Anne Rice: from Catholic to atheist to Catholic to ex-Catholic

[PRmerger]

npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128930526

Just heard her interview on NPR today.

Not ever a fan of her Vampire chonicles, but was intrigued when I heard she had re-converted to Catholicism after being an atheist for years.

Now, it seems, she cannot abide by the hierarchy, the scandals, the hypocrisy. :sad_yes:

Yet, in the interview she speaks of the Eucharist with a longing. Her voice, I think, trembles at the loss of this Sacrament.

Please pray for her re-re ))-conversion!

It is to her credit that she has great integrity and cannot be a Catholic if she isn’t going to embrace the whole thing.

 

[rlg94086]

npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128930526

Just heard her interview on NPR today.

Not ever a fan of her Vampire chonicles, but was intrigued when I heard she had re-converted to Catholicism after being an atheist for years.

Now, it seems, she cannot abide by the hierarchy, the scandals, the hypocrisy. :sad_yes:

Yet, in the interview she speaks of the Eucharist with a longing. Her voice, I think, trembles at the loss of this Sacrament.

Please pray for her re-re ))-conversion!

It is to her credit that she has great integrity and cannot be a Catholic if she isn’t going to embrace the whole thing.

Anybody looking for a Church on earth without hypocrites is a fool. They will have to wait until heaven for purity.

I will pray that she re-recognizes the Truth of the Christ’s one, holy Catholic Church.

 

[3DOCTORS]

Will pray for her. Sometimes it’s hard for converts to not be “spooked” by these things and sometimes they didn’t get adequate catechesis. Or, like Bishop Sheen pointed out, they hate what they think is the Catholic Church. Don’t know what happened in this case.

Check out my social group “Tiber River Lifeboat Patrol” for more on praying for converts who fall away… We’re the Body of Christ, we must keep praying.

A wise priest once said, and I’ll never forget - we’re all hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who doesn’t practice what they preach. We’re all guilty of that one time or another.

And a popular joke puts it in a different way, but the same idea - Q. Is the church full of hypocrites? A. No, we can always scoot together and make room for one more!

 

[PRmerger]

Will pray for her. Sometimes it’s hard for converts to not be “spooked” by these things and sometimes they didn’t get adequate catechesis. Or, like Bishop Sheen pointed out, they hate what they think is the Catholic Church. Don’t know what happened in this case.

Check out my social group “Tiber River Lifeboat Patrol” for more on praying for converts who fall away… We’re the Body of Christ, we must keep praying.

A wise priest once said, and I’ll never forget - we’re all hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who doesn’t practice what they preach. We’re all guilty of that one time or another.

And a popular joke puts it in a different way, but the same idea - Q. Is the church full of hypocrites? A. No, we can always scoot together and make room for one more!

Yes. I believe she has a son who is gay, and perhaps because of this cannot reconcile herself with the teachings of the CC on this.

BTW, what’s the significance of your screeenname?

 

[rlg94086]

Will pray for her. Sometimes it’s hard for converts to not be “spooked” by these things and sometimes they didn’t get adequate catechesis. Or, like Bishop Sheen pointed out, they hate what they think is the Catholic Church. Don’t know what happened in this case.

Check out my social group “Tiber River Lifeboat Patrol” for more on praying for converts who fall away… We’re the Body of Christ, we must keep praying.

A wise priest once said, and I’ll never forget - we’re all hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who doesn’t practice what they preach. We’re all guilty of that one time or another.

And a popular joke puts it in a different way, but the same idea - Q. Is the church full of hypocrites? A. No, we can always scoot together and make room for one more!

Exactly. That is why relativism is so popular. Hypocrisy is the greatest of sins in our secular society, and you can avoid being a hypocrite by making everything relative.

 

[3DOCTORS]

Yes. I believe she has a son who is gay, and perhaps because of this cannot reconcile herself with the teachings of the CC on this.

BTW, what’s the significance of your screeenname?

Your hypothesis sounds plausible . . . that’s a difficult position for anyone to be in. Although I’m surprised the topic didn’t come up in RCIA - but maybe if that’s what the issue is, she kept her inner struggle to herself - hard to know.

My screen name is explained in my signature - the 3DOCTORS happen to be my name patron & confirmation patrons and some of my favorite saints.

 

[Fran65]

Anne Rice was raised Catholic so won’t have gone through RCIA. My understanding is that a return involves confession, absolution and then you can take full part in the life of the Church.

She is also on record as having difficulty with teachings regarding contraception, the position of women in the Church as well as the teachings regarding homosexuality.

She has also written an autobiography ‘Called Out of Darkness’ which deals with her return to the Church. She may write another about why she could not stay.

I must admit that the impression I had of her when I followed her on Facebook was tremendous attention seeking…but that may be unfair of me.

 

[Poco]

Will pray for her. Sometimes it’s hard for converts to not be “spooked” by these things and sometimes they didn’t get adequate catechesis. Or, like Bishop Sheen pointed out, they hate what they think is the Catholic Church. Don’t know what happened in this case.

This may be a bit off topic, but… I’d never been able to remember the book, chapter and verse of any Biblical sayings until I decided to join the Catholic Church. After that, John 6:60 has stuck with me ever since.

Many of His disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

In any case, I’m still swimming as hard as I can to get across the Tiber!

A wise priest once said, and I’ll never forget - we’re all hypocrites. A hypocrite is someone who doesn’t practice what they preach. We’re all guilty of that one time or another.

And a popular joke puts it in a different way, but the same idea - Q. Is the church full of hypocrites? A. No, we can always scoot together and make room for one more!

 

[4HisChurch]

I heard the interview also.

She said she was raised Catholic and thought she knew what the Church taught but upon studying it (for 12 years, I think she said) she realized that she didn’t agree with some of its teachings. She also said the sex scandal made it difficult as well.

IMO, there needs to be some sort of outreach to people who find themselves in this situation. Apologetics is necessary, yes, but there are people who have actually studied and read apologetic materials and still find that inadequate.

Also, as far as apologetics goes, there are many “angles” from which to make one’s approach. Someone coming from a scholarly background and raised Catholic will need different questions answered than someone not coming from academia and perhaps coming from a different denomination.

I hate to bandy about the word “pastoral” but I think it is truly necessary in so many situations–perhaps all.

 

[3DOCTORS]

I heard the interview also.

She said she was raised Catholic and thought she knew what the Church taught but upon studying it (for 12 years, I think she said) she realized that she didn’t agree with some of its teachings. She also said the sex scandal made it difficult as well.

**IMO, there needs to be some sort of outreach to people who find themselves in this situation. Apologetics is necessary, yes, but there are people who have actually studied and read apologetic materials and still find that inadequate.

Also, as far as apologetics goes, there are many “angles” from which to make one’s approach. Someone coming from a scholarly background and raised Catholic will need different questions answered than someone not coming from academia and perhaps coming from a different denomination. **

I hate to bandy about the word “pastoral” but I think it is truly necessary in so many situations–perhaps all.

Well put. Our Lord Himself healed people and forgave their sins and admonished them. He of course had the advantage of being able to read their hearts, but we are commissioned to follow in His footsteps and, with the Holy Spirit’s help, discern what is needed in a particular situation and start at the beginning. And pray for the person - most important of all.

Some feel deeply hurt and rejected and have a hard time with the “hate the sin, love the sinner” idea. They need to be helped to understand that God’s rules aren’t to crush us but to protect us. Gently. Sometimes they need to cry and vent. And sometimes that is the thing that opens the door, even if only a tiny crack. God works in His own time, and remember the parable of the Prodigal Son - how the father went out to look for him, and ran to meet him when he was still far off.

 

[4HisChurch]

Well put. Our Lord Himself healed people and forgave their sins and admonished them. He of course had the advantage of being able to read their hearts,

Sometimes I think we Catholics think we can read others’ hearts when (most of us) can’t. We don’t know that someone is being obstinate and not truly questioning. There is more information out there than ever now, and often, people will be coming from the perspective of already having done quite a lot of investigation and studying.

Some feel deeply hurt and rejected and have a hard time with the “hate the sin, love the sinner” idea. They need to be helped to understand that God’s rules aren’t to crush us but to protect us. Gently.

I totally agree with this. We need to remember that we are not superior to others.

God works in His own time, and remember the parable of the Prodigal Son - how the father went out to look for him, and ran to meet him when he was still far off.

Absolutely. God is welcoming and loving. Why can’t we be?

 

[3DOCTORS]

Sometimes I think we Catholics think we can read others’ hearts when (most of us) can’t. We don’t know that someone is being obstinate and not truly questioning. There is more information out there than ever now, and often, people will be coming from the perspective of already having done quite a lot of investigation and studying.

I totally agree with this. We need to remember that we are not superior to others.

Absolutely. God is welcoming and loving. Why can’t we be?

If by “we” you mean the people on CAF, I think many are, some are most of the time unless they get all het up or their pride gets in the way. And there may be some who seem more concerned with winning arguments than caring for souls at times. Guess we must pray that God will write straight with our crooked lines.

 

[4HisChurch]

If by “we” you mean the people on CAF, I think many are, some are most of the time unless they get all het up or their pride gets in the way. And there may be some who seem more concerned with winning arguments than caring for souls at times. Guess we must pray that God will write straight with our crooked lines.

True! I was thinking, really, of “we” in general. Or, perhaps, “we on the net” in general.

 

[Willy_Jose]

I made a short blog post as a reaction to Anne Rice renouncing the Church last August.
To my surprise, she responded. Here is part of her comments:

“Yes, I have certainly researched 2,000 years of Catholic Church teaching and history, to answer your question. And let me assure you that it is possible for a well educated, well informed, well indoctrinated Catholic to leave organized religion as a matter of conscience. I have done it…”

randomthoughtsmusings.blogspot.com/2010/08/anne-rice-out-of-egypt-and-out-of.html

So sad. I am praying for her too.

 

[PRmerger]

I made a short blog post as a reaction to Anne Rice renouncing the Church last August.
To my surprise, she responded. Here is part of her comments:

“Yes, I have certainly researched 2,000 years of Catholic Church teaching and history, to answer your question. And let me assure you that it is possible for a well educated, well informed, well indoctrinated Catholic to leave organized religion as a matter of conscience. I have done it…”

randomthoughtsmusings.blogspot.com/2010/08/anne-rice-out-of-egypt-and-out-of.html

So sad. I am praying for her too.

Interesting! I enjoyed the youtube video by Fr. Barron.

I am saddened that she mistakes Church teaching as being anti-gay. It’s no more anti gay than Jesus is anti-divorcee when he speaks the truth about divorce and re-marriage.

 

[St_Francis]

It’s a strange thing, I joined a book club and the first book we were going to talk about was one of hers, so I read all of her books to date (3? 4?), and saw that she seemed to be exploring the theme of what happens to people when children are out of the picture for them (2 vampires and a castrato). They sink into hedonism… I came away from that with a respect for family and a foundation for a profound understanding of the Church’s teachings on family when I returned to the Church.

Maybe she should read those books in the space of two weeks…

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Yes. I believe she has a son who is gay, and perhaps because of this cannot reconcile herself with the teachings of the CC on this.

BTW, what’s the significance of your screeenname?

She is also personally Pro-Choice, and could not accept Holy Mother Church’s Pro-Life Stance.

In fact, I read somewhere that (supposedly) one of the “last straws” for her was when a Nun who sat in a Hospital’s Board Of Directors was excommunicated because she had voted to allow an Abortion.

Don’t know when that happened, but apparently that was one of the reasons she left the Church.

Oh, Boy--------

How DARE the Church enforce its Teachings!!!

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I followed her departure with interest and great sadness because I found her books on Jesus wonderful and inspiring. It seems to me that she couldn’t free herself from the secular liberal mindset despite all her study and prayer. I guess her example shows how difficult it is to put God at the centre of life and to put all trust in Him, rather than into secular ideologies.

Her comment on one of the posters’ blog about being informed and still leaving organised religion smacks of pride. Many people desperately want to have Jesus as their private spiritual guru and disregard the fact that he left the Church behind him.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I followed her departure with interest and great sadness because I found her books on Jesus wonderful and inspiring. It seems to me that she couldn’t free herself from the secular liberal mindset despite all her study and prayer. I guess her example shows how difficult it is to put God at the centre of life and to put all trust in Him, rather than into secular ideologies.

Her comment on one of the posters’ blog about being informed and still leaving organised religion smacks of pride. Many people desperately want to have Jesus as their private spiritual guru and disregard the fact that he left the Church behind him.

Very Good Point.

 

[mindmapper888]

I don’t see how being informed and leaving organized religion smacks of pride. Disillusionment and frustration at the state of the church perhaps…but what person who’s concerned about the church won’t feel disillusioned occasionally? And if after being informed one leaves the church in good conscience, that’s not pride, that’s just following one’s conscience.