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

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Memaw said:
Don’t believe everything you hear or read in the news, get a Catholic Almanac for the true information.
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Ha! And you don’t think that may be little skewed? Your best info always comes from a non-connected unbiased source. If you can find one. 😉
 
mikew262 said:
Ha! And you don’t think that may be little skewed? Your best info always comes from a non-connected unbiased source. If you can find one. 😉
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Now your being funny, no it isn’t, it is the truth. They put out a new one every year,
 
To answer the original question, it wasn’t something I’d ever really thought about or looked into until recently. My fiancee is Catholic, and we’re marrying in his church in six weeks. I’ve been learning more about Catholicism from going to Mass with him nearly every week, and have been doing some reading online and such. At this point, I am seriously thinking about attending RCIA when it starts in the fall. Whatever happens as far as whether I stay Protestant or become Catholic, at least this way it’ll help as far as being prepared to help in religious education should we be blessed enough to have a child.
 
Hope070408 said:
To answer the original question, it wasn’t something I’d ever really thought about or looked into until recently. My fiancee is Catholic, and we’re marrying in his church in six weeks. I’ve been learning more about Catholicism from going to Mass with him nearly every week, and have been doing some reading online and such. At this point, I am seriously thinking about attending RCIA when it starts in the fall. Whatever happens as far as whether I stay Protestant or become Catholic, at least this way it’ll help as far as being prepared to help in religious education should we be blessed enough to have a child.
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God Bless you on your journey. May I suggest you read the books written by Patrick Madrid. There are 3 of them and they are. Surprised by Truth" 1, 2,& 3. catholic answers. com, can also answer many questions.
 
Thank you so much for the suggestions, Memaw! “Surprised by Truth” a title I’ve come across in other posts and will look for that one. Maybe the library has it. And before RCIA starts, I’ll want to read the Catechism.

God Bless!
 
Hope070408 said:
Thank you so much for the suggestions, Memaw! “Surprised by Truth” a title I’ve come across in other posts and will look for that one. Maybe the library has it. And before RCIA starts, I’ll want to read the Catechism.

God Bless!
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I read Surprised by Truth volumes 1 and 2.

They were in the Eucharistic Adoration bookcase! 😃
 
Primrose said:
I’m not Catholic but one thing the Lord has been bringing me up on is that we can be so reliant on what the worship music is like, the sermon etc and how church makes ‘us’ feel. When going to church is all about ‘Him’. So I deliberately went to a church of england church (I go to charismatic methodist) to see if I could ‘feel’ God. I did. I felt the Lord say to me it shouldn’t matter where you are, your relationship with Him should be that you can feel Him anywhere…in a desert, in a crowd of non-believers etc:thumbsup:
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I agree.
 
Memaw said:
Thank you for defending Our Lady, BUT,
I think Joe was trying to show just how horrible these “stories” were. They are soooo sick no decent christian would even come near believing them.
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Yeah, I noticed. I didn’t realize what was on that site or maybe I just posted the wrong site. I don’t know.
 
Primrose said:
I’m not Catholic but one thing the Lord has been bringing me up on is that we can be so reliant on what the worship music is like, the sermon etc and how church makes ‘us’ feel. When going to church is all about ‘Him’. So I deliberately went to a church of england church (I go to charismatic methodist) to see if I could ‘feel’ God. I did. I felt the Lord say to me it shouldn’t matter where you are, your relationship with Him should be that you can feel Him anywhere…in a desert, in a crowd of non-believers etc:thumbsup:
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If that is true than why did Our Lord ‘pray’ for unity.? Read Eph.4: 3-6, Rom. 16:17, 1 Cor.1:10, Joh. 17:17-23.
 
Memaw said:
If that is true than why did Our Lord ‘pray’ for unity.? Read Eph.4: 3-6, Rom. 16:17, 1 Cor.1:10, Joh. 17:17-23.
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I think you might have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I am not trying to say that fellowship isn’t important and I am not trying to say untruths.

What I was saying is that with the fashion of ‘seeker friendly’ churches (some of which don’t stick to doctrine) have the funky worship music and ‘positivity and abundance’ thinking, then you have a proper teaching but traditional hymns. But people are choosing the funky church because of how good it makes them feel, it isn’t right. Aren’t we meant to put God first in our lives. So shouldn’t our relationship with Him be more important and if we have a relationship with Him (which we’ve put time and prayer into) we should be able to hear Him anywhere…the desert, a cave, or a group of unbelievers?
 
Primrose said:
I think you might have misunderstood what I was trying to say. I am not trying to say that fellowship isn’t important and I am not trying to say untruths.

What I was saying is that with the fashion of ‘seeker friendly’ churches (some of which don’t stick to doctrine) have the funky worship music and ‘positivity and abundance’ thinking, then you have a proper teaching but traditional hymns. But people are choosing the funky church because of how good it makes them feel, it isn’t right. Aren’t we meant to put God first in our lives. So shouldn’t our relationship with Him be more important and if we have a relationship with Him (which we’ve put time and prayer into) we should be able to hear Him anywhere…the desert, a cave, or a group of unbelievers?
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Much clearer, yes I agree but there is still much more to it than that. Jesus did start a Church and HE did give that Church the authority to teach, govern and Santify. And He did say that HIS Church would be here till the end of the world. HE did pray for unity. There are so many confusing voices out there telling us what they think the Bible means, that maybe we are not listening to the TRUTHS HE taught us. He said, I am the Way the Truth and the Life. The Catholic Church is the only Christian Church, along with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, (who are in schism) that go back 2,000 years. You will never find the Holy Eucharist in the desert, or a cave,etc. Read John 6: 31-71 and the The Last Supper, which took place about a year later, and HE told them to 'Do this in remembrance of ME" The Catholic Church does this at every Mass.
 
Memaw said:
Much clearer, yes I agree but there is still much more to it than that. Jesus did start a Church and HE did give that Church the authority to teach, govern and Santify. And He did say that HIS Church would be here till the end of the world. HE did pray for unity. There are so many confusing voices out there telling us what they think the Bible means, that maybe we are not listening to the TRUTHS HE taught us. He said, I am the Way the Truth and the Life. The Catholic Church is the only Christian Church, along with the Eastern Orthodox Churches, (who are in schism) that go back 2,000 years. You will never find the Holy Eucharist in the desert, or a cave,etc. Read John 6: 31-71 and the The Last Supper, which took place about a year later, and HE told them to 'Do this in remembrance of ME" The Catholic Church does this at every Mass.
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Absolutely Memaw. I’m in the process of learning theology. Up until two weeks ago I had no idea about the Anglican church believing in the ‘holy presence’ in the eucharist (although it’s not dogma). I’m currently a non-denominational Christian who was ‘born again’ six years ago. The whole of my six years I have felt confused at what I should be feeling at holy communion. In the charismatic church I was going to it was, go up to the front rip a piece of bread off, have a mouthful of the wine go and sit down…and then what? It makes so much more sense to have the ‘real presence’ it makes communion a much more special meaningful part of church. So the Lord is speaking and teaching me on that.

I currently go to a charismatic methodist and feeling disappointed in it. The fellowship is great and the support is great but I am spiritually starving. So the Lord has been taking away all of the things I was first attracted to - the funky worship music, the feel-good sermon. I did need that at the beginning but now I want Jesus. Strip everything away, it is my relationship with Him that is important. And from that, once I am full with His presence I can overflow His presence to the world (you know what I mean, I’m no preacher so I don’t mean it in that sense)👍

I am feeling more intune with Catholism. I was married to a Catholic although he hadn’t been since he was 18 and then for the occasional wedding and of course our children’s baptism. And that’s another thing. I’ve realised that I have made a promise to God to bring the children up in the Catholic faith (not catholic faith in CofE it’s lowercase ‘c’) shouldn’t I be honouring that promise to God. My oldest is 8 so I’m in the process of seeing the Priest to start the kids going to learn the cathecism. And it will be a challenge for them too because they’re used to the sunday school at the methodist and the charismatic before that. 🙂
 
Primrose said:
Absolutely Memaw. I’m in the process of learning theology. Up until two weeks ago I had no idea about the Anglican church believing in the ‘holy presence’ in the eucharist (although it’s not dogma). I’m currently a non-denominational Christian who was ‘born again’ six years ago. The whole of my six years I have felt confused at what I should be feeling at holy communion. In the charismatic church I was going to it was, go up to the front rip a piece of bread off, have a mouthful of the wine go and sit down…and then what? It makes so much more sense to have the ‘real presence’ it makes communion a much more special meaningful part of church. So the Lord is speaking and teaching me on that.

I currently go to a charismatic methodist and feeling disappointed in it. The fellowship is great and the support is great but I am spiritually starving. So the Lord has been taking away all of the things I was first attracted to - the funky worship music, the feel-good sermon. I did need that at the beginning but now I want Jesus. Strip everything away, it is my relationship with Him that is important. And from that, once I am full with His presence I can overflow His presence to the world (you know what I mean, I’m no preacher so I don’t mean it in that sense)👍

I am feeling more intune with Catholism. I was married to a Catholic although he hadn’t been since he was 18 and then for the occasional wedding and of course our children’s baptism. And that’s another thing. I’ve realised that I have made a promise to God to bring the children up in the Catholic faith (not catholic faith in CofE it’s lowercase ‘c’) shouldn’t I be honouring that promise to God. My oldest is 8 so I’m in the process of seeing the Priest to start the kids going to learn the cathecism. And it will be a challenge for them too because they’re used to the sunday school at the methodist and the charismatic before that. 🙂
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You are doing the right thing and my prayers are with you. I would sincerely suggest you talk to the priest about some instructions for yourself. There is no pressure for you to become a Catholic. That is entirely up to you. But you will be learning and understanding better what you children will be learning. I can tell you are longing for Our Lord in Holy Communion and that is wonderful. But you have to be patient and if you learn to love the Catholic Faith and then become Catholic, you will be able to receive Jesus in the fullness of the Faith. There is no greater gift from God. If possible, go visit a Catholic Church often and just set there in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. You will feel HIS presence there. You may even be able to help your husband return to the practice of his Catholic Faith. A family strongly united in the faith is a STRONG family. God Bless, and prayers!!
 
Memaw said:
You are doing the right thing and my prayers are with you. I would sincerely suggest you talk to the priest about some instructions for yourself. There is no pressure for you to become a Catholic. That is entirely up to you. But you will be learning and understanding better what you children will be learning. I can tell you are longing for Our Lord in Holy Communion and that is wonderful. But you have to be patient and if you learn to love the Catholic Faith and then become Catholic, you will be able to receive Jesus in the fullness of the Faith. There is no greater gift from God. If possible, go visit a Catholic Church often and just set there in the presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. You will feel HIS presence there. You may even be able to help your husband return to the practice of his Catholic Faith. A family strongly united in the faith is a STRONG family. God Bless, and prayers!!
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Bless you. I am going to go to the Catholic church in the next month to start the ball rolling. And yes, I have thought that the children might bring my ex-husband back to the church, although our marriage is definately over (we weren’t married in the Catholic church but I will be seeking an annulement, the usual he had an affair, left us and lives with her). I absolutely agree that a family strongly united in faith is a strong family, having been in one which wasn’t. Praise the Lord, he has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29 v11)🙂
 
In my earlier post - # 446, I gave a brief overview of my Catholic experience. Anyway, my specific reasons:
  1. I only learned duty and forced obedience to outward obligations and duties expected of me as a Catholic - attend Mass and go to Confession.
  2. I never learned or believed that I mattered to God or to any other person in the Church. I was simply another person in the pew.
  3. I often learned to look down upon/despise/hate those who were spiritually different than me.
  4. I never learned about a God of love. But I did grow up with a God of rules, expectations, duties, etc. Never felt I could measure up and live a good Christian life - so why try? I have always felt put down by the Parable of the Talents.
  5. I was always discouraged from asking any Q’s about the Catholic faith - with parental ridicule, hostility, anger - the basic message I learned growing up was “Shut up and follow the program. You’ll understand it when you are older.”
  6. Growing up, I rarely experienced any compassionate love of Jesus from other people - or my extended family of Catholics.
  7. At best, I had a sporadic CCD education - no sustained, patient explanation of the Church’s teachings, practices and reasons for them.
  8. I often learned that my personal ambitions were bad and that I had to follow God at all costs. Whenever I spoke about a personal struggle, I always heard “Obey God”. I have experienced mostly Catholic judgment and rarely the love that I hear about.
  9. Bottom line, I feel the Catholic Church had 25 years to present sound explanations to me for its’ doctrines & model a loving Jesus to me with fewer judgments and more acceptance of me as another sinner created in God’s image seeking to be like Christ.
Therefore - and perhaps sadly - I have no serious interest in rejoining the CC. I enjoy reading everyone’s insights in the quiet privacy of my study; however, as of today, I do not see myself going through the RCIA program or any other Revert program. Were I to re-attend the CC, I would calmly sit in the back - worship quietly and shake hands politely. But I will never actively participate in the life of the CC. The CC had its chance and sadly, at least for now, my heart is closed to any reconciliation or reconnecting. Perhaps, in 15 years - God will change my heart - I have read some insightful books from a devoted MI aunt (P. Madrid & M. Kelly) that keep a flicker of hope alive.

I am involved with a church-affiliated 12-step program where I am loved, accepted and valued for me. Regardless of what church I may attend in the future, I will be a good attender, daily reader of God’s Word and seek to reflect Jesus every day to everyone.
 
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,

Welcome to CAF, I think that you will learn a lot here. Besides “listening” to us lay Catholics, I suggest that you also visit the Catholic Answers home page, there is a lot of great information there…

At CAF, you probably will experience a little “scolding”, “ridicule”, “scorn” and “rejection” because of the many different opinions and personalities here. Additionally, people tend to be more blunt on the internet than in “real life”.

I have experience both extremes here at CAF…people who are very nice and people who are very rude, fortunately, the moderators here do an excellent job, making sure disagreements don’t get out of hand and I have found this to be one of the “safest” places on the internet to express ones opinion.

Now, as for the Catholic Church itself, usually and appointment with a priest or a single confession is all it takes for a Catholic to once again, begin practicing their faith, as a Catholic.

Some have additional hurdles to overcome but any amount of effort is worth it.

Catholicism is not about “us", it is about Jesus Christ and that is where all the focus is centered.

You know from attending a Catholic Mass in the past, that it isn’t the type of environment where people are “scolded, ridiculed, scorned or rejected”…like I said, it isn’t about us.

I really hope that you can put any negative feelings from the past behind you and come home to the Catholic Church.

Jesus Loves You!

Peace 🙂
 
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