As an ex-Catholic do you really know what the Church teaches?

[Rocky]

I know catechesis for the past 30-35 years in the Catholic Church has been not very good to say the least. And there are definitely signs that it is getting better—this forum being one of them! My question, though, is why do ex-Catholics who have been to a Catholic elementary school believe that they know everything about the church? Even college graduates will pontificate about what the Church supposedly teaches because they went to Catholic elementary school. But obviously they felt the need for continued study in their secular careers— So what’s up here?

 

[Peregrino]

I know catechesis for the past 30-35 years in the Catholic Church has been not very good to say the least. And there are definitely signs that it is getting better—this forum being one of them! My question, though, is why do ex-Catholics who have been to a Catholic elementary school believe that they know everything about the church? Even college graduates will pontificate about what the Church supposedly teaches because they went to Catholic elementary school. But obviously they felt the need for continued study in their secular careers— So what’s up here?

I often read (on this board) that “poor catechesis” is at the root of the church’s and society’s problems. I think that it is rather optimistic to assume that “proper catechesis” would change the fact that many today have decided not to agree with the church on certain issues. It is not as simple as "show them the “correct” picture of the “truth” and it will be obvious to them. Questioning “authority” seems to be the norm in modern American society. People can and do think for themselves.

 

[estesbob]

I. It is not as simple as "show them the “correct” picture of the “truth” and it will be obvious to them. Questioning “authority” seems to be the norm in modern American society. People can and do think for themselves.

Well of course they do-its called free will. But anyone who truly understands the Church would never leave and anyone who is notin the Church but comes to understand it would join .

 

[Peregrino]

Well of course they do-its called free will. But anyone who truly understands the Church would never leave and anyone who is notin the Church but comes to understand it would join .

lol…“but anyone who truly sees the truth as I do would never depart from that truth”… i.e. to disagree is to be wrong by definition…

 

[BigFeet]

anyone who truly understands the Church would never leave and anyone who is not in the Church but comes to understand it would join .

AMEN!

My mother attended Catholic school in the 1930’s and 40’s through the 8th grade, where “the sisters made everyone memorize the Catechism”. Because of this, she now claims to “know the Catholic Church”, and yet misunderstands so many things about the Faith, that she left to become a “Bible Christian”.

She actually told my four young children (daily Communicants) that Catholics worship statues! Such an outragious lie from a woman who claims to have “memorized the Cathecism”? I think that she needed to concentrate less on memorization, and more on comprehension.

 

[xmydreamsfadex]

as a person that came from a baptist background, and through the Grace of God came into the Church this year, not everyone can accept the teachings. people left the Lord after he told him that they would eat His Flesh, so that same uneasy-ness are in those same people that “think for themselves and decide that a certain teaching is ‘too hard’” and leave the Church built on the apostles.

 

[KatieD]

I have had the same experience as Rocky - friends who went to Catholic school (as did I for six years) who think they know all about the Church’s teachings, don’t hesitate to tell us how wrong things are, and really don’t understand much at all. It is frustrating, and I believe we have to kindly correct their misinformation and continue to pray that more Catholics will understand our faith better.

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

I have a friend who never really learned her faith as a child, but
“knows” what the church teaches because her aunt was
considered a good catholic and she used to see her behaviour.
What made her a good catholic?: she used to have the pastor
over for dinner and the church gave her many “awards” she
went to church, and she was pious.
But she was neglecful of her family, was cruel and mean,
cheated and treated her household help like slaves.
This friend is a member of a mega church and believes that
she “is being fed” now. She is very much into the prosperity
thing as well. I continue to pray for her return, but there you
have poor catechesis (or no catechesis) and bad example.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I know catechesis for the past 30-35 years in the Catholic Church has been not very good to say the least. And there are definitely signs that it is getting better—this forum being one of them! My question, though, is why do ex-Catholics who have been to a Catholic elementary school believe that they know everything about the church? Even college graduates will pontificate about what the Church supposedly teaches because they went to Catholic elementary school. But obviously they felt the need for continued study in their secular careers— So what’s up here?

Most of them don’t know. They left Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. sad sad… only in the Catholic Church you’ll find Him there as well as the Orthodox.

 

[exoflare]

lol…“but anyone who truly sees the truth as I do would never depart from that truth”… i.e. to disagree is to be wrong by definition…

What does that have to do with the OP? The whole problem is with people who say the Catholic Church is wrong, but have no idea what it teaches.

You seem to imply with the above quote that there is no such thing as being incorrect… like if I said 2+2=5, I’m not in error, I’m just “thinking for myself”. :whacky:

 

[Mirdath]

Well of course they do-its called free will. But anyone who truly understands the Church would never leave and anyone who is notin the Church but comes to understand it would join .

Hahahahaha…

I do not claim to understand everything about the Church – that kind of study takes entire lifetimes, and very, very few even among Catholics understand everything about it. However, I am quite well catechized, not by virtue of the couple-few years I spent in a Catholic elementary school but more from the several years after that during which I was homeschooled by my orthodox-to-a-fault parents.

I know quite well what the Church teaches in many respects. It’s not a comprehensive or perfect knowledge by any means, but it’s better than most Catholics have. And while I disagree with Church teaching on some issues, that isn’t why I fell away. I was more than willing to shut up and obey. I left because I just don’t get this ‘faith’ thing: much like the apostle Thomas, I can’t believe in something I can’t see and touch (metaphorically speaking). There’s something in the mind you guys have that I don’t. And honestly I’m not sure who’s better off.

 

[Mannyfit75]

There’s something in the mind you guys have that I don’t. And honestly I’m not sure who’s better off.

Those who remain faithful with the Church are better off than those who aren’t.

 

[estesbob]

Hahahahaha…

I do not claim to understand everything about the Church – that kind of study takes entire lifetimes, and very, very few even among Catholics understand everything about it. However, I am quite well catechized, not by virtue of the couple-few years I spent in a Catholic elementary school but more from the several years after that during which I was homeschooled by my orthodox-to-a-fault parents.

I know quite well what the Church teaches in many respects. It’s not a comprehensive or perfect knowledge by any means, but it’s better than most Catholics have. And while I disagree with Church teaching on some issues, that isn’t why I fell away. I was more than willing to shut up and obey. I left because I just don’t get this ‘faith’ thing: much like the apostle Thomas, I can’t believe in something I can’t see and touch (metaphorically speaking). There’s something in the mind you guys have that I don’t. And honestly I’m not sure who’s better off.

Sometimes i have it, sometimes I dont. I keep the “dont” times to minimum by praying the Hours and going to Mass several times a week. You wont get the “faith” part until you work at it. That takes prayer, study and surrendering yourself to God. It aint easy. You will be in my prayers.

 

[Mirdath]

Those who remain faithful with the Church are better off than those who aren’t.

If those who remain faithful are correct, and also if one can be condemned to hell for an imperfection, defect, or lack he or she has no control over. I like to think the Christian portrayal of God is a little more merciful than that.

estesbob:

Sometimes i have it, sometimes I dont. I keep the “dont” times to minimum by praying the Hours and going to Mass several times a week. You wont get the “faith” part until you work at it. That takes prayer, study and surrendering yourself to God. It aint easy. You will be in my prayers.

Doubt is an ever-present companion of faith, I know – but there’s doubt, and then there’s not being capable of that kind of faith at all. It isn’t like I haven’t tried, either; coming to grips with my inability to believe took me over a year, during which time I still went to Mass (without receiving, of course; ‘I don’t believe’ isn’t an excuse for sacrilege) and prayed regularly with my family.

Thank you for the prayers, though! I figure it can’t hurt

 

[bpbasilphx]

<<This friend is a member of a mega church and believes that
she “is being fed” now.>>

She’s being fed all right. Fed on JUNK FOOD. And getting her itching ears tickled.

This is just another example of what Fulton Sheen said:

Few people in America hate the Catholic religion,
but there are many who hate what they mistakenly believe is the Catholic religion
–and if what they hate really were the Catholic religion,

 

[estesbob]

Doubt is an ever-present companion of faith, I know – but there’s doubt, **and then there’s not being capable of that kind of faith at all. **It isn’t like I haven’t tried, either; coming to grips with my inability to believe took me over a year, during which time I still went to Mass (without receiving, of course; ‘I don’t believe’ isn’t an excuse for sacrilege) and prayed regularly with my family.

Thank you for the prayers, though! I figure it can’t hurt

There is no such thing as that. Faith comes to people in different ways and at different times.- your time will come.

 

[Mirdath]

There is no such thing as that. Faith comes to people in different ways and at different times.- your time will come.

We’ll see

 

[Good_Daughter]

However, I am quite well catechized, not by virtue of the couple-few years I spent in a Catholic elementary school but more from the several years after that during which I was homeschooled by my orthodox-to-a-fault parents.

What do you mean by “orthodox-to-a-fault”? Were your parents hard only on themselves or were you hit over the head with “religion”? I’ve experienced that and it’s awful.

 

[MariaG]

I know catechesis for the past 30-35 years in the Catholic Church has been not very good to say the least. And there are definitely signs that it is getting better—this forum being one of them! My question, though, is why do ex-Catholics who have been to a Catholic elementary school believe that they know everything about the church? Even college graduates will pontificate about what the Church supposedly teaches because they went to Catholic elementary school. But obviously they felt the need for continued study in their secular careers— So what’s up here?

But neither do I know where I would be today without them.

If it weren’t for ex-Catholics who kept telling me what Catholics believed, and when I looked it up for myself were wrong everytime, I don’t know if I would have ever come into the Catholic Church at all.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[estesbob]

But neither do I know where I would be today without them.

If it weren’t for ex-Catholics who kept telling me what Catholics believed, and when I looked it up for myself were wrong everytime, I don’t know if I would have ever come into the Catholic Church at all.

God Bless,
Maria

And many times an imperfect understanding of teachings leads to a Catholic leaving Good example of that is Anne Hathaway , a very good young actress. She was a very devout Catholic and even considered entering the convent. Then her brother announced he was a homosexual and she left the church saying she could not belong to religion that did not accept her brother. Well of course the Church does accept her brother. Unfortunately she was confusing acceptance with approval.

This is also a good example of how sin can affect everyone around you. Her brothers sin not only puts his soul risk but has also resulted in his sister rejecting the church thus putting her soul at greater risk. It does not seem that Anne Hathaway will be able to claim " invincible ignorance"