I'm not a Catholic because

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PJM said:
Why are you not a Catholic? šŸ¤·
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Its not so much that Iā€™m not Catholic, as it is I am Lutheran. But to answer your question, Iā€™ll point to 2 things:
  1. I still find the Augsburg Confession to be a confession of faith that is both catholic and evangelical, and one I can still confess without any serious question of conscience.
  2. I continue to find the current claims of universal jurisdiction and infallibility of the pope to be outside the teachings of the early councils and Church. This is for me the overriding factor in remaining outside of communion with the Bishop of Rome, something I would be happy to resolve.
Jon
 
Because I find the claims of the Bible to be ludicrous, yet alone the beliefs of a specific form of Christianity.
 
PJM said:
Why are you not a Catholic?
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While it is certainly true that people convert due to a variety of reasons, including dissatisfaction with the teachings of their own religion, I think the majority remain faithful to the religion they were raised in, some more faithful (and practicing) than others of course. If I was raised Catholic, I would most likely have remained Catholic. But since I was raised Jewish and have no major complaints about my faith, whereas I do have a spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and cultural attachment to it, I remain Jewish. That doesnā€™t mean, however, I am not interested in finding out about other faiths; I simply feel no need to change. Admittedly, not a very philosophical or profound reply on my part, but it is my view.
 
Iā€™m not a Catholic because the Easter Vigil hasnā€™t arrived yet šŸ™‚
 
I am not a Catholic because I donā€™t believe in what the Church teaches. If I did, I would be a Catholicā€“not a good Catholic, necessarily, but I wouldnā€™t be a Pagan! šŸ˜ƒ
 
I am not a Roman Catholic because I am Lutheran which is both Evangelical and Catholic as stated by the Lutheran Confessions. If I were ever to convert, I would be the best Roman Catholic that I could be, not Roman Catholic in name only as some are such as some politicians are.
 
JonNC said:
Its not so much that Iā€™m not Catholic, as it is I am Lutheran. But to answer your question, Iā€™ll point to 2 things:
  1. I still find the Augsburg Confession to be a confession of faith that is both catholic and evangelical, and one I can still confess without any serious question of conscience.
  2. I continue to find the current claims of universal jurisdiction and infallibility of the pope to be outside the teachings of the early councils and Church. This is for me the overriding factor in remaining outside of communion with the Bishop of Rome, something I would be happy to resolve.
Jon
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Iā€™m not a Catholic for several reasons, but number 2 as stated here is a primary one for me. After nearly a year of open-minded reading, I can see and respect why Catholics interpret things as they do. However, I can also see where the Orthodox and Protestants are coming from with their viewpoints, and to me they appear more in line with the evidence as Iā€™ve seen it so far in rejecting the universal jurisdiction and infallibility of the Pope.

In cases where the evidence appears unclear or contradictory, I reserve judgment; I stay where I am and walk in obedience to what I do know Iā€™m commanded by God to do: ā€œHe has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of youā€”to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.ā€ And I continue to research, yes, and ask for wisdom and insight, but to be honest trying to obey regarding charity, justice, mercy and humility keep me too occupied to obsess about answering the question of how the Church was meant to be governed.
 
** I come from a mixed Catholic-Protestant heritage,** and some years ago spent time in a monastery, I was deeply interested in spirituality and looked into a variety of expressions of the Christian faith. Non-Christian religions also interested me, but I always had a wish to follow the teaching and example of Christ.

** Over the years I began to doubt Catholic Christianity as well as evangelical Protestant Christianity**. Both seem so dogmatic. You have to believe this or that. I wanted and needed the right to investigate, examine, weigh, doubt, etc. I was uncomfortable accepting what any priest or pastor was telling me I had to believe. Much of the problem is centered in scripture. I found the first 11 chapters of Genesis impossible to believe - Adam and Eve, God drowning everybody but Noah and his family, a tower built into heaven led to the creation of separate languages - etc. Just too much mythology to swallow as religious doctrine. I view such stories as parables, legends, etc., not factualā€¦
Code: 
  **Gradually I began to feel most comfortable among mainline Protestantism which seems to accept differences of opinion**. The Methodists, UCC, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and some Baptists and Lutherans permit true freedom of religion. You have Bible classes where various people interpret different passages differently without being scolded or accused of 'heresy'. 

**  I also have been alienated by certain other verses in the Bible.** For example, Ex. 22: 18, 20 - declaring that witches and non-believers should be killed! Or, how God supposedly ordered Joshua to commit genocide once he captured Jericho and how Saul was commanded to slaughter every remaining Amalekite. My God would never demand such outrageous atrocities.
** I also find Catholicism very tribal.** A lot seems to be made our of converts (EWTN etc). Mainline Protestant churches appear full of ex-Catholics but nothing is made of that. Itā€™s simply like moving into another room in the Christian family home. Protestants also go from one church to another with little or no problem. Mainline denominations cooperate together through the World and National Councils of Churches. There is no sense that only ā€˜my churchā€™ is the one true church. My conclusion is that doctrinal purity and church affiliation are secondary. See again Matt, 25:31ff.

** We could go on, but perhaps Iā€™ve made my point.** Catholicism has been responsible for so much good in such areas as medicine, education, feeding the hungry, etc., and that remains very attractive. But Iā€™m simply not able to believe doctrines that strike me as against reason and/or common sense. I need a faith that my mind can honestly embrace.
 
From a classical, orthodox Anglican perspective, what I dislike/disagree with about Roman Catholicism is:
  1. The Papacy (As an institution and all the big claims it makes for itself as an institution, not personally, in fact I rather like and admire the current Bishop of Rome)
  2. Transubstantiation
  3. Sacraments (only Baptism and the Eucharist are really valid Sacraments)
  4. Celibate Clergy (as the son of a retired Episcopal priest, I admit this may be a bit personal :D)
  5. Claims to Exclusivity (not entirely sure you all believe this anymore after VII, though)
  6. Marian Dogmas (yes some Protestant sects have gone too far in the other direction, and she certainly deserves honor as a Saint, but ā€œHoly Queen of Heavenā€? Really? Also file the immaculate conception and permanent virginity under this)
  7. Doctrinal Inconsistencies (Am I, as an Anglican, a heretic bound for damnation or merely ā€œseparated brethrenā€? It depends on which RCC council you believe! :rolleyes:)
  8. Overuse of statues/praying in front of statues (yes, some high church Anglicans do this, but not nearly to the same extent!)
One more thing Iā€™ll list separately since it is more personal preference is the liturgy. I find the liturgy of the BCP far more beautiful and compelling (especially Rite I) than the modern liturgy of the RCC. Thereā€™s a reason why whenever a wedding or funeral service is in a movie 9/10 times they use quotes from the BCP service!)

Some other teachings of the RCC people find controversial (artifical birth control, womenā€™s ordination) I have no strong opinions on one way or the other so Iā€™m open to being convinced on these issues. The above points are the most important reasons Iā€™m not a Roman Catholic.
 
Balian said:
Iā€™m not a Catholic because the Easter Vigil hasnā€™t arrived yet šŸ™‚
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Welcome home Balian!

Hope your RCIA journey is going well. Enjoy this time of feeling the new and freshness of it all! šŸ™‚
 
Balian said:
Iā€™m not a Catholic because the Easter Vigil hasnā€™t arrived yet šŸ™‚
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I remember exactly how you feel right now. My wife, son and I were in received into the Church April 2010.

Welcome home to the church that Jesus founded. This is one of the best decisions you will ever make!
 
Kouyate42 said:
Because I find the claims of the Bible to be ludicrous, yet alone the beliefs of a specific form of Christianity.
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Whatever way you choose to find God I wish you well, but I hope you take another look at Catholicism. If you could only feel how joyous it makes me and how much I would like to see everyone feel that too, you would understand that Iā€™m wishing you something good.

I hope you take my comment here to you in that context.

The nice thing about RCIA is that itā€™s a class for information and if you arenā€™t convinced no one will fault you for not converting. I think the best way to make a decision is to have full knowledge. In RCIA you can ask any question that you have and it will be answered. You are not required to like the answers and you might not, but at least you will know what the doctrine actually teaches.

I think this board however enjoyable, apart from AskAnApologist which is exact doctrine, is really not the best source of information if you are coming to Catholicism fresh. All you get here is opinions of what people who frequent message boards think or feel and that might differ considerably from the values and dogma of the Catholic Church and even from average people who attend RC Church. I can tell you though from my experience itā€™s much easier to fall in love with the pure doctrine itself, and thus the Church, than the understanding of doctrine by average people prone to rationalize their own imperfections or their honest misunderstandings or even their occasional apathy. šŸ˜›

Best wishes.
 
PJM said:
Why are you not a Catholic? šŸ¤·
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Hi. Iā€™m new. I donā€™t know much about Catholicism (or this forum) so the answer might change over time. As of right now, though, Iā€™m just not. I donā€™t think itā€™s a big deal. Catholic is another kind of Christian, except in my experience, most Christians primarily care that other people are Christians. And then Catholics sometimes seem to care more about Catholicity than Christianity. I donā€™t think thatā€™s right, so I wouldnā€™t want to be someone who does that.
 
ProdigalAnglicn said:
From a classical, orthodox Anglican perspective, what I dislike/disagree with about Roman Catholicism is:
  1. The Papacy (As an institution and all the big claims it makes for itself as an institution, not personally, in fact I rather like and admire the current Bishop of Rome)
  2. Transubstantiation
  3. Sacraments (only Baptism and the Eucharist are really valid Sacraments)
  4. Celibate Clergy (as the son of a retired Episcopal priest, I admit this may be a bit personal :D)
  5. Claims to Exclusivity (not entirely sure you all believe this anymore after VII, though)
  6. Marian Dogmas (yes some Protestant sects have gone too far in the other direction, and she certainly deserves honor as a Saint, but ā€œHoly Queen of Heavenā€? Really? Also file the immaculate conception and permanent virginity under this)
  7. Doctrinal Inconsistencies (Am I, as an Anglican, a heretic bound for damnation or merely ā€œseparated brethrenā€? It depends on which RCC council you believe! :rolleyes:)
  8. Overuse of statues/praying in front of statues (yes, some high church Anglicans do this, but not nearly to the same extent!)
One more thing Iā€™ll list separately since it is more personal preference is the liturgy. I find the liturgy of the BCP far more beautiful and compelling (especially Rite I) than the modern liturgy of the RCC. Thereā€™s a reason why whenever a wedding or funeral service is in a movie 9/10 times they use quotes from the BCP service!)

Some other teachings of the RCC people find controversial (artifical birth control, womenā€™s ordination) I have no strong opinions on one way or the other so Iā€™m open to being convinced on these issues. The above points are the most important reasons Iā€™m not a Roman Catholic.
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Agreed with all this except for the last paragraph, since I do have strong opinions in favor of artificial birth control and womenā€™s ordination.

Even so, had I been raised Catholic, I might still able to be Catholic, though after the fashion of Garry Wills. And I have great respect and admiration for JP II and Benedict XVI. As it is, I had no great familiarity with Catholicism until long after I become a Christian. I do find Iā€™m moving more in the direction of Catholicism, but at present I donā€™t see that taking me all the way across the Tiber, only as far as perhaps Anglicanism or Lutheranism from Pentecostalism.
 
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