If you have studied the Catholic Church & her Teachings from sources within the Catholic Church and as a result you did not become Catholic, Please Po

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Karmartia said:
Oh my God, you poor baby. What kind of a church would abandon a single in their midst. I don’t blame you for kicking them to the curb. After all, the faith was made specifically for you and how dare they snub you. Why your talents as an apologist alone are worth their weight in gold. Bad old Catholic Church, with their stupid St. Vincent De Paul Society and Knights of Columbus. Jerks.
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I hope you are being sarcastic or ironic with some of these comments, because otherwise I would find them extremely insulting. I managed to stay a practicing Catholic despite feeling some of the same things expressed by Havana1 through the grace of God alone. I know what it is like to be someone going to Communion without a sense of community. I have to agree with him that sometimes the vocation to the single life is seen as a filler, and most Catholics expect that singles (especially men) should just pick between the priesthood or marriage (lest they be something we just can’t deal with). I’m glad to be married, but I empathize with Havana1 from where I have been.

The faith isn’t made for any one person, but we should be able to respect and love the individuals among us and where they are in their faith development. I happen to think that the responsible thing to do as a catholic is to be willing to question the Church and encourage dialogue, rather than focusing on being in lock-step. If you don’t get something, question and get an answer. It’s intellectually irresponsible to disagree without being willing to entertain the possibility of the Church being justified, but the Church should see the working of the Holy Spirit in earnest and faithful dissent.
 
NM said:
My spiritual journey is a bit different than what you are asking. I was born Catholic. I received all my information from nuns and priests. After 50 years I left the Catholic church and became protestant. Does my journey fit into your question? God Bless. NLM
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Hello nlm, I would say if you were Baptized into the Catholic Church, lived it for 50 years and then turned your back on her and her teaching and renounced the faith you are an apostate, so no you would not fit into the question. Carlan
 
nlm said:
My spiritual journey is a bit different than what you are asking. I was born Catholic. I received all my information from nuns and priests. After 50 years I left the Catholic church and became protestant. Does my journey fit into your question? God Bless. NLM
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NLM,

To answer your question: not really, but yeah. If that makes any sense.

Not really because you were a Catholic who went Protestant, not a Non-Catholic looking at the Catholic Church.

Yeah because you did get your information on the Catholic Church from Catholic sources! 👍

Do you now feel that your Journey is complete?
 
nlm said:
My spiritual journey is a bit different than what you are asking. I was born Catholic. I received all my information from nuns and priests. After 50 years I left the Catholic church and became protestant. Does my journey fit into your question? God Bless. NLM
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My spiritual journey is similar to yours. I was born Catholic and received all of my information from priests, nuns, other CCD teachers and my parents. After 38 years, I left the Catholic church and became a non-Catholic Christian. I have been a non-Catholic Christian for 13 years.

Why do you suppose it is so difficult for some people to understand that we left the Catholic church because we DO understand what the church teaches?
 
thank you all very much for the honesty of your answers
it is incredibly helpful for those of us involved in RCIA to hear this
I would almost want to start a poll along the lines of:
your reasons were based on Catholic doctrine and practice, OR
your reasons were based on actions of some Catholics themselves–those you know, in your parish, in charge of RCIA, pastor, others, OR
your reasons were personal having not much to do with doctrine or the Church herself.

I was just reading in the Sower magazine for catechists an article on hypocrisy, and how easy it is to fall into that trap, and the damage we do to others, especially those we teach, by such words and actions.

This discussion is a timely reminder for those given the responsibility for RCIA to pay attention to those candidates and really minister, not merely teach a class. Thanks again, very valuable feedback.
 
Priscilla_Ann said:
My spiritual journey is similar to yours. I was born Catholic and received all of my information from priests, nuns, other CCD teachers and my parents. After 38 years, I left the Catholic church and became a non-Catholic Christian. I have been a non-Catholic Christian for 13 years.

Why do you suppose it is so difficult for some people to understand that we left the Catholic church because we DO understand what the church teaches?
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Hello Pricilla Ann, May I ask, What is it you do understand about the Church that made you give it up? :confused: Carlan
 
Carlan said:
Hello Pricilla Ann, May I ask, What is it you do understand about the Church that made you give it up? :confused: Carlan
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Honestly, there are too many to list here; and each one would require a separate thread. For starters: the papacy, purgatory, the Marian teachings, transubstantiation… I found it impossible to reconcile these teachings with scripture; and the Catholic attempts to rationalize these teachings fail miserably.

And, yes, I have read the Catechism as well as Scott Hahn, Karl Keating, Tim Staples, Steven Ray…
 
I was in RCIA last year and dropped out for personal reasons (not anything that had to do with the Church, or the class). Actually, I was (still am) discerning if I want to enter the religious life, but my boyfriend proposed to me at Christmas and I felt I needed to distance myself so I could make a more rational decision about my future.

My fiance passed away unexpectedly in August, so I joined RCIA again this year as my direction in life has become more clear. However, in the meantime, the Catholic Church has taken a position against Reiki, which I practice. I read the article written on it and thought it was absolutely ridiculous, illogical, and self-serving.

I still would like to be a Sister, and am continuing with RCIA. I’m also looking into ecumenical convents/communities, if the Church won’t have me.

Miz.
 
Miserys_Fence said:
I was in RCIA last year and dropped out for personal reasons (not anything that had to do with the Church, or the class). Actually, I was (still am) discerning if I want to enter the religious life, but my boyfriend proposed to me at Christmas and I felt I needed to distance myself so I could make a more rational decision about my future.

My fiance passed away unexpectedly in August, so I joined RCIA again this year as my direction in life has become more clear. However, in the meantime, the Catholic Church has taken a position against Reiki, which I practice. I read the article written on it and thought it was absolutely ridiculous, illogical, and self-serving.

I still would like to be a Sister, and am continuing with RCIA. I’m also looking into ecumenical convents/communities, if the Church won’t have me.

Miz.
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I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your fiance!

I’d not heard before about ecumencial convents/communities.
 
To OP: what’s your motivation for asking? From other things you’ve said elsewhere on these boards, I have a sense that you are so convinced of the truth in RC that you are utterly baffled by anyone not embracing RC. Or is it something else?
 
Dettingen said:
To OP: what’s your motivation for asking? From other things you’ve said elsewhere on these boards, I have a sense that you are so convinced of the truth in RC that you are utterly baffled by anyone not embracing RC. Or is it something else?
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Curiosity. Sure may have killed a cat, but I’m human - lol 😃
 
SingleMomMonica said:
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your fiance!

I’d not heard before about ecumencial convents/communities.
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Thank you, Monica! 🙂 Yes, it was a terrible shock, and ironically, he was a very devout Catholic–so all those times he took me to Mass were very emotional for me and made it harder for me to ignore the calling. I know he would be pleased that I’m doing this. The few people I’ve told just pat me on the head and say “that’s just the grief talking, honey, you’ll find another man and forget all about this.” NOT! I’ve felt this calling since before I met him, a few years after my husband died.

The Benedictine Women of Madison (WI) is one that I was looking into; I believe they started out as all-Catholic and have more recently opened their doors to all Christian women. I know there are a few others, but I can’t think of them off the top of my head. My biggest hurdle, Catholic or not, is going to be my age. Most communitiues won’t take older women, and since my first vocation is as a mother, I have to wait until my children are out of school and self-supporting. I figure I’ll be in my mid-50s before I will be ready to go.

Miz
 
That was a quick reply! Thanks.

There’s a lot of issues for me, but to be fair, I’ve not made a formal, organized study.

For me, it would probably boil down to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. That’s an important doctrine to me, and I think the RC would never accept me until I gave it up.
 
Dettingen said:
That was a quick reply! Thanks.

There’s a lot of issues for me, but to be fair, I’ve not made a formal, organized study.

For me, it would probably boil down to the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. That’s an important doctrine to me, and I think the RC would never accept me until I gave it up.
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The Catholic Church believes in the Priesthood of all believers. In fact, you have to believe in it to be a Catholic. You can find the teaching in the Catechism. But it also believes in a distinct ministerial Priesthood.
 
Ultima_Ratio said:
The Catholic Church believes in the Priesthood of all believers. In fact, you have to believe in it to be a Catholic. You can find the teaching in the Catechism. But it also believes in a distinct ministerial Priesthood.
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Protestants mean something very different by “priesthood of all believers” than RC, EO, OO, etc. do.
 
Guyonthestreet said:
Im not there yet.

Currently studying the catholic church from catholic sources but not yet fully convinced.

I dont think intellectually I ever will be.

Im praying for the Holy Spirit to make up the shortfall.
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Why try to make a round peg fit into a square hole?
 
I am not sure if I can put these in order of importance. Just answering…

I am not sure which tradition Catholic or Orthodox got it right. I lean Orthodox if really pushed.
I am not a believer in innerancy. I am a moral conservative but a theological liberal. It is hard to convince me. Well…actually it easy for some people to convince me ie not the right people.
My kids love their current church.
I believe the Marian dogmas are later developing traditions starting around the year 80-100 AD when Luke/Acts was written. As such, there is not a darn thing wrong with them but the level of importance is hard for me to reconcile.
I DO find the argument that Paul was at odds with Peter/James/John and the Jerusalem Church somewhat convincing. If Ben were around, I am sure he would like to hear that.
I do not feel a connection to Catholicism.
I have thought about converting to Judaism more than Catholicism but I do believe it is more likely than not that Jesus did rise from the dead.

To be fair though and not wanting to leave the Catholic readers feeling put off:
I love the unity of the Catholic Church.
You can go to church anytime between 4 pm Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday. Now thats cool. Okay that is a minor reason but still…being able to get to church at 630 AM on Sunday has its advantages :o
I am not Sola Scriptura.
Either the Catholics or Orthodox were first…I am just not sure that means anything based upon my presuppositions.
 
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