sin. Can they be recommunicated? I don't know.
I do know they generally attend CCD as children for religious education.
Guess it is similar to Sunday School without the pomp? Again, I don't know, perhaps I wan't raised a proper Christian or something.
Anyways, Popes, I 'spose, are kinda like the President of Catholics. They are elected but not by the people. I really don't know how that works? Written tests, with an essay on 'Why I Should be Pope? Trials of faith? How do they judge who is holiest?
In conclusion, religion is as touchy a subject as politics or sports teams.
In a way, it becomes what it shouldn't be, a competition where one is better than another. We should all be working towards the preservation and betterment of humankind (which, in preserving the earth, we are preserving ourselves as well) above all else.
Or something.
(K, nun, oops, I mean none of the above, or yesterday's post, is meant to insult in any way, it is all meant in good fun, along with my insatiable curiosity. Thus, I apologize if I offended anyone.)