Former Catholics become anti-Catholic

[Church_Militant]

I have to add here that IMO it is more important to be a seeker of truth AT ALL COST than to find some place where I’m comfortable…
IF, as I have no problem declaring…the Catholic Church possesses the fulness of truth then we have an obligation to pursue that truth with all commitment and honesty of heart. Once that truth is discovered, do we not have a moral obligation to align ourselves with that truth or else prove to be dishonest in our search for God?

Jesus did say: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

The issue for us all is whether we are willing to follow that truth…
I don’t care WHAT the church goes through or how hard it gets. If this is the truth…then I’m in for the duration. Christianity has always been and always WILL BE a spiritual battle…and in battle some fall (maybe even yours truly?), but that does not negate the truth of the Catholic faith. If ya can’t accept it then say so and don’t tell me…tell Our Lord. But don’t tell me that it’s a matter of what I can and cannot “handle” or “agree with”…the ECF and the apostles and many saints gave their lives for this faith. Where is our courage my dear friends and brethren?

Truth is truth…or else we are not honest…
Pax vobiscum,

 

[mercygate]

princejeremy_17:

I believe that the reason why they left the church in the first place was because one had finally read the bible and found out that the catholic church was teaching false doctrine. so when he leaves he wants to show all that information that brought him to the truth.

You are correct. However, that “Bible reading” is often handed to them by someone whose main object is to take people out of the Catholic Church. So when they are shown something in the Bible that appears to contradict Catholic faith or practice, instead of taking the question to a Catholic who can give a real answer, they reject the Church on the superficial presentation – backed up by fellowship – and accept as proof of Catholic “falsity” something which 99 percent of the time, the Church does not teach – or if it does, it teaches it with very good reason and NOT in contradiction to Scripture.

You can throw in divorce and contraception as two other big motivators that turn people into “Bible” Christians.

 

[Mickey]

princejeremy_17:

I believe that the reason why they left the church in the first place was because one had finally read the bible and found out that the catholic church was teaching false doctrine. so when he leaves he wants to show all that information that brought him to the truth.

Greetings your highness!
I don’t claim to be a psychic, but I foresee suspension in your future.

:tsktsk:

 

[Mickey]

Church Militant:

I have to add here that IMO it is more important to be a seeker of truth AT ALL COST than to find some place where I’m comfortable…
IF, as I have no problem declaring…the Catholic Church possesses the fulness of truth then we have an obligation to pursue that truth with all commitment and honesty of heart. Once that truth is discovered, do we not have a moral obligation to align ourselves with that truth or else prove to be dishonest in our search for God?

Jesus did say: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

The issue for us all is whether we are willing to follow that truth…
I don’t care WHAT the church goes through or how hard it gets. If this is the truth…then I’m in for the duration. Christianity has always been and always WILL BE a spiritual battle…and in battle some fall (maybe even yours truly?), but that does not negate the truth of the Catholic faith. If ya can’t accept it then say so and don’t tell me…tell Our Lord. But don’t tell me that it’s a matter of what I can and cannot “handle” or “agree with”…the ECF and the apostles and many saints gave their lives for this faith. Where is our courage my dear friends and brethren?

Truth is truth…or else we are not honest…
Pax vobiscum,

smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_6_10.gif smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_3_22.gif

 

[Church_Militant]

princejeremy_17:

I believe that the reason why they left the church in the first place was because one had finally read the bible and found out that the catholic church was teaching false doctrine. so when he leaves he wants to show all that information that brought him to the truth.

W/all due respct princejeremy_17.
This is A/C BUNK!
Especially coming from the LDS, which adds bizarre books to the Bible and makes up new novel doctrines like that we can become gods of our own planets and that we can marry for time and eternity in plain violation of the words of Christ Himself. If you WERE once Catholic you MIGHT then speak to this issue, but one which follows such rampant spiritual deception needs to buttom up his lip and go wash his scared garment to keep the demons form comin’ for ya.
You talking about false doctrines is pretty much THE most ludicrous thing I’ve seen in a long time.

 

[Church_Militant]

princejeremy_17:

I believe that the reason why they left the church in the first place was because one had finally read the bible and found out that the catholic church was teaching false doctrine. so when he leaves he wants to show all that information that brought him to the truth.

W/all due respct princejeremy_17.
This is A/C BUNK!
Especially coming from the LDS, which adds bizarre books to the Bible and makes up new novel doctrines like that we can become gods of our own planets and that we can marry for time and eternity in plain violation of the words of Christ Himself. If you WERE once Catholic you MIGHT then speak to this issue, but one which follows such rampant spiritual deception needs to buttom up his lip and go wash his scared garment to keep the demons form comin’ for ya.
You talking about false doctrines is pretty much THE most ludicrous thing I’ve seen in a long time.

 

[reggie]

I think that that a lot of people leave the Church for the reasons that Theresas gave: i.e. there are some doctrines and beliefs that they don’t agree with and so they leave. To justify themselves, they must then reject the whole of Catholism.

It is much easier to reject “Catholism” than to resist our human impulses and desires. If one can convince one’s self that the Church is wrong, then there is less guilt with going against her teachings. But, there is underlying guilt and that manifests itself in anger and a backlash against that which is causing the guilt.

I was away from the Church for a very long time. I did exactly what I said above. I mocked the staid traditions and beliefs. I questioned why the church seems to have so much finery and money and yet didn’t take care of the poor and homeless. Of course, once I returned, I found that all of that was just a way to salve my own consience. All it took was a good thump on the head from the Holy Spirit to get my head on straight. I found that my heart had never really left the church. I have never been happier and now, my heart pounds with anticipation and love at Mass. Thank you, Lord, for never forsaking me even when I pushed you away and foolishly thought I had no need of you!

 

[VociMike]

princejeremy_17:

I believe that the reason why they left the church in the first place was because one had finally read the bible and found out that the catholic church was teaching false doctrine. so when he leaves he wants to show all that information that brought him to the truth.

Yes, and then they all rush to the one true church that teaches only true doctrine, the LDS. Ooops, no, I meant the Baptists. Err, wrong again, I meant the JWs. Darn, the SDAs? Rats! Now I’ve forgotten, what is the one true church that all bible readers who are brought to the truth end up in, which teaches only true doctrine? I mean, everyone who reads the bible and is brought to the truth should certainly end up in the same truth-only church, right?

 

[gus]

I recall a convert the Catholic Chuch saying:
That moving to the Chuch is usually the result of yearsof Study
So that decision is intellectual.
People tend to leave the Church for personal reasons or their own failure. This tends to be emotional.

 

[MariaG]

posted by gus

I recall a convert the Catholic Chuch saying:
That moving to the Chuch is usually the result of yearsof Study
So that decision is intellectual.
People tend to leave the Church for personal reasons or their own failure. This tends to be emotional.

ooh. Good answer! Although not true in my case, I would guess it “usually” is right on target!

God Bless,
Maria

 

[teresas1979]

Originally posted by mercygate:
You can throw in divorce and contraception as two other big motivators that turn people into “Bible” Christians

Surely this is a contradiction in terms? The Bible clearly forbids contraception and many ‘Bible Christians’ I know **are **as legalistic as Catholicism is. The reason they leave is because they draw up their own laws from the Bible rather than the ones set down by the Magisterium. And with the exception of the Marian dogmas I would say that many of them overlap so the fundamentalists are actually a lot closer to Catholicism than they would like to think

 

[philipmarus]

There is no quietness in an evangelical church or somber faces, but when you walk in, everyone is happy and greeting one another. People talk to each other in evangelical churches. You can’t even get into the front door without a friendly greeting. People like to be welcomed and made to feel like they really belong. This I believe attracts lots of Catholics to evangelical churches.

I’ve have found this social aspect (“Greeting at the door”) in my experence often borders on Proselytism. I wandered outside christianity for most of my adult life until coming into the Church July 4, 2003. I had been baptized as infant but never lived the sacramental life or ever received the eucharist for almost 30 years… I went to evangelical churchs in High school and early College before completely falling away from any semblance christian belief. I founded the quiet one of the most appealing aspects of Catholicism. No one ever pressured me into becoming Catholic all the times I attended mass before I ever became Catholic. Even when I first met with the priest and showed him my Byzantine Baptism certificate his response to me was like “Well do you think you understand Catholicsm to take part part in the sacramental life”. He was more concerned about me fully understanding the Catholic faith than gaining a convert to the rolls.

 

[BibleReader]

gladtobe:

I can speak from personal experience. When Catholics converted to the Baptist religion I was formerly in, they were amazed to say the least. They never heard of a personal relationship with Christ in their church. They merely did what they were told and raised to do and not really understanding it all. They also liked the idea that they now had assurance of going to heaven should they die.

Anti Catholicism isn’t really pushed in evangelical circles, as much as a personal love for Jesus Christ, bible study and learning how to live the Christian faith in everyday life. This is why Sunday school is so important for adults.There is no quietness in an evangelical church or somber faces, but when you walk in, everyone is happy and greeting one another. People talk to each other in evangelical churches. You can’t even get into the front door without a friendly greeting. People like to be welcomed and made to feel like they really belong. This I believe attracts lots of Catholics to evangelical churches.

I participate in both Catholic and Protestant Bible studies, I have been a councilman in my town. I am a Scout leader. I talk to my clients. In the course of talking to thousands of people while engaged in these activities, I met the fallen-away Catholics, including the ones who went to evangelical churches.

I found that the overwhelming majority left because of the birth control issue – they wanted to continue worshipping God on Sunday, while they used ABC, whereas staying in the Catholic Church before their “conversion” seemed inconsistent and a cause for guilt.

On the “personal relationship with God” business, I always ask, “How can having the Real Presence of the Eucharist INSIDE of oneself be MORE of a ‘personal relationship’???” There is no good answer.

 

[gladtobe]

Not allowing priests to marry, is unbiblical and unhistorical. Priests were allowed to marry up until the 10th century until the Pope at the time, decreed that it should not be permitted. Imagine 1,000 years, priests in the church were allowed to marry, should they have wanted to. TOTAL CELICBACY was not the original requirement for a church bishop at all. And even the scriptures say a bishop is to be the husband of one wife. The Catholic church unforunately fulfills a last days prophecy against itself.See below;

1 Tim 4:1-3

4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

RSV

 

[scylla]

Actually the Catholic Church does not forbid marriage, this is addressed in another thread. Careful study of the Bible will show that celibacy as a choice is actually a very good thing, but you do need to be called to do it.
As Catholics we take marriage very seriously, as we believe it to be a Sacrament. This is covered in that thread too, maybe someone can link to it.
In this society of constant sexual stimulus and loose morals, many people, can get warped ideas of celibacy, even if it is a good thing. Only people who are called to celibacy, should make the choice, the Church does not force anyone to do it.

This is a misinterpretation of this scripture, and if you have a question about interpretation you should go to the Church for some guidance. You can start a thread if you have a question about this and would like a fuller explanation.

 

[scylla]

Getting back to the subject, my brother is now pretty anti-Catholic, which helped fuel my desire for truth. This consequently led me back to the Catholic Church.

We both had some lax education about the Church and most of the issues he has would just take a little looking into to clear up. He is more content to listen to his pastors interpretation of the Bible and bash the Church. Many times listening to the same negative opinions of the Church will train a mind to that kind of anti-Catholicism. Some of the things he has come up with are pretty out there, but he needs to justify his leaving.

Unfortunately he is gun-shy about the Church now, since I wasn’t too calm with his wife and really drilled into her how wrong she was, by having her read the Bible verses that contradicted her doctrine. Gotta work on my humilty more.
I need to read Peter 3:15 and drill that into my head.
I will see her in a couple days and make up.

But I see anti-Catholicism as a result of a feeling of betrayal, because if the Church is wrong, then many people can make it look bad.
If it is right then as you see even a firm anti-Catholic has no choice but to be Catholic (Scott Hahn)

 

[RichSpidizzy]

gladtobe:

Not allowing priests to marry, is unbiblical and unhistorical. Priests were allowed to marry up until the 10th century until the Pope at the time, decreed that it should not be permitted. Imagine 1,000 years, priests in the church were allowed to marry, should they have wanted to. TOTAL CELICBACY was not the original requirement for a church bishop at all. And even the scriptures say a bishop is to be the husband of one wife. The Catholic church unforunately fulfills a last days prophecy against itself.See below;

1 Tim 4:1-3

4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

RSV

Wrong thread there buddy. I think this is what you are looking for: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=39981

P.S. I’d be interested in your comments about what I posted in the 3rd post. Can’t wait to hear from you

 

[Church_Militant]

gladtobe:

Not allowing priests to marry, is unbiblical and unhistorical.

How do you figure unBiblical?
Matthew 19:10-12
"10 His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry.11 Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it. "

Ist Corinthians 7:6-9
“6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment. 7 For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that. 8 But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. 9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.”

…And just what’s unhistorical about obeying the very words of Christ and the apostle Paul, from the very Bible that YOU say is the sole source of all we are supposed to believe. You don’t know what you’re talking about…

Seems to me that your interp is unBiblical sir…(And out of context)
Pax vobiscum,

 

[SusanL]

Genesis315:

Here’s my totally biased theory from a cradle Catholic:

Going from Protestant to Catholic is usually an acceptance of a more rich and complete Christianity. It usually invloves accepting doctrines and practices that one didn’t have as a protestant. On the other hand, going from Protestant to Catholic involves more of a rejection of doctrines and practices. I think since rejection is more inherantly negative than acceptance, the rejecters tend to view what they rejected in a negative manner while the accepters view their Protestant background as the roots of what matured into a complete Christian Faith (Catholicism).

I have no idea if this is the case, but it kind of makes sense, no?

Oh, very good. I am a convert from Protestantism. I have been in the church for 3 years now. Once I believed in who the Catholic Church said she was and what she believed then I ran to her embracing her and absolutely falling in love with God again. Like I never did before.

I am a church organist and I still play wherever I am needed, Catholic or Protestant; however, I am so very cautious about what I listen to in the non-Catholic churches and I find that I don’t like to stay there for very long. It doesn’t feel like home to me and I don’t trust what they teach. (Not that they lie or anything. I just think that it is sometimes inaccurate). I have distanced myself from the Protestant beliefs but I wouldn’t be angry with them. I think that they taught me the best that they knew how and that they did it with Christian love.

I suspect that ex-Catholics have an axe to grind. A lot of them have left because someone hurt their feelings.

Some of them also want to live the way they want to live and not the way God says they should live. They get very caught up in the secular world and what it teaches.

Also, if a Catholic does not know his/her own faith, they will fall for any misguided reasoning that gets thrown their way from non-Catholic churches.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Xavier]

Church Militant:

How do you figure unBiblical?
Matthew 19:10-12
"10 His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry.11 Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother’s womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it. "

Ist Corinthians 7:6-9
“6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment. 7 For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that. 8 But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. 9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.”

…And just what’s unhistorical about obeying the very words of Christ and the apostle Paul, from the very Bible that YOU say is the sole source of all we are supposed to believe. You don’t know what you’re talking about…

Seems to me that your interp is unBiblical sir…(And out of context)
Pax vobiscum,

Peter was married.
game,set, match