Controversial subjects include Abortion, Contraception, Legitimacy of the Church's Power, Euthanasia, Corruption in the Clergy, Extra-Marital Sex, Sexuality, All-Male Priesthood, Chastity, and Racism.
Despite controversy, the primary mission of the Church is to provide the saving grace of Jesus through liturgy, scripture, and sacraments. Therefore, I remain a Catholic!
I. Abortion
I've created (and started with) a website about the soul and it concludes that if one volunteers for sex one cannot have the right to abortion, unless to save one from serious health issues. If conception is involuntary, as in rape or seduction by incest, one isn't responsible.
2. Contraception
The reasoning of the Church is that one shouldn't obstruct the creation of new life (in marriage). One has the right to abstain from sex, so isn't that obstruction? Are we forced to have as many children as possible?
3. Legitimacy of the Church's Power
Jesus granted the right to judge over moral matters to the Apostles and their ordained followers. Thus they hold the keys to heaven, in a sense. If they do not provide adequate reason they are not attempting to convert, and where is their authority then? They provide service through the Sacraments to all who embrace Jesus, in scripture as well. The Sacraments are extensions of Jesus' power of blessing, healing, unity, and forgiveness.
4. Euthanasia
One shouldn't die willingly unless to save another's life. One should disrespect death at all times. No one is stopping you from being productive. Pray. Jesus taught us to pray, therefore prayer works. Rejoice in all that is good and pass it on. Share good times with others, and if you're lonely, approach someone at church, if anyone the priest. Pain is not my master. Commune with God.
5. Corruption in the Clergy
It's hard to root out corruption. But the majority are not corrupt, and that you'll find in the Catholic Church too. If you see it, report it, to your friends and family and to a good government.
6. Extra-Marital Sex
One could say what is the difference between masturbation and sex, or sex before marriage or after, or sex in marriage or outside? One could go further and say, what is the difference between one partner or two, or six, or animals, or vegetables, or minerals? The bottom line is, marriage is a responsibility, and one should prepare for it with focus and humility. Masturbation is necessary for some, like me, so we should only fantasize about our future spouse. This is a lot harder for men. I have a solution: meditate on the name of God whenever you need help or want to share a moment or gratitude to him. 'In nomine Patri, et Fili, et Spiritu Sanctum'; also, imagine the letters 'pfs'. This really works; it sets your mind and priorities straight, which is knowledge, service, and love for Him.
7. Sexuality
Sex is a pleasure with a purpose to unite a man and a woman in collaboration for society and for children. Homosexuality need not be condemned, but heterosexuality is necessary for generations, and should be fostered where possible. When you open your mind and care for everyone you realize someone of the other gender needs you. Changing sexual organs is merely disapproval of sexual organs or some unadmitted problem or bias with a drastic answer. Gender comes from originally and naturally producing egg (female) or sperm (male). Our gender is part of our mission from God. There is a balance in the number of men and women that serves society. The whole body is conducive from birth to be male or female. One doesn't change it so that one functions well.
8. All-Male Priesthood
The priesthood has been all-male since the beginning. Women don't have any intellectual lacks compared to men. They couldn't physically defend themselves like men, hence the freedoms given to men. I haven't met many women of the lecturing type. There could be other reasons, but it's not apparent.
9. Chastity
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. -Matthew 5:28
I have already stated my opinion on lust, but I'd like to present the Church's opinion. They say that any sexual activity (including masturbation) outside of marriage is a sin, and the only mentioning of what Jesus said is in the passage above. This passage, if literally taken, bans sex. Much of what Jesus says, if taken literally, is dumb. But Jesus' teachings are tied and relevant to the principle of Heroism. If relevantly taken, bans adulterous thought. But it's not. So I'm assuming the Church's stance is based on moral reasoning. True, the ideal situation is marital sex. But there are health reasons to have pre-marital sex or masturbation. So, what moral consequences should we consider ourselves accountable for? Are we incapable of faithful marriage because of this? No. Do we think or treat less of the people we sexually admire and/or act with? No. I'm obviously thinking it is no more consequential than eating pork. Which brings us to the point of blind faith. Is there an easier way to dupe people into chastity? Yes. That sort of proves that the point of the Church isn't to dupe people. But they're still wrong and do you really think God's going to send you to hell for it? THAT would be insanity. It simply isn't an offense.
That being said, it is obviously misery.
There should be a goal with all intimate relationships, and that is marriage. We need growth, sole devotion, and understanding and help for all kinds of people. And when this world solves all its problems we'll have something to laugh about!
10. Racism
There are some that think they were born perfect with God's intuition. That begs the question: why aren't they immortal? Has God wronged them? They think their purpose is to procure an army for God to use to utterly destroy, frankly, other humans. They don't abstain from condemnation, they postpone it. And they watch you die because you can't exist without their support. Common personality traits exist amongst these people; utter forgetfulness of their own mistakes, prissiness (gathering steam for abusing others), open-ended rationale of hypocrisy as argument bait, that, if responded to, is a challenge to their divine right of ruination. They destroy for service. There is no end to their argument because their is no admittance of their opponent's logic, which is poison to them. They are insipid with a desire to destroy humans, and yes, they go on to get degrees and positions in the Church. They LOVE being trusted because that's cover. They have their own meanings for critical words too. They refuse love because it's not material.
I know of this first-hand, and they benefit from the false illusion that people who attend church can be trusted. It's free reputation. Be wary of guys in their 20's and 30's who are vindictive, for they're testing the waters to have full dominance over you. Bullies love weak people.