Im no longer going to be a Catholic

[catholiconce]

No doubt, there are, have been, and will be chaff with the wheat.
This does not change the validity of the truth taught by the Catholic Church.
As difficult as it is to see the hurt that has happened, don’t let that turn you from Jesus’ truth.
Men fail us, Jesus’ truth never will.
Separate the teachings of the church with the actions of some within the church.

with prayers,
michel

Also The Catholic church has taught the truth. The word catholic however refers to a universal christian church. The catholic church Today is a denomintion of the Christian religion like most others. The catholic church has been reformed several times once by Pope Gregory and later By Luther and Calvin to metion a few,

 

[estesbob]

Leaving the Catholic church is NOT leaving Jesus. He is across the street in the Lutheran church as well.

You cannot separate Jesus from his church. Jesus and the Catholic Church are one in the same.

 

[estesbob]

Also The Catholic church has taught the truth. The word catholic however refers to a universal christian church. The catholic church Today is a denomintion of the Christian religion like most others. The catholic church has been reformed several times once by Pope Gregory and later By Luther and Calvin to metion a few,

The idea that there is a universal Christian church is a fairly recent teaching. You wont l find anybody that believed that for he first 1500 years of church history. It most certainly is not supported by Scripture or tradition The Catholic church is the one true church. The rest of the so-called churches are merely Christian denominations-denominations created by men.

 

[Janet_S]

My experience is very similar. I wandered in here last year looking for some conversation about religion-since it’s not something I normally do with co-workers and friends. Wow, what an eye-opener! I’ve been Catholic for all of my nearly 50 years, and have followed the teachings of the Church to the best of my ability, only to find out that my desire NOT to expect everyone else on the planet to be forced to make the same choices branded me an “infidel”.

I find fundamentalism unnerving, no matter who is practicing it and I had the naive impression that Catholicism didn’t have such a thing. I’m wide awake now.

To look at things from a different perspective, most liberals are very rigid too. They are every bit as judgmental and dogmatic about their beliefs as fundamentalists are about theirs. And, though they pride themselves on their tolerance, just see how far they tolerate those who disagree with them.

 

[catholiconce]

You cannot separate Jesus from his church. Jesus and the Catholic Church are one in the same./QUOTE
The Chuch is Catholic not Roman Catholic

 

[rikkk1958]

First and foremost a good Roman Catholic always believe in the divinity of the Church on how it was founded, that the Church is divine and may be administered by humanity. This concept if always understood, by good Roman Catholic should be more understanding on human frailties because after all we are all sinners. What we agreed upon after confirming our faith is to continue the doctrine and tradition of the Church. If one will base his or her beliefs on the grounds that should suit their own desire and expectations from the Church and not the central point of the church’s doctrine then I will not fault the Church if one is not happy and leave. The salvation Jesus spoke of is not easy even though you are a Roman Catholic. What we can do is just to keep trying to be good and pleasing in the eyes of God, and of course, to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Roman Catholicism was and is always the Church Jesus wants us to follow and I will never consider myself to be leaving what Jesus said I should follow.

 

[VWcrazy]

Roman Catholicism was and is always the Church Jesus wants us to follow and I will never consider myself to be leaving what Jesus said I should follow.

What about the other Rites of the Catholic Church which are in union with the Bishop of Rome?

Why leave the (Catholic) Church and join a Church some “guy” started?

And I still can’t find anything in the Bible which says we can start our own denomination if we want.

 

[catharina]

My experience is very similar. I wandered in here last year looking for some conversation about religion-since it’s not something I normally do with co-workers and friends. Wow, what an eye-opener! I’ve been Catholic for all of my nearly 50 years, and have followed the teachings of the Church to the best of my ability, only to find out that my desire NOT to expect everyone else on the planet to be forced to make the same choices branded me an “infidel”.

I find fundamentalism unnerving, no matter who is practicing it and I had the naive impression that Catholicism didn’t have such a thing. I’m wide awake now.

FORCED? You’re kidding, yes?
Are you getting a different site-stream from CA.
I’ve never heard “force” even suggested here.

If you find a minute in your busy life of
‘looking to find conversation about religion’
(rather than ‘looking to deepen your faith’)
do share that ‘teaching’ of “force” with other posters.
I don’t recognize it at all -
so I have to doubt that you’re wide awake now.

 

[sola_scriptura]

Good thing the church doesn’t claim infallibility in astronomy.

I’m actually surprised to see this post from you.
You are typically not responding in this manner.

It was a bad day … apologies!

 

[redrosetea]

Wy all the drama go ahead and leave? No one here will stop you

 

[estesbob]

estesbob;4120567:

You cannot separate Jesus from his church. Jesus and the Catholic Church are one in the same.

Correct. Their are several rites in the Ctholic Chuch and the Latin rite(also referred to as Roman Catholic) is one of them. All of which are under the authority of the Pope.

 

[estesbob]

Wy all the drama go ahead and leave? No one here will stop you

. It is a great tragedy when anyone leaves the Catholic Church.We should in no way encourage that

 

[redrosetea]

I refuse to fight with people that say they are going to leave…and I don’t think they are looking for people to show them the light, I think they are posting for the purpose of creating havoc

 

[rikkk1958]

What about the other Rites of the Catholic Church which are in union with the Bishop of Rome?

Why leave the (Catholic) Church and join a Church some “guy” started?

And I still can’t find anything in the Bible which says we can start our own denomination if we want.

This forum is rich in many discussions like you are asking, please take advantage of it and you will learn. If I tell you why, I know you will respond with all the facts from the scriptures but to generalize my point, what we have as Roman Catholics were already discussed by the fathers based on traditions and teachings of the apostles and disciples . These were also based on facts and not merely from the scriptures. So there is no point for debate. But let may say simply about the Bishop of Rome that like any other church, one has to lead. Our union with him is for morals and faith, nothing else. Ask those who started their denominations, why they did.

 

[maize]

im not going to become a catholic anymore. i just cant live up to it.

 

[mercygate]

im not going to become a catholic anymore. i just cant live up to it.

Of course you can’t “live up to” the Catholic faith. Nobody can.

But it’s not the Catholic Church we are “living up to.” It is Jesus Christ. Anybody who thinks he can live fully in Christ under his own power needs a reality check. Christ does not call us to live a human and natural life; Christ calls us to a supernatural life. For that, we need supernatural grace.

The Catholic Church differs from some other Christian expressions in that it does not mitigate or conceal what it takes to live in a manner consistent with life in Christ. There’s no way to water this down and still have it be genuine.

 

[sola_scriptura]

Of course you can’t “live up to” the Catholic faith. Nobody can.

But it’s not the Catholic Church we are “living up to.” It is Jesus Christ. Anybody who thinks he can live fully in Christ under his own power needs a reality check. Christ does not call us to live a human and natural life; Christ calls us to a supernatural life. For that, we need supernatural grace.

The Catholic Church differs from some other Christian expressions in that it does not mitigate or conceal what it takes to live in a manner consistent with life in Christ. There’s no way to water this down and still have it be genuine.

Can you explain what you mean by your last statement (that the Catholic church does not “mitigate or conceal” what it takes to live in a manner consistent with life in Christ)?

I assume you’re saying some Protestant churches are more permissive in nature than the RCC. If so I would agree, but with one caveat – there are many Protestant denominations whom are just as dogmatic as the RCC (some are even more so). So I think in fairness it’s a mixed bag.

 

[Ronald_E]

I had been raised Catholic from birth…and I joined the Army in 1967. Before I went to Vietnam in 1968…those of us that were Catholics were called to a chapel where we met with a Catholic Chaplain… He spoke to us and it was all about the fact that all of us were going to war. He spoke about the fact that many if not most of us would experience combat and face the eventuality that we would have to kill another human being or be killed ourselves. I already knew that and accepted that fact…I was from a military family…my father was a career officer in Combat Arms who fought in two wars… But what the Chaplain told us was: Don’t worry about having to kill the enemy… God is on our side. For some reason, that statement angered me deeply. I knew the realities of the war in Vietnam, and I knew that even though we were going to be fighting communists… I also knew that Catholicism was strong in South Vietnam, and there had been Catholics all over Vietnam…and that the likelihood that many of them had been pressed into serving the VC and the NVA was very high. This was strongly on my mind and actually caused a rift in my mind and heart. It caused me to fall away from the Church. I served my country in Vietnam…I did my duty and my mission was to eliminate the enemy. I could not help but wonder…how many of my brother Catholics met their deaths due to my mission and its successes.

After returning to the US and dealing with much anger and sadness over what I had been through…I sought counseling and got it… it helped me to some extent. To make a long story short, it took me a long time to work through the issues…and I do mean a long time.

I actually felt the pull of the Holy Spirit…pulling me back to my beliefs…but I investigated other beliefs…all of which left me empty and very unfulfilled. I came back to the Catholic Church… and I found the fulfillment and peace that I had been missing.

Rob, I am now with my wife and son at Flathead Lake in Montana. We went to Sunday Mass at John Paul II Catholic Church and talked briefly with Father Shea afterwards. He served two tours in Vietnam and his eyes told the story of what you went through. I was in the Air Force during that time and did not serve as you did. I did rap groups from '86 to '91 with the Vets and it I have seen many Vets in my work over the years.
The impression that they have blessed me with is one of profound humility. Those who seem to have been most deeply hurt seem to be the ones who live their lives with purpose and commitment until their bodies have just worn out. They do not complain and go as long as they can. I have put pressure on several of them to apply for VA benefits because they have earned it and have a need for it. They have been a blessing to me.
God Bless You Rob.

 

[mercygate]

Can you explain what you mean by your last statement (that the Catholic church does not “mitigate or conceal” what it takes to live in a manner consistent with life in Christ)?

I assume you’re saying some Protestant churches are more permissive in nature than the RCC. If so I would agree, but with one caveat – there are many Protestant denominations whom are just as dogmatic as the RCC (some are even more so). So I think in fairness it’s a mixed bag.

Yes. I meant that Catholic theology is less “seeker friendly” than a lot of what shows up in the Protestant world. For example, verybody knows the Church considers contraception a deadly sin. Ditto abortion. And we hold all those quaint old ideas like Ordination may validly be conferred only on men. . . .

We scare people because everybody knows these things but nobody has ever connected the dots so that people understand how and why these things are seen as they are. The words “natural law” are virtually nonexistent in the ambient culture.

 

[jmcrae]

Leaving the Catholic church is NOT leaving Jesus. He is across the street in the Lutheran church as well.

Not in the same way, nor to the same extent.

The Catholic Church alone (in all of its Rites) has Jesus in the Tabernacle, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, along with all of His teachings, undiluted and unedited by the various heresies and personal opinions that exist in Protestantism.