I'm leaving the Catholic Church

[PennitentMan]

If you believe the Catholic Church is the Church God Himself founded, how can you leave?

Jesus founded the Church, yes…but I don’t believe that it teaches 100% Truth anymore.
It sounds great in RCIA, but living through that, I can’t see how the Church teaches what Jesus wants us to follow.

It doesn’t make sense and casues more harm and pain than spritual growth, especially in the realm of families.

While I think Catholocism is good and wholesome, I honestly think it’s a religion for single people.
Catholocism seems to teach so much about familes, about how they are good and wholesome…and I tried to live it, my wife and I both did…with all our hearts. We even cast our fears and doubts aside, even though we had plenty of them, going on Faith that the Church is right…at the prompting of our priest…and the course of living nearly broke us appart.

I can’t…I just can’t.

 

[jmcrae]

If God would send someone to hell for believing that contraception isn’t wrong, (and not believing in every single “faith and morals” doctrine of the church), then I question the goodness of that God. That was my point.

God doesn’t “send” people to Hell. They arrive their under their own power, by means of their own freely-made decisions. Every decision to deceive ourselves and others is a step towards Hell.

The decision to use contraception is the decision to lie to my body, to my spouse, and to God. Sex is not an act; it’s a language - a language in which we ask God to bless us with children. But if our prayer is not sincere (and how can it be, if at the same time we are using some form of contraception?) then God cannot honour it, or us - we become just that little bit more separated from Him.

To use this language with a same-sex partner is also a lie.

The more lies we let into our lives, the further away we get from God, and thus, the closer we move towards Hell.

 

[pismopal]

I’ve come a long way with some of you here, and I thought that you deserve to know.

I’m not going to argue my reasons or anything, althoughb we can all guess why

It’s a very tough descision for me, but one that I have to make for the good of our family.

Thanks for all you guys’ help feedback guidance and assitance.

PM

My father was not a practising Catholic and led a disolute life but at the end of his life the Church opened her arms to him with love. The Church will always take you back with love. Y’all come back…ya hear?

 

[blessedtoo]

Exalt and those who wish to engage with him/her: can we POSSBILY keep this to the topic??? PM, a brother in Christ, who has been with us for some time, has announced he is LEAVING the Church. It’s a sad day. Can we refrain from dragging this issue into an endless debate that is off-topic?

 

[tessi]

I’m supporting homosexuality - not promiscuity. I also support married couples who choose to use contraception. I also support people who question things that they are told not to question; I support people who break rules that don’t make sense. I encourage critical thinking.

You are questioning The Church teachings according to your thinking. That is a serious sin. It´s not about what I like or I don´t like, it´s about obedience, even if it doesn´t make sense.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well, I think that the Catholic Church isn’t for everyone. That being said, some people will find Christ in other religions or areas of life, and who am I to say that Christ won’t reach them through some other avenue?

Either way, the Catholic Church isn’t working for you. Fine, leave in peace.

However, please don’t do what so many other former Catholics have done after they’ve left, and that is, take up the sword against the Church.

If you focus on Christ, he will lead you to where He wants you. Be open to His love.

Jim

 

[PennitentMan]

However, please don’t do what so many other former Catholics have done after they’ve left, and that is, take up the sword against the Church.

Thanks Jim, I won’t.

I still think the Church is a good place, I don’t dispise her at all. I also still have very good friends in the Church and some preists that are very dear to me.

But I cannot in good conscience follow her anymore.

In Christ,
PM

 

[Joyful_1]

Oh, why is it that whenever I hear of someone who leaves the Church, I feel like a huge chunk of me has been torn away? I want you to know that my heart is weeping right now. I don’t know you at all. I’ve never even seen any of your posts, but I would give up anything right now to know that you had changed your mind. Just as there is great rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents - imagine the mourning in Heaven over one who leaves!

 

[gam197]

originally posted **by PennitentMan
**
Thanks Jim, I won’t.

I still think the Church is a good place, I don’t dispise her at all. I also still have very good friends in the Church and some preists that are very dear to me.

But I cannot in good conscience follow her anymore.

In Christ,
PM

Thank you for not trashing the Church.

Most of here don’t know 99% of what is going on in your family, job or community.

I just hope you end up in a good place. As a wife, I had enormous guilt which did not serve my marriage.

 

[Holly3278]

How very sad. I will be praying that God opens your heart and mind to the Truth and that you will come back quickly.

 

[kage_ar]

Still praying that you will see Jesus in the Eucharist as the most important thing for your family.

 

[Chancellare]

But I cannot in good conscience follow her anymore.

In Christ,
PM

I know how you feel. I’ve taken the same road that led you where you are now but came back with a simple conclusion:
“Lord, you have the word of eternal life! Where else can I go?”

It’s an end game situation: jumping ship is tantamount to spiritual suicide.

 

[Michael96]

Well, I think that the Catholic Church isn’t for everyone. That being said, some people will find Christ in other religions or areas of life, and who am I to say that Christ won’t reach them through some other avenue?

Either way, the Catholic Church isn’t working for you. Fine, leave in peace.

However, please don’t do what so many other former Catholics have done after they’ve left, and that is, take up the sword against the Church.

If you focus on Christ, he will lead you to where He wants you. Be open to His love.

Jim

Indeed. For some people at some times it could be that their journey with Christ takes them outside of the Catholic Church. Christ came to me before I joined the Catholic Church so my experience is that the grace of Christ is not confined to the Catholic Church.

But I would agree with Jim; I think it’s so important not to burn bridges (though it doesn’t sound like that is case anyway); most of us are just trying to follow Christ in the best way we can.

 

[lynne06]

Praying for your return, PM. Even when we can’t fully understand all the teachings, know that the Church will never lead us wrong! Ask the Blessed Mother to help you work everything out in faithfulness to her Son and His Church.

 

[PennitentMan]

Even when we can’t fully understand all the teachings, know that the Church will never lead us wrong!

I don’t believe in this anymore…

 

[Chancellare]

I don’t believe in this anymore…

Many years ago, I didn’t give a hoot if someone gets lost by his own account.
Now I’m older, I feel obligated to at least give a whimper when I see something amiss.
And it is this:
Before I conclude that the whole train is going in the wrong direction, at least I make sure that I have checked where I was going in relation to where I should be going.

 

[PennitentMan]

Before I conclude that the whole train is going in the wrong direction, at least I make sure that I have checked where I was going in relation to where I should be going.

I thought ahead to see where I was going, most certainly…My choice was thus:

Stay on the “Train” and follow the rules as best I could…and my marriage would have gone out the window, or possibly my wife’ss suicide…just by following the rules.
or
get off the train and rescue my marriage.

I chose the latter and it’s working. We are happy again. We are a family again and we are close again.

We are a unit again, following Jesus as best we can.

 

[Ramalama]

PM, I can’t add much to the above. I always enjoyed reading the discussions you were in and always appreciated your frankness and honesty. Of course, I too will pray for you and your family. God bless you and I hope to welcome you back soon.

 

[Michael96]

We are happy again. We are a family again and we are close again.

We are a unit again, following Jesus as best we can.

That’s so good to hear. God bless you all+

All any of can do is to try and follow Jesus as best we can. And I’m sure that’s exactly what he wants for you.

 

[blessedtoo]

I thought ahead to see where I was going, most certainly…My choice was thus:

Stay on the “Train” and follow the rules as best I could…and my marriage would have gone out the window, or possibly my wife’ss suicide…just by following the rules.
or
get off the train and rescue my marriage.

I chose the latter and it’s working. We are happy again. We are a family again and we are close again.

We are a unit again, following Jesus as best we can.

PM,
I know you’ve heard it all before here at CAF and I don’t want to be redundant. But, in the interest of covering “all bases”, I wondered if you had spoken to a priest before making this decision. I KNOW you’ve spoken to many priests before, but did you seek counsel regarding the severity of the issue (and I am only assuming I know what the issue is) and the dangerous impact it was having on your wife and on your marriage? I pray that you did because I know there are some situations that are so dire that considerations can be made. Sorry for being so obtuse, but I think you may get what I’m saying.

God bless and peace to you and your family.