If you are a Christian, what is the real reason for you not being a Catholic? - 2

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Memaw said:
You are sooo right Melanie Anne, they really don’t know about the beauty of the Catholic Church or they would all become Catholic. I sincerely wish there were some way we could convince them to check it out for themselves. My mom used to say, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink,” and I am afraid that goes for people too.
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That is not true, because I’ve attended RCIA to learn about the Catholic Church and yet I’m still not Catholic.
 
awantz said:
That is not true, because I’ve attended RCIA to learn about the Catholic Church and yet I’m still not Catholic.
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What was the problem? Attending RCIA is just the beginning, I am still learning and will be till the end of my life.
 
Memaw said:
What was the problem? Attending RCIA is just the beginning, I am still learning and will be till the end of my life.
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I’ve mentioned some of the problems previously. I have been and I am still attending a Catholic mass weekly for around five years thus far, in addition to my church’s service. I have experienced many of the same things as Catholics. Therefore, I am still learning as well.
 
awantz said:
That is not true, because I’ve attended RCIA to learn about the Catholic Church and yet I’m still not Catholic.
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Well then, what is the problem.?? My husband took the instruction classes twice , (that was before the RCIA classes) before he became a Catholic. He had many questions and didn’t feel ready the first time, but was still interested enough to try again. 15 years later he died peacefully, of a heart attack, with the Sacraments of the Church, a great comfort for me and our sons. For someone who thought saying the Rosary was “useless repetition”, after he truly understood it, he loved it. As he lay dying in the hospital, holding the Rosary in his hand, as I said it for him, if I would stop for a bit, he would jiggle the Rosary wanting me to go on, he was awake up to his last breath. He was only 47 years old. Don’t give up,
 
Just joined the group about 2 weeks ago. I am 52 yr old, always single man. Left the CC at 24 - have only attended an occasional Mass to placate visiting relatives as a good host or guest. Baptized in 1955, confirmed 1962 (Fr Timothy Manning - future LA, CA Cardinal), 1st Holy Communion in 1966.

Had a sporadic Catholic education - Catholic boarding school from 7-11 years old, then a variety of public and private schools until my 1975 HS graduation.

Quite simply, I grew up with a very authoritarian view of God, the CC – basically, I was told to shut up from all parties for my Q’s about the CC. From 7-11, went to Mass 5 days a week – all I ever learned from the CC was blind obedience to rules, expectations and authority. Funny thing is - I saw all of the same in the large “evangelical/non-denominational” churches I attended in Southern California over 32 years.

I readily admit that none of the Protestant churches can be the true Church that Christ created or intended. I am only receptive to re-exploring the CC I never knew or learned about in my childhood. I am not ready to rejoin the CC – I have too much pain, anger, confusion and negative expectations of not being loved or accepted by any CC person for my long absence. I expect to be scolded, ridiculed, scorned and rejected. I prefer the anonymity of the Internet to safely explore my questions without meeting other Catholics. I’d like to have a better understanding of what I was supposed to get in my childhood – unfortunately, I have too much anger and mistrust to expect any real change in my heart.

But I appreciate everyone’s insights. I just don’t know where to begin in my spiritual journey today.
 
needgodsgrace said:
Just joined the group about 2 weeks ago. I am 52 yr old, always single man. Left the CC at 24 - have only attended an occasional Mass to placate visiting relatives as a good host or guest. Baptized in 1955, confirmed 1962 (Fr Timothy Manning - future LA, CA Cardinal), 1st Holy Communion in 1966.

Had a sporadic Catholic education - Catholic boarding school from 7-11 years old, then a variety of public and private schools until my 1975 HS graduation.

Quite simply, I grew up with a very authoritarian view of God, the CC – basically, I was told to shut up from all parties for my Q’s about the CC. From 7-11, went to Mass 5 days a week – all I ever learned from the CC was blind obedience to rules, expectations and authority. Funny thing is - I saw all of the same in the large “evangelical/non-denominational” churches I attended in Southern California over 32 years.

I readily admit that none of the Protestant churches can be the true Church that Christ created or intended. I am only receptive to re-exploring the CC I never knew or learned about in my childhood. I am not ready to rejoin the CC – I have too much pain, anger, confusion and negative expectations of not being loved or accepted by any CC person for my long absence. I expect to be scolded, ridiculed, scorned and rejected. I prefer the anonymity of the Internet to safely explore my questions without meeting other Catholics. I’d like to have a better understanding of what I was supposed to get in my childhood – unfortunately, I have too much anger and mistrust to expect any real change in my heart.

But I appreciate everyone’s insights. I just don’t know where to begin in my spiritual journey today.
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Hi, needgodsgrace, We all do need that! I am sorry for your confused childhood. As a parent of 7 I do know that teaching a child about the faith does require a bit of insistence at least until they are old enough to start learning to appreciate it on their own. But as they grow up, they learn more and now they have a deep appreciation of their own for the faith and are raising their children much the same way they were raised. You need to get over that anger and give the Church a chance on an adult level. Who are you mistrusting, people, or God? You should know by now that you can seldom put your complete trust in people, but you can and should trust God and the Church HE founded. Jesus knew what HE was doing when he established the Catholic Church and HE also knew the people in it would not be perfect. Even one of HIS hand picked Apostles, HE taught, turned against HIM. The Catholic Church IS the TRUE faith and it does still teach all the TRUTHS Jesus taught HIS apostles. Even 2,000 years later. Please for your own sake, put aside all your anger and confusion and start over again to discover your Catholic Faith. catholicanswers.com has plenty of sources to get you started and keep you learning. I will be glad to help any way I can, just don’t give up on your Catholic Faith.
 
awantz said:
Read some of my previos posts and you will come across some of the reasons.
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If you are still married outside the Catholic Church, that may be a reason why you cannot participate fully in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion. You need to find out of there is a way to correct your situation. To be fully united to the Catholic Faith, you must be in the “State of Grace” and strive to remain that way. Every Catholic struggles with that every day and that is why Our Lord gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you are not able to fully participate in the Sacraments, it is because of choices you made, and that is not the Church’s fault. It is easy to blame others for our own choices.
 
Namesake said:
I wouldn’t agree with that. I do believe that the RCC became apostate and that is why the great schism happened and that’s why the reformation happened. I think the RCC is increasingly irrelevant and she is way too legalistic for most people.

Also, the arrogance of claiming to be the one true church, Petrine doctrine, that no one has salvation outside the RCC, infallible papacy, transubstantiation, etc, contribute to rejection of the RCC. There are better ways.
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Is it not pride why these people reformed? The answer is yes. They thought they could do it better. Jesus says this is my body this is my blood, is that not proof enough for you, now you doubt jesus. If you know the true way ie the catholic church it would be tough to try to explain to jesus why you left.
 
Memaw said:
If you are still married outside the Catholic Church, that may be a reason why you cannot participate fully in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion. You need to find out of there is a way to correct your situation. To be fully united to the Catholic Faith, you must be in the “State of Grace” and strive to remain that way. Every Catholic struggles with that every day and that is why Our Lord gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you are not able to fully participate in the Sacraments, it is because of choices you made, and that is not the Church’s fault. It is easy to blame others for our own choices.
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Well Said
 
needgodsgrace said:
I readily admit that none of the Protestant churches can be the true Church that Christ created or intended. I am only receptive to re-exploring the CC I never knew or learned about in my childhood. I am not ready to rejoin the CC – I have too much pain, anger, confusion and negative expectations of not being loved or accepted by any CC person for my long absence. I expect to be scolded, ridiculed, scorned and rejected. I prefer the anonymity of the Internet to safely explore my questions without meeting other Catholics. I’d like to have a better understanding of what I was supposed to get in my childhood – unfortunately, I have too much anger and mistrust to expect any real change in my heart.

But I appreciate everyone’s insights. I just don’t know where to begin in my spiritual journey today.
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It’s never too late to have a happy childhood! Please call your parish priest and set up an appointment to talk to him. You might be surprised. I would ask your pastor to put you in touch with the director of RCIA. I am very involved in RCIA, and I love working with converts, reverts, and fellow parishioners who are part of the RCIA team. It’s never too late for YOU to forgive and to be forgiven.

You sound restless and know the place where you will find real peace. The Truth is stalking you - you can’t run away from it any more!

God bless you on your journey, I will keep you in my prayers.
 
Memaw said:
If you are still married outside the Catholic Church, that may be a reason why you cannot participate fully in the Sacraments of Confession and Communion. You need to find out of there is a way to correct your situation. To be fully united to the Catholic Faith, you must be in the “State of Grace” and strive to remain that way. Every Catholic struggles with that every day and that is why Our Lord gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you are not able to fully participate in the Sacraments, it is because of choices you made, and that is not the Church’s fault. It is easy to blame others for our own choices.
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My marriage took place outside the Catholic Church, but it was accepted by the Catholic Church. My husband who is Catholic is able to participate fully in all the sacraments. I am not Catholic and yet I was able to take part in the sacrament of reconciliation when I want too and as far as Communion I take part in it at my church and according to some other Catholics I’ve talked to, Pope Benedict is working on making it possible for me to take Communion in the Catholic church. I am in a state of grace and I do strive to remain that way. I am not Catholic. I’ve made that clear in my previos posts. I am not blaming anyone for any of my choices. If anything I blame myself for other people’s mistakes. At least that is what I have had others tell me that I do.
 
awantz said:
My marriage took place outside the Catholic Church, but it was accepted by the Catholic Church. My husband who is Catholic is able to participate fully in all the sacraments. I am not Catholic and yet I was able to take part in the sacrament of reconciliation when I want too and as far as Communion I take part in it at my church and according to some other Catholics I’ve talked to, Pope Benedict is working on making it possible for me to take Communion in the Catholic church. I am in a state of grace and I do strive to remain that way. I am not Catholic. I’ve made that clear in my previos posts. I am not blaming anyone for any of my choices. If anything I blame myself for other people’s mistakes. At least that is what I have had others tell me that I do.
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Please forgive my ignorance, but I am confused about your marriage. Are you talking about your present marriage to your present husband, are were you married before?
 
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