Do you regret becoming Catholic?

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Hi, Iloveangels,

There you go again - not only missing what is being said, but misidentifying it. This is a metaphor and not a simile. But, note: both can be equally insulting. Dismissing actual words that are both hurtful and harmful shows a degree of insensitivity that is truly sad.

The idea that the Church founded by Christ on Peter can be dropped however foldly that poster wants to put this former ‘girlfriend’ and then go with another Church he identified as ‘serious’ is totally inappropriate. ConstintineTG insulted every Catholic on the thead with this ill-conceived metaphor, and I think an apology is in order. Maybe such posts are welcomed on other sites - but CAF does not endorse, support or encourage insulting Orthodox.

Please be more attentive to what is being posted and less dismissive when people demand that degrading statements stop.

God bless
iloveangels said:
I don’t think he insulted anyone personally. That’s a simile.
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I converted from the Church of Scotland about three years ago.I deeply regret the decision, and will probably return to the Kirk within the next few months.
 
No I don’t, and I never will. History tells me that if I’m going to be Christian than pretty much my only choice is Catholicism the only options that come anywhere near that are Church of the East and Orthodoxy. I was a Buddhist for a while and Buddhism is not similar to Christianity in a lot of ways and the ways it is similar aren’t thought of as being the same in Buddhism. I think if people would stop misquoting Pope Francis and saying things he says that he doesn’t say and actually finishing the quotes he says than maybe just maybe people would be less critical of the Church but both right and left decide that Francis is theirs or Francis is a heretic or this about Francis or this about Francis do you know what he is? He is the Pope. I don’t regret it and nor would I ever even though I lost one of my closest friends over it. I can’t belong to a denomination that explains away the real presence in the Eucharist and the lack of auricular confession as man-made Traditions when history attests to these things as fact. I don’t mean to be a downer on anyone but when you make a post like this expect to get answers like this. I am giving you my honest answer.
 
No! Knowing what I know; believing what I believe; experiencing what I have experienced, I would have to deny Christ in order to leave the Church. I am not willing to do that.
 
Heather777 said:
It is just too different. There is much about Catholicism that rings true, and saying the Rosary brings me great joy, but there are some aspects that I struggle with.q
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Pray the Rosary before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament at adoration. While meditating, beg the Lord to reveal that He is present in the Holy Eucharist. When you are made aware that He is there, you will be changed.
 
I love being Catholic.

I’m so glad a friend of my Dad’s at wok asked him one time to go to church with him and he said yes.
 
I don’t regret returning to the Catholic Church after an almost 30 year absence. I do however regret that much of my family cannot,or will not, accept it. My father, and sister are both former Catholics, and are now both vocal atheists. My mother is pretty much agnostic. They have been surprisingly supportive, or at least not critical.

My wife is also supportive, however being a Baptist she is often less than understanding. She will not attend Mass with me, and has stated “that our son will not be a Catholic”. I typically go to 8 am Mass, then go to the Methodist church with her, and my son. I do not participate in the services outside of singing hymns. When my son becomes older I plan on sharing the truth with him fully. Hopefully I will be a good example to him.

Her family is often very hostile towards me because of my faith. Her father is a former Catholic now Baptist deacon. Her mother is the worst. She goes out of her way to belittle me, and often attacks me and my faith. I believe that she has even attempted to convince her daughter to divorce me.

My wife, and I are meeting with the Priest on Thursday, to have our marriage con-validated. Then I can receive the holy Eucharist, and fully participate in my faith. Maybe in time they’ll come to accept it, but I’m not holding my breath.

But to answer your question, “no” I don’t regret it.
 
David_Fortin said:
I don’t regret returning to the Catholic Church after an almost 30 year absence. I do however regret that much of my family cannot,or will not, accept it. My father, and sister are both former Catholics, and are now both vocal atheists. My mother is pretty much agnostic. They have been surprisingly supportive, or at least not critical.

My wife is also supportive, however being a Baptist she is often less than understanding. She will not attend Mass with me, and has stated “that our son will not be a Catholic”. I typically go to 8 am Mass, then go to the Methodist church with her, and my son. I do not participate in the services outside of singing hymns. When my son becomes older I plan on sharing the truth with him fully. Hopefully I will be a good example to him.

Her family is often very hostile towards me because of my faith. Her father is a former Catholic now Baptist deacon. Her mother is the worst. She goes out of her way to belittle me, and often attacks me and my faith. I believe that she has even attempted to convince her daughter to divorce me.

My wife, and I are meeting with the Priest on Thursday, to have our marriage con-validated. Then I can receive the holy Eucharist, and fully participate in my faith. Maybe in time they’ll come to accept it, but I’m not holding my breath.

But to answer your question, “no” I don’t regret it.
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Continue to be a great example of a Catholic Christian. Participate in the Church and not just on Sunday. Perhaps your wife would attend a scripture study with you. Small things to break down the emotions. Plant some small seeds. The Holy Spirit can work amazing things, over time.

I am confused though. Is she Baptist or Methodist?
 
She’s a Baptist, however the Baptist church has no families with children. Most of the regular attendees are 70+. So we attend the Methodist church, where there are 3-4 families with children around our son’s age.

The church where we were married only has six members, and they’re all elderly. The parsonage has stood vacant for well over 10 years. I expect it’ll close for good, soon.
 
Heather777 said:
It is just too different. There is much about Catholicism that rings true, and saying the Rosary brings me great joy, but there are some aspects that I struggle with.q
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My experience with the Kirk of Scotland, especially in the major urban areas (St. Mungo’s in Glasgow and St. Machar’s in Aberdeen) has been very good. (I’ve also visited little congregations in Shetland, where many of my relatives live.) I can see the appeal.

Do you want to share what those specifics might be?

Edwin
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
And comments like yours are one reason.

I think there can be intellectually rigorous and honest discussion both for and against Catholicism. But I don’t see any.

Instead, all I see is the DaVinci Load/Jack Chick nonsense, a la ‘Look at the Pope’s hat! This proves he’s an evil pagan!’

Or I see multitudes of people who leave Catholicism because they want to fornicate and then abort the results.

None of my particular concerns are ever addressed, leaving me nowhere… See ya.
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There is plenty of serious discussion on both sides. You just have to look for it. My friends Jerry Walls and Ken Collins are coming out with a book against Catholicism from a relatively ecumenical Protestant perspectives. I naturally expect to disagree with it strongly (I have read a few chapters in manuscript but am not allowed to talk about the content before it’s released), but they are good guys worth reading.

And on the Catholic side I find Mark Shea among popular apologists, and Bishop Barron on a somewhat more academic level, very worthwhile.

Edwin
 
pkrjenkins said:
I wasn’t sure where to post this, and since it deals with people who were another religion and then became Catholic
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It was a great Grace from God that He showed me the Church founded by Jesus Christ. I don’t know of anyone nor how anyone could not want to be in the Church that Jesus established.
 
David_Fortin said:
She’s a Baptist, however the Baptist church has no families with children. Most of the regular attendees are 70+. So we attend the Methodist church, where there are 3-4 families with children around our son’s age.

The church where we were married only has six members, and they’re all elderly. The parsonage has stood vacant for well over 10 years. I expect it’ll close for good, soon.
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Whats stopping you from becoming Catholic?
 
adamhovey1988 said:
Why?
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I miss the friendlieness of the Kirk,the Catholic Parish I am in is quite a small parish.I am the only convert from Protestantism.
The Priest emails us a parish newsletter telling us of any events happening but I frequently do not receive the notices of the events until too late.
I feel as though I must keep apologising for being a " just a convert"
The priest rushes me through confession ( 5 minutes and it is over, no guidance no advice)…Most of the parishoners go every week to him for an hour long confession and spiritual direction ( he encourages this) but as he rushes me through confession and offered nothing else, I only go if I absolutely have to.
It has been almost three years since I converted and I am still waiting for him to arrange confirmation.
Please do not reply by telling me that it must be my fault.This took a lot of courage to write and I know I have done nothing to offend the priest.I have never spent more than a few minutes in his company.The people who know me describe me as " shy, quiet, peaceful and easy to get on with"
It has had a seriously deterimental affect on my Faith. I have not been to Mass for weeks and I look with longing at the Kirk.I ask myself, surely it would be better to be worshipping Him in the Kirk than not at all. So yes unfortunately I do deeply regret becoming a Catholic.
 
Heather,
You need to drag yourself (kicking and screaming if need be) back to Mass and make a stop at the confessional on the way to confess willfully not going to Mass. If the priest asks why then be candid with him. He’s an adult and can handle it but he needs to know your problems. He just might help.

You have to realize that conversion is more about truth than emotional comfort. A lot of n-C communities (of whom I spent over 30 years in) have a real thing about “feeling the spirit” and “being welcoming” and none of that is found in the New Testament with regard to Christian life is it?

The best way I have found to have close friends is to share the faith that has so changed my life. I am not always happy, but neither am I always sad…that’s not the way life works and it’s unrealistic to expect it to be that way. However, my life is far and away better than it ever was before.

I wouldn’t trade being Catholic for anything! 😃
 
Church_Militant said:
Heather,
You need to drag yourself (kicking and screaming if need be) back to Mass and make a stop at the confessional on the way to confess willfully not going to Mass. If the priest asks why then be candid with him. He’s an adult and can handle it but he needs to know your problems. He just might help.

You have to realize that conversion is more about truth than emotional comfort. A lot of n-C communities (of whom I spent over 30 years in) have a real thing about “feeling the spirit” and “being welcoming” and none of that is found in the New Testament with regard to Christian life is it?

The best way I have found to have close friends is to share the faith that has so changed my life. I am not always happy, but neither am I always sad…that’s not the way life works and it’s unrealistic to expect it to be that way. However, my life is far and away better than it ever was before.

I wouldn’t trade being Catholic for anything! 😃
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I was part of the Church of Scotland before converting.It is not into " feeling the spirit type of thing. It is rather staid and definitely not like you describe some churches.Scots are not big on touchy feely stuff and we definitely play down the emotions.So I was not seeking or wanting emotional comfort.
What I had hoped for was a fulfilling spiritual life.The priest said to me during Catechism that as a protestant I was looking through a glass darkly but once I converted I would see the whole picture.
That has not happened and I am the unhappiest I have ever been.I am lost and struggling.
I dread even thinking about confession .I stumble over some of my words when I’m nervous and as you might imagine the priest makes me very nervous because he rushes me.I have never yet been able to make a complete and full confession.So I see no point in going to confession.
The priest allows us to email him and last month I decided I had to find the courage to tell him how I have been feeling , my unhappiness over rushed confessions and lack of confirmation etc.He replied ( ignoring most of what I said ) by saying that “feelings do not count” and " if you do not do God’s Will, you risk your eternal salvation"
So how can forcing myself to go to Mass be of any help ?
I believe God is Merciful, loing and kind and will understand why I left the Catholic Church.
Thank you for your reply, it was very kind of you.
 
Heather, I think your priest for whatever reason is not properly seeing your needs. He may be overwhelmed with work, have issues of his own, or simply not realize that you are ready for some “next steps”. I think you do need to raise the issue to him of why he is only spending 5 minutes with you vs. 1 hour with other people and why he has not arranged for you to be confirmed. If you are naturally kind of shy and quiet and reserved, he may not realize anything is amiss. Or he may sense that you are uncomfortable and therefore rushing through your confession is his way of trying to help by getting it over quickly - but it’s not helping and is making it worse.
If you are very uncomfortable with this priest - which can happen - then please before you make any decisions about staying or leaving the church, at least try seeing another priest if you possibly can. Go to the next parish over for example, or the diocesan cathedral. It often happens that a particular priest just doesn’t ring the bell for a particular Catholic. In the old days when there were four priests at a parish, you had options…nowadays with fewer priests, there may not be so many others available. But don’t let one priest be your reason for leaving. God bless you.
 
Heather777 said:
I was part of the Church of Scotland before converting.It is not into " feeling the spirit type of thing. It is rather staid and definitely not like you describe some churches.Scots are not big on touchy feely stuff and we definitely play down the emotions.So I was not seeking or wanting emotional comfort.
What I had hoped for was a fulfilling spiritual life.The priest said to me during Catechism that as a protestant I was looking through a glass darkly but once I converted I would see the whole picture.
That has not happened and I am the unhappiest I have ever been.I am lost and struggling.
I dread even thinking about confession .I stumble over some of my words when I’m nervous and as you might imagine the priest makes me very nervous because he rushes me.I have never yet been able to make a complete and full confession.So I see no point in going to confession.
The priest allows us to email him and last month I decided I had to find the courage to tell him how I have been feeling , my unhappiness over rushed confessions and lack of confirmation etc.He replied ( ignoring most of what I said ) by saying that “feelings do not count” and " if you do not do God’s Will, you risk your eternal salvation"
So how can forcing myself to go to Mass be of any help ?
I believe God is Merciful, loing and kind and will understand why I left the Catholic Church.
Thank you for your reply, it was very kind of you.
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I understand you may not have had the greatest experience, but one can’t flee from something they know (or even simply feel) is correct and expect that it will all work out for them in the end. If you feel the Catholic Church taught the truth, there was no reason to leave. Complain to the priest (again). If that doesn’t work, complain about the priest, to the bishop, if necessary. You can hope and pray for God’s mercy, but you can’t do something you believe God may have a problem with and say, “God will understand”. You need to take further action, not just give up.
 
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