Anyone Ever Feel Like Leaving the Church?

[MtnDwellar]

Your current friends though, sound pretty awful. I have friends that are non-Catholic. Although they may question me sometimes, its not in a combative tone or latent with continuous ridicule. If your friends can’t respect your choices after you’ve explained them repeatedly, then are they really friends?

YES! Many people have suggested ways of meeting more Catholics. I have a large circle of friends, only one of whom is Catholic. They are all good people, except for one I have been told that every group has to have one - he is ours!

Good people are there. You have to find them.

 

[Monica4316]

I think that being Catholic is difficult but it’s not a sign to switch religions… Jesus said, the way is narrow

 

[ComputerGeek25]

Certainly don’t intend to ‘bash’ Tweety. Just a valid question from a new Catholic. I need to learn a lot in a short time (I’m 67). Just teach me how you can do that? My parish is probably rather conservative. I was taught in RCIA last fall, that we had to go to confession and have no mortal sins unconfessed before we could partake. I believe you mentioned that you had not been to confession since you were 11. If I’m confusing you with another, please correct me. I’ve been going through the CCC but I can’t find it. Sometimes I have a ‘senior moment’ with all the things I’ve tried to learn during RCIA.

Depending on the sacraments one needs to recieve, confession is required.

I believe confession of mortal sins is required before one recieves any sacrament, except baptism and confession (obviously).

Someone correct me if I’m way off base.

 

[Justin_Mee]

Depending on the sacraments one needs to recieve, confession is required.

I believe confession of mortal sins is required before one recieves any sacrament, except baptism and confession (obviously).

Someone correct me if I’m way off base.

Thank you very much. I know some who feel that if they believe in God, they should be allowed to partake of the body and blood at Mass or a Catholic wedding or funeral. I tell them that they will be blaspheming God by such an act. I am not ‘seasoned’ enough to get through to them.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

Thank you very much. I know some who feel that if they believe in God, they should be allowed to partake of the body and blood at Mass or a Catholic wedding or funeral. I tell them that they will be blaspheming God by such an act. I am not ‘seasoned’ enough to get through to them.

No problem!

People who are not properly disposed to recieve holy communion - for example, they are Catholic and in mortal sin or they are not Catholic at all - should not be recieving communion.

 

[RACJ]

For the last month and a half. I’ve been having doubts, I mean serious doubts about my faith (like I have issues with most, if not all, of the Church’s beliefs). I’m just tired of defending it against other people, including my own family (I’m the only Catholic left after my mother died). It would be easier to give up and go back to my old life, I had a lot more friends, men, and fun. I guess I’m just tired, I’m tired of being the crusader, I just want to be a 28 year old woman, find a husband, and raise a family.

So my question is: has anyone else felt this way? Or am I just a weirdo? Or is this a
sign from God that I should switch religions?

 Does the Church do your soul good? If so, you'd have to be a very weak person to switch. Now, if you have isuues beyond personal criticism of you, they may well be serious enough. I'm not a Catholic myself, but I can tell you that a dear friend and his sister rarely go to church anymore b/c of the steep leftward drift of officials such as Cardinal Roger Mahoney. They are unhappy over their choices not to go, and they wish that they could. Their mom is sorrowful about it all. 
 I can tell you that if my churched winked and nodded at pols who support abortion, or if it preached a "social" Gospel, I'd find another place to worship. :shrug: Rob

 

[presidentjlh]

Sooooo true. I’ve never met any Catholics in real life like the ones I encounter on online forums. It’s the nature of the internet. You get a lot of loud people from both sides of the spectrum.

There is much truth to what you say.

I am, without a doubt, far from perfect. I try hard, but as an 18-year-old guy in college, even trying hard doesn’t always do it.

I had just went to Confession Sunday, and now I’m going again tonight because I screwed up yesterday with one of those little buggers of a sin that you just can’t seem to break(I’m going to have to mention this to the priest. Indeed, one should go to frequent Confession, but I fear as though I am starting to misuse it and going so often that it won’t mean anything to me after a while.)

But, that’s just me. I’m not the same as another Catholic. I try to juggle fun, study, and faith all at the same time, and often, I’ll mess up and “drop” one.

 

[Sierrah]

You know I agree with you on this. I mean, I’m married so I can’t exactly feel where you are coming from, but I’ve often thought (while sitting in the pew) “this is all good and great for me. But what about someone who isn’t married?!” I really think there needs to be more of a focus on singles in the church. And I don’t mean more “let’s have a singles event to get all you people married!” I mean honest-to-God singles outreaches and programs that help people find Christ and God’s meaning in their lives as single people.

Yes that’s exactly my point.

 

[coolduude]

has anyone else felt this way? Or am I just a weirdo? Or is this a sign from God that I should switch religions?

Yes, I’ve felt that way. so no, you’re not weird

As to the third question:
God is not the author of confusion. I can guarantee you that He wants you to stay Catholic.

Now I am a ‘facts’ person. If I doubt something I need facts to prove to me that the thing I’m doubting is right (or wrong). This happened a few months ago with the RCC. I thought for a while that Protestants were right. But I did some research and proved to myself that indeed the RCC is the One, True, Church. I can give you my links if you want there’s a lot of stuff there!

So I suggest you do some research. I think that will help

 

[tweetymom]

Certainly don’t intend to ‘bash’ Tweety. Just a valid question from a new Catholic. I need to learn a lot in a short time (I’m 67). Just teach me how you can do that? My parish is probably rather conservative. I was taught in RCIA last fall, that we had to go to confession and have no mortal sins unconfessed before we could partake. I believe you mentioned that you had not been to confession since you were 11. If I’m confusing you with another, please correct me. I’ve been going through the CCC but I can’t find it. Sometimes I have a ‘senior moment’ with all the things I’ve tried to learn during RCIA.

Well dear brother I am 71. If you were taught to go to confession by all means you should go. They teach that very thing in our RCIA too. My confession is directly to God, and always has been.

Yes I am the correct one the one all of you bashed so much and got completly off topic that it was closed.

A very sincere God Bless and Gods love to you in your journey with our Savior.

 

[tafan]

You know I agree with you on this. I mean, I’m married so I can’t exactly feel where you are coming from, but I’ve often thought (while sitting in the pew) “this is all good and great for me. But what about someone who isn’t married?!” I really think there needs to be more of a focus on singles in the church. And I don’t mean more “let’s have a singles event to get all you people married!” I mean honest-to-God singles outreaches and programs that help people find Christ and God’s meaning in their lives as single people.

And what have you done to further this idea?

 

[takers]

Now I am a ‘facts’ person. If I doubt something I need facts to prove to me that the thing I’m doubting is right (or wrong). This happened a few months ago with the RCC. I thought for a while that Protestants were right. But I did some research and proved to myself that indeed the RCC is the One, True, Church. I can give you my links if you want there’s a lot of stuff there!

So I suggest you do some research. I think that will help

I’d be curious to see your links. Would you mind providing them?

 

[coolduude]

I’d be curious to see your links. Would you mind providing them?

All of them or what? There’s quite a lot

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

Holy fear is a necessary disposition to lead a Christian life. Holy fear is a filial fear and does not diminish love anymore than fear of a parent diminishes a childs love for that parent but rather acts in such as away as to increase love.

“Now the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 9:31

The two dispositions of love and fear work together to produce in the soul a perfect harmony with the divine will by governing a person actions so as to draw them away from evil and unite them with the highest Good.

Fear of God is a positive thing not a negative thing, it is what gives a soul strength to carry on following the difficult path when Gods consoling presence feels far away from us.

You have it seems received this great gift of holy fear from your loving mother, however fear of the Lord is only the beginning, God wants to transform you into the person He created you to be, however God can only do that if you love Him more than yourself and allow Him to. He has so much He wants to give you but you keep turning away from Him and refusing His gifts.

I advise you to meditate on all the wonderful things God has done for you so that you may add love of God to fear of God, Ephesians 1-3 will help you.

" 1 And you, when you were dead in your offences, and sins, 2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of this air, of the spirit that now worketh on the children of unbelief: 3 In which also we all conversed in time past, in the desires of our flesh, fulfilling the will of the flesh and of our thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest: 4 But God, (who is rich in mercy,) for his exceeding charity wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, (by whose grace you are saved,)

6 And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus. 7 That he might shew in the ages to come the abundant riches of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God; 9 Not of works, that no man may glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2

Once you fully allow the Holy Spirit to transform your life and stop clinging to parts of your old life you will find that Christ’s “yoke is sweet and” His “burden light.” This is the only true solution, the only action you can take which will grant you the tranquillity and joy you long for, you must bring your life into closer conformance with the Divine Will, it is the only way.

 

[coolduude]

I’d be curious to see your links. Would you mind providing them?

Well here’s all of them:

catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9812conv.asp a primer on Tradition and Scripture
catholic.com/library/Assurance_of_Salvation.asp Assurance of Salvation?
catholic.com/library/church_papacy.asp Church and the Papacy
catholic.com/library/Celibacy_and_the_Priesthood.asp why priests can’t marry
ewtn.com/faith/teachings/papab2.htm More on Papacy and Apostolic Succession
catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0502sbs.asp Explains Salvation
catholic.com/thisrock/1995/9509fea2.asp What Catholics mean about Jn. 3:16
catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0203sbs.asp OSAS
ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/PRIMPOPE.htm Part One of the link 4 above this
catholic.com/library/sr_chick_tracts_p1.asp Debunking Chick Tracts
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=214212 Scriptural Support for Mary’s Virginity
scborromeo.org/ccc.htm An online CCC
newadvent.org/library/almanac_thisrock91.htm Protestant question for Catholics
catholic.com/library/Immaculate_Conception_and_Assum.asp Immaculate Conception and Assumption
catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9812fea2.asp Is Mary’s Queenship Biblical?
catholic.com/library/Mary_Ever_Virgin.asp Mary: Ever Virgin
catholic.com/library/Peter_and_the_Papacy.asp More on the Papcy
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=244369 Defense of Marian teachings
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=243027 calling priests Father
bringyou.to/apologetics/a51.htm The Male priesthood
catholic.com/library/Call_No_Man_Father.asp More on priests being called Father
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=266738 Can non-Catholics go to Confession?
catholic.com/library/pillar.asp Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth
catholic.com/library/Do_Catholics_Worship_Statues.asp Do Catholics worship statues?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=178065 Purgatory
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=276109 Matthew 1:24
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=283258 2012
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=280727&highlight=Confession+Question Refuting Protestants who harp on Marian devotion
catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9312fea1.asp Is Christmas pagan?
catholic.com/library/Forgiveness_of_Sins.asp The Forgiveness of sins
catholic.com/library/Intercession_of_the_Saints.asp The Intercession of the Saints
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=85089 why is the RCC attacked so much?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=252027 why is the Church against womenpriests?
askacatholic.com/holyquotes/documents/_all_catholic_verses.htm A list of Catholic Scripture verses that defend Catholic doctrines.
catholic.com/thisrock/1992/9201fea2.asp God’s Speech
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=43830 Protestant miracles?
scripturecatholic.com/ Scripture Catholic
protestanterrors.com/ Protestant Errors
catholic.com/thisrock/2007/0705fea4.asp How Do We Know It’s the True Church?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=288347 What Scripture references teach praying for the dead?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=23387&highlight=dead+pray+for+us Can I pray to dead people?
catholic.com/library/fathers_know_best.asp Quotes of EFC’s
catholic.com/library/Scripture_and_Tradition.asp Scripture and Tradition

Well I’m not finished but I have to do something. I’ll be on shortly to finish up

 

[coolduude]

Part II:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=294316 Does Mary pray for us?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=20039 How can saints hear our prayers?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=19411 Is Catholicism true if the Church has had immoral popes?
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=301836 Is the ascension of Mary biblical?
catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0103sbs.asp How to Defend Christ’s Presence in the Eucharist
catholicapologetics.org/ Catholic Biblical Apologetics
catholicessentials.net/extremeunction.htm Extreme Unction
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=411478 Did Mother Mary have other children?
catholic-pages.com/default.htm Many articles on the Church. Poke around.

I have a lot more but the rest of my links deal with God’s existence, the Divinity of Christ, etc. I can provide those too if someone wants

 

[takers]

Well here’s all of them: snip
Well I’m not finished but I have to do something. I’ll be on shortly to finish up

Awesome! Thanks for all the reading material!

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

And what have you done to further this idea?

With school, work, volunteering, and things I am already doing in my parish I can’t squeeze it in.

That and it would seem rather ridiculous having a married woman try to set up a group for singles.

 

[KC91]

Sooooo true. I’ve never met any Catholics in real life like the ones I encounter on online forums. It’s the nature of the internet. You get a lot of loud people from both sides of the spectrum.

Well I am myself whether online or in real life. It’s just that unfortunately these days there aren’t as many ultra-Catholics like me and my ‘loud minority’ of mates on this thread as there were in the 1950s and before.

 

[PaulinVA]

Well I am myself whether online or in real life. It’s just that unfortunately these days there aren’t as many ultra-Catholics like me and my ‘loud minority’ of mates on this thread as there were in the 1950s and before.

You know, there is a way to be an “Ultra Catholic” in belief and still be loving and compassionate.