Dr. P, you just nailed why I left religion in general, and Catholicism in particular.

My parents, both atheists but who wanted the best available and integrated education for their kids in 1960s Central Florida, sent us to St.Josephs. We had two Black kids in school, but at that time they were way ahead of formal desegregation. I can't even fathom what it was like for them.

When I asked hard questions about Black folks (their absence in church) of nuns and priests (largely driven my my parents' beliefs) I got crap answers. I might have been a kid but I knew BS when I heard it.

It was the beginning of the end early on. No matter what church I tried out I got the same responses.

My research has led me to this: religion is a money business, run in large part in the US and Western cultures by White folks. They want our money to buy ourselves miracles. It's a far worse scam in Africa. But don't get me started. However we relate to what we believe doesn't need some White guy telling us how to get to heaven. Tough to read, but important.