I can no longer in good conscience identify as Catholic. It's been fun

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StudentMI

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My doubts have been building over a long period over the past couple years. There was a spike when I met a new priest at our parish. Things seemed to be settling nicely.

But I’ve decided, after much thought, I can no longer identify as a Catholic. I suppose my recent baptism and confirmation were more a cry for help to God than anything. To be honest I did a lot of praying that my faith would return after those sacraments. I’m sorry to say it never did.

I’m not going to go too much into why I’ve decided this. Science, doctrinal changes, inconsistencies in teaching, philosophy, all these played a part. Suffice it to say I don’t believe in the Catholic faith anymore.

It’s been fun, everyone. I’m undecided if I’ll continue posting. I doubt it. See ya.
 
I’m honestly sorry to hear that.

Please feel free to reach back out if you ever feel that pull on your heart to.
 
StudentMI said:
I’m not going to go too much into why I’ve decided this. Science, doctrinal changes, inconsistencies in teaching, philosophy, all these played a part. Suffice it to say I don’t believe in the Catholic faith anymore.
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Hope you don’t mind me asking, what do you believe? You can’t be throwing out the whole kit and caboodle.
 
Matthew 13:3-8
3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
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Unfortunately we do not know each other and the requirement of nicknames does not help to establish personal relationships.

So I can’t even understand if your topic has the sense of “I inform you” or “What do you think?”

What I can tell you is that IF I HAD such strong temptations against belonging to the Catholic Church, the first thing I would ask myself is whether there is something in my behavior that contradicts the teachings of the Church so that, more or less consciously, I try to get rid of it.

Maybe it is offensive to you, or it can enter into the set of various contributing causes, I have no idea.

You don’t have to answer me, I’m not curious.
 
Very surprised to hear this @StudentMi.

You seemed to be one of the people on here who was vigorously defending Church teaching against those (including certain clergy) who try to distort it.

Yet all that time while you were defending it, you were having doubts about it? Like I said, I’m very surprised.
StudentMI said:
There was a spike when I met a new priest at our parish. Things seemed to be settling nicely.
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Do you mean when you met the priest he helped bring/keep you closer to the faith, but that only lasted for a certain amount of time?
Beryllos said:
Hope you don’t mind me asking, what do you believe? You can’t be throwing out the whole kit and caboodle.
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Yes I would like to know too. Is it just the Catholic faith specifically you have an issue with? Are you thinking of joining a different denomination of Christianity? Do you still believe in God but are struggling with Christianity and religion in general? Or is it a general crisis of faith you are having?
 
StudentMI said:
It’s been fun, everyone. I’m undecided if I’ll continue posting. I doubt it. See ya.
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I must admit, given my fairly lengthy discussions of the social doctrine with you, I am very surprised to hear this.

Over my years on the forum, I have seen internet acquaintances join and leave the faith - yet I typically always anticipated the change (i.e. there were signs to indicate that the person was really struggling with doctrine or living a lie, so to speak). I really did not discern serious reservations in your posts concerning the faith. I hope it wasn’t my discussions of the social teachings that spurred the change! 😄 (I did root them in the Patristics, so the ‘consistency’ of these principles should have been quite clear, even accounting for development according to the concrete needs of different eras).

With that being said, you are an intelligent and engaging poster (by far one of my ‘favs’ on this particular forum, I have a lot of respect for you) - so I do hope you continue to contribute at least occassionally. Some of our most consistently brilliant posters are non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians period. On that account, there is no reason to ‘feel’ that you should no longer post here - you are always welcome.

I will not enquire further as to your reasons for deciding to leave, as those are your private and personal reasons in accordance with conscience (and so none of my business). Still, the reference to ‘science’ does perplex me as we are not exactly a “young-earth creationist” church but rather very open and accepting, institutionally and from the episcopal hierarchy / papacy, of scientific knowledge, reason and empiricism as complements to faith (“fides et ratio”), so I can’t quite fathom that particular one. If it is not too impertinent of me to ask one thing, though, do you still identify as ‘Christian’ or is this a renunciation of Christianity as well (you did refer to God, so I must assume you still identify as a theist?)

Anyhow, I truly wish you all the best @StudentMI and would still love to converse with you if the inclination to remain is there. If not, I bid you a very fond farewell friend.

God bless and keep you!
 
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I think if a person loses faith in the Pope as Gods emissary on earth, there is no longer anything to stay for. It seems you are respected and loved here. May God enfold you in His grace.
 
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Hi StudentMI,

I’ve enjoyed reading your insightful posts over the past months and hope and pray that your mind and spirit will be refreshed and renewed by the Lord as you seek His guidance.

I hope you are just encountering a dry spell in your spiritual life (most people do at some point) and that you will return to your faith after a time of rest and reflection.

All the best to you in the future.
 
Dear @studentMI I interacted with you in the forum long enough to recognize your avatar and name. I remember some of your personal struggles and many of your kind replies; I recently rejoiced with you when you announced about being able to finally be baptized and receive Confirmation.
I was very surprised to find this post this morning but, after all, Faith is not easy and temptations are real.
Crisis, doubts, brokenness are all part of our humanity. God let us free to choose to be loved or to reject His love and the promise of eternity; He let us free to look for our own answers.
I don’t know if your discouragement and disillusionment are just temporary, I don’t know if your journey will bring you back home again; but be assured that I will still keep you in my prayers with the hope that your heart will find again soon strength and consolation in Christ and in the Church.
May you find around you the support of your Catholic community. May God bless you and protect you in your search for happiness and meaning of life.
May you find, at the end of your tortuous journey, God’s love and eternal life.
 
😔 We’re sad to see you go. I hope the Holy Spirit enlightens you and guides you in everything that you do. The Church is always here to welcome you back anytime sooner! God Bless You!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for @StudentMI !
 
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@StudentMI, I notice that other posters, as well as you, sometimes discuss what they call “identifying as” a Catholic. Just a few days ago, @Nononony started a thread with an almost identical title. In both cases, I confess I fail to grasp your meaning. What, exactly, is the difference between identifying as a Catholic and simply being a Catholic?
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Today I decided I will no longer identify as Catholic Spirituality
I wrote a post yesterday about supernatural occurrences that have been happening to me since childhood and how any time I try to speak to a member of the clergy I am told that it’s not real and I am not special. I received a number of replies. The post was closed before I could reply to thank people for the kind and helpful replies. That is part of what this post is for. Thank you for your kind replies. I found some useful information and things to consider. It is also to announce that from thi…
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StudentMI said:
My doubts have been building over a long period over the past couple years. There was a spike when I met a new priest at our parish. Things seemed to be settling nicely.

But I’ve decided, after much thought, I can no longer identify as a Catholic. I suppose my recent baptism and confirmation were more a cry for help to God than anything. To be honest I did a lot of praying that my faith would return after those sacraments. I’m sorry to say it never did.

I’m not going to go too much into why I’ve decided this. Science, doctrinal changes, inconsistencies in teaching, philosophy, all these played a part. Suffice it to say I don’t believe in the Catholic faith anymore.

It’s been fun, everyone. I’m undecided if I’ll continue posting. I doubt it. See ya.
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If you are a baptised Catholic you will remain a Catholic forever. There is no such thing as an ex or former Catholic - only Catholics in a state of grace and Catholics in a state of mortal sin.
 
Will remember you in my prayers on your journey :pray:t2:
 
BartholomewB said:
What, exactly, is the difference between identifying as a Catholic and simply being a Catholic?
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Hi BartholomewB - I can’t say that my answer and StudentMI’s answer are the same, but for me the difference is like this: I was born into Catholicism and spent a long time being Catholic which to me meant I took part in all the sacraments, was a lector, headed up community activities, and believed that I believed fully believed in everything the church taught and stood for. To me, this meant I also identified as Catholic, meaning if someone asked “what I was” I’d respond that I was Catholic.

As time went on, I started to admit to myself that I didn’t fully believe in everything the church taught, which was extremely painful. As I dealt with this I slowly stopped being Catholic but I still identified as Catholic. If you asked me about my religion I would still reply that I was Catholic.

As I move away from identifying as Catholic it simply means when someone asks me “what I am” I do not reply Catholic any more. Currently I reply Christian.

I’ve seen it stated that once one is baptized Catholic one will always be Catholic, and perhaps that is the case on a spiritual level, I can’t assume to know that answer. I will find out later, I am sure. But for me, the being and identifying are more like mental or emotional states of choosing.

Again, I do not claim to speak for the original poster. I just saw I was tagged so I wanted to share what I could.

To the original poster, I’m sorry you’re going through this experience. It is a dreadful one.
 
Hi As you can see people care and you will be remembered in their prayers…No one is here to judge you. The choices you make are between you and our God…

I wish you happiness in your journey …I hope to see your posts every now and then…

I will also remember you in my prayers…lol
 
Nononony said:
I’ve seen it stated that once one is baptized Catholic one will always be Catholic
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That is correct. If you turn your back on the Church and walk away you remain a Catholic, albeit one in a state of mortal sin.
 
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