Considering returning to the Catholic Church

[smead2942]

I was raised in a Catholic household. I have done my baptism, confirmation and communion. I never questioned my beliefs because it was all I knew. When I got a little older I began to form my own views and realized they did not align with my Catholic beliefs, so I pretty much left the church altogether. Recently however, I have been going through some tough times and felt this sudden urge to pray to God for help. How could I do that after so many years of abandoning my faith? I want to return to the church, but my views on gay marriage, evolution and birth control (among others) are on the opposite spectrum on what the church teaches. I’m feeling lost, searching everywhere for answers.

If you profess the Catholic faith then you must believe 100% of its teachings. I used to be in a boat similar to yours. However, as time went on, I began to realize how unbelievably arrogant I was. The Church was founded by God Himself. She is the Third Temple, the New Jerusalem, the Pillar of Truth, and the Bride of Christ. And she knows a heck of a lot more than I do. The Church has reasons for every one of her teachings. Those teachings have been tested by countless heresies throughout the millenia, yet the Holy Mother Church has remained steadfast and true.

There will come a day when you face a fork in the road. On the left-hand side you will see a highway, named “Me”, which is broad and easy. The right-hand path, labeled “Christ”, is narrow and less-traveled by man. It’s not an easy choice to make, but I pray that you will make the right one.

In Christ,
Spencer

 

[Memaw]

Come to church. Know that the Church teaches otherwise, and reflect on that occasionally. Don’t obsess over it, though.

Get your feet wet. Test the waters.

Come in out of the rain, dry off, and warm up, then see how you feel.

Go to mass, most importantly. Go to confession, and confess what you in good conscience know was wrong. That’s all it takes to really return for a baptized, confirmed Catholic who’s already taken communion. There’s no formal process in canon law that I know of that you need to go to, though some Churches do have programs for returning Catholics. But it’s not required. You’ve been gone awhile, but you’re welcome home.

Talk to a priest and let him help you. I don’t think you would be at peace by “just” going to confession and on with your life. If you are at odds with serious Catholic teachings then that would not be at all honest. A priest could help you understand these teachings. And you would be able to make the choice if you want to be a faithful Catholic and not just a “cafeteria” Catholic. Prayers, God Bless, Memaw

 

[kozlosap]

If you profess the Catholic faith then you must believe 100% of its teachings. I used to be in a boat similar to yours. However, as time went on, I began to realize how unbelievably arrogant I was. The Church was founded by God Himself. She is the Third Temple, the New Jerusalem, the Pillar of Truth, and the Bride of Christ. And she knows a heck of a lot more than I do. The Church has reasons for every one of her teachings. Those teachings have been tested by countless heresies throughout the millenia, yet the Holy Mother Church has remained steadfast and true.

There will come a day when you face a fork in the road. On the left-hand side you will see a highway, named “Me”, which is broad and easy. The right-hand path, labeled “Christ”, is narrow and less-traveled by man. It’s not an easy choice to make, but I pray that you will make the right one.

In Christ,
Spencer

I have to disagree. Many good and Holy priests would not be Catholic if they held to your rules. These issues normally have to do with the social dogma, and not theological dogma.

 

[zz912]

I have to disagree. Many good and Holy priests would not be Catholic if they held to your rules. These issues normally have to do with the social dogma, and not theological dogma.

What is social dogma and theological dogma? Could you explain more?

 

[simspt]

I was raised in a Catholic household. I have done my baptism, confirmation and communion. I never questioned my beliefs because it was all I knew. When I got a little older I began to form my own views and realized they did not align with my Catholic beliefs, so I pretty much left the church altogether. Recently however, I have been going through some tough times and felt this sudden urge to pray to God for help. How could I do that after so many years of abandoning my faith? I want to return to the church, but my views on gay marriage, evolution and birth control (among others) are on the opposite spectrum on what the church teaches. I’m feeling lost, searching everywhere for answers.

For me i struggled with some of the social teachings also, what was helpful was taking the time to really dig in and learn why the Church teaches what it does on those issues. Read the Church’s official explanations and then read the philosophical commentary by Catholic philosophers NOT APOLOGISTS (superficial polemical answers too often) . For me it was more of an intellectual hurdle that once I understood made perfect sense. If you have already tried this then as others have said cont to pray…Doubt is part of Christian experience, don’t let it stop you from returning!! Also for me pride (i’m right the Church is wrong) was another issue i had to deal with which took time. God doesn’t promise us tommorow but does his love and forgiveness:thumbsup:

 

[Dorothy]

I have to disagree. Many good and Holy priests would not be Catholic if they held to your rules. These issues normally have to do with the social dogma, and not theological dogma.

I believe that has to do with morals, such as same-sex marriage, birth control as the op mentioned.

It is possible to obey all the Church’s teachings when we get our strength from the Lord through prayer and the sacraments. We may struggle, and when we allow Him to win for us He grants us His peace.

 

[WT1]

If you profess the Catholic faith then you must believe 100% of its teachings. I used to be in a boat similar to yours. However, as time went on, I began to realize how unbelievably arrogant I was. The Church was founded by God Himself. She is the Third Temple, the New Jerusalem, the Pillar of Truth, and the Bride of Christ. And she knows a heck of a lot more than I do. The Church has reasons for every one of her teachings. Those teachings have been tested by countless heresies throughout the millenia, yet the Holy Mother Church has remained steadfast and true.

There will come a day when you face a fork in the road. On the left-hand side you will see a highway, named “Me”, which is broad and easy. The right-hand path, labeled “Christ”, is narrow and less-traveled by man. It’s not an easy choice to make, but I pray that you will make the right one.

In Christ,
Spencer

Great post I’ve also discovered how arrogant I’ve been in my life and working to correct that. The humble path where you recognize that Christ is the authority and his will is infinitely greater than your own is so much more rewarding.

I’ve found when I have questions or doubts to just pray about them, give them to Christ to resolve and ask Him to strengthen my faith. He hasn’t ever failed me and grants peace and mercy.

 

[Actaeon]

I was raised in a Catholic household. I have done my baptism, confirmation and communion. I never questioned my beliefs because it was all I knew. When I got a little older I began to form my own views and realized they did not align with my Catholic beliefs, so I pretty much left the church altogether. Recently however, I have been going through some tough times and felt this sudden urge to pray to God for help. How could I do that after so many years of abandoning my faith? I want to return to the church, but my views on gay marriage, evolution and birth control (among others) are on the opposite spectrum on what the church teaches. I’m feeling lost, searching everywhere for answers.

Bry, are you still reading this thread? I hope you are!

The Catholic Church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners. We all have our doubts and we’re all tempted to believe what the world teaches (and is different from what the church teaches). And you know what? That’s totally okay. Doubting Thomas is still a saint!

The important part is this: that you be humble and accept that the church has taught differently than you believe, that you be open to researching what the church teaches and why, and that you not advocate against the church as you carry out that search.

It might help you to know that back in my early days of college, I too was for “gay rights” in terms of extending “marriage” and didn’t understand the church’s teaching on birth control. By understanding the theology of the Body and the great works of John Paul II, I came to see both of these issues from a wider standpoint of the communion of the faithful over time. Obviously, I can’t impart understanding to you, but I assure you that it’s there if you search for it.

All that is a long way of saying, come home to the Church, brother. If you’re being called, you don’t have to immediately change your intellectual beliefs. You need only humbly open yourself to Grace and accept that you might have to search for some understanding of why the church teaches what it does. But you’ll be able to do that better with the Grace of the Church to help you.

 

[Bry02]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all the wonderful, insightful advice. It took me some time and some failed attempts but I returned to the church a few weeks ago. It was hard only in the sense that I just felt so guilty and undeserving of returning. I even drove to a few services a few times only to sit in the parking lot for 10-15 then just leaving. Once I finally pushed myself to sit through mass once more, it felt like a big burden was lifted off my shoulders. The emotion was a bit overwhelming, I was even moved to tears. But they were happy tears, I felt weloped and accepted. Although I still struggle with a lot of my initial concerns, I feel at peace knowing I have taken the first steps to regain and accept my faith. Thank you all again. And to anyone out there who might be reading this and in a similar position, I can tell you from experience that after you take that first sometimes overwhelming step, everything else just starts falling into place, piece by piece.

God bless.

 

[adamhovey1988]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all the wonderful, insightful advice. It took me some time and some failed attempts but I returned to the church a few weeks ago. It was hard only in the sense that I just felt so guilty and undeserving of returning. I even drove to a few services a few times only to sit in the parking lot for 10-15 then just leaving. Once I finally pushed myself to sit through mass once more, it felt like a big burden was lifted off my shoulders. The emotion was a bit overwhelming, I was even moved to tears. But they were happy tears, I felt weloped and accepted. Although I still struggle with a lot of my initial concerns, I feel at peace knowing I have taken the first steps to regain and accept my faith. Thank you all again. And to anyone out there who might be reading this and in a similar position, I can tell you from experience that after you take that first sometimes overwhelming step, everything else just starts falling into place, piece by piece.

God bless.

I was wondering why this thread was under “new posts” God bless you, welcome home.

 

[Church_Militant]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all the wonderful, insightful advice. It took me some time and some failed attempts but I returned to the church a few weeks ago. It was hard only in the sense that I just felt so guilty and undeserving of returning. I even drove to a few services a few times only to sit in the parking lot for 10-15 then just leaving. Once I finally pushed myself to sit through mass once more, it felt like a big burden was lifted off my shoulders. The emotion was a bit overwhelming, I was even moved to tears. But they were happy tears, I felt weloped and accepted. Although I still struggle with a lot of my initial concerns, I feel at peace knowing I have taken the first steps to regain and accept my faith. Thank you all again. And to anyone out there who might be reading this and in a similar position, I can tell you from experience that after you take that first sometimes overwhelming step, everything else just starts falling into place, piece by piece.

God bless.

Welcome home Brother. You are no worse than I was. Take a look at My Testimony

 

[mattp0625]

Hello -

Well done on your decision to return.

The responses on this thread were also well done.

I especially agree with the the comments about truth. To me, this is about who has truth and authority.

The bible indicates that the “world” and the “spirit” are at odds with each other.

Some of the views you have described are sourced from certain politics. It’s not that we cannot pay attention to politics. To me, religion and politics are very different things with different goals. One is mostly about worldly power.

If you believe the bible to be true, you can see that Jesus himself gave His own authority to the church (starting with the apostles). He also said the gates of hell will never prevail against it and He will be with the church until the end of days.

History also shows the RCC is that church traceable to Peter and the apostles.

For me, the question is - Do you believe politics to be the highest truth? Or, do you believe the church founded by Jesus has the highest truth? And which entity has the highest authority?