I've officially left the Church

[Tietjen]

That is why I’ve left…I’m being honest with myself. I know that there are a lot of Catholics who just go through the motions and show up twice a year…but that’s not me.

That’s not me either. In fact, it’s not actually Catholic at all since we are required to attend Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days. Twice a year?!?! Is that what you really believed was what Catholics do?!?! No wonder you left. Perhaps if you actually understood the faith that you’re rejecting you’d understand. Perhaps not. We’ll never know. Still, God bless and know that when you have explored the religion of men and have tired of it, God and His Church will welcome you home again.

I actually want a relationship with Christ…

So, sad… millions (no… billions) have found that WITHIN the Church, and you can’t? tsk… tsk… me thinks perhaps you simply want to do things your way… have a relationship with Christ on your terms… embrace those things that YOU define as worth embracing and to heck with the rest. How sad. Kinda reminds me of the old Burger King slogan… “Have it your way.”

 

[Tietjen]

You seem to have missed to whole point of the scripture I quoted. Only Christ can heal that sort of blindness.

He can’t help it Dauphin. God hasn’t opened his eyes either. I find it rather silly that so many protestants come here to a Catholic forum and get all giddy like school-girls when a Catholic has doubts or questions God and the Church. It’s like they take joy over seeing someone distance themselves from God. Perhaps, it’s simply that “misery loves company” and since they can’t find God in the Catholic Church they love to see others fail as well. I pity you thecoach, and those like you. You bask in your own ignorance while offending God by attacking His Church. You are truly one to be pitied.

 

[Tietjen]

You sir are just a rude man, I hope you realize that your supposed to be respectful, pray for me, but I will pray for you more, you are just flat out disrepsectful, I would say more, but I would like to stay here, even with you.

Child,

What is truly rude is you coming to a Catholic forum with a signature which suggests that Catholics are something other than Christian. We are, in fact, the first Christians, while the baptists you are defending didn’t show up on scene until 1609 when John Smyth decided that he knew better than God what a Church should be. So, he started his own… the baptist church. From there, little “mini-me” wannabies sub divided the baptist church even further into things like the free-will baptists, southern baptists, american baptists, etc, etc. It’s actually almost comical in a sad sort of way.

 

[onetimeposter]

There shouldn’t be any winning, or losing,

This is what I believe. Catholicism no longer works for me and it has not for years. I should not be in a place that fills me with anxiety and fear. If it works for you great!

I have this anxiety and fear, not because I am ignorant, but because I am aware of the teachings of the Church and at times fail to live up to the institutional requirements of the Church…hence, I have removed myself from having to feel guilty all of time.

 

[onetimeposter]

What in Catholicism did you find distracting?

Everything…seriously, all of the requirements were impediments to my relationship with Christ.

The entire concept of the RCC position surrounding sins…did nothing but fill me with anxiety, fear and complete failure at never being able to meet the institutional requirements necessary for my hope of salvation.

Christ died on the cross as one final sacrifice…it is done.

 

[onetimeposter]

That’s not me either. In fact, it’s not actually Catholic at all since we are required to attend Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days.

**This has nothing to do with it…I don’t want to become one of those guys…
**

So, sad… millions (no… billions) have found that WITHIN the Church, and you can’t? tsk… tsk… me thinks perhaps you simply want to do things your way…

Anyway that I can experience the sacred and form a relationship with God will be fine by me. I can do neither of those things within the Church…too many distractions for me.

**The tone around here is like that of an angry mob. **

 

[Pier]

Anyway that I can experience the sacred and form a relationship with God will be fine by me. I can do neither of those things within the Church…too many distractions for me.

I haven’t read all the posts, so please forgive if I’ve mentioned something you’ve already said.

Now, you don’t go to church at all? Did you go every Sunday? How would you know who only showed up twice a year - that’s really nobody’s business - plus the fact that sometimes those we see on Christmas and Easter attend services at other times of the year at different times, so we might not see them anyway. Anyway, is it our business? That’s not why we’re there.

 

[onetimeposter]

I haven’t read all the posts, so please forgive if I’ve mentioned something you’ve already said.

Now, you don’t go to church at all? Did you go every Sunday? How would you know who only showed up twice a year - that’s really nobody’s business - plus the fact that sometimes those we see on Christmas and Easter attend services at other times of the year at different times, so we might not see them anyway. Anyway, is it our business? That’s not why we’re there.

Your kidding right?

So, it’s just a coincidence that a Church that has 1400 families, has 15000 people show up at Christmas Mass for the various masses?

It’s just a coincidence that my old Church has to have two sites to run all of the days Masses to accommodate the overflow crowd.

Come on, gimme a flippin break, it is well known that about 75% of RC’ don’t attend weekly Mass…The Church claims it is a grave sin or mortal sin…but they never tell them…why is that?

They want the pews filled those few times a year? I wonder.
**
Anyway, this has nothing to do at all while I left**, but sticking your head in the sand and pretending that twice a year Catholics don’t exist is your prerogative.

 

[Pier]

Your kidding right?

So, it’s just a coincidence that a Church that has 1400 families, has 15000 people show up at Christmas Mass for the various masses?

It’s just a coincidence that my old Church has to have two sites to run all of the days Masses to accommodate the overflow crowd.

Come on, gimme a flippin break, it is well known that about 75% of RC’ don’t attend weekly Mass…The Church claims it is a grave sin or mortal sin…but they never tell them…why is that?

They want the pews filled those few times a year? I wonder.
**
Anyway, this has nothing to do at all while I left**, but sticking your head in the sand and pretending that twice a year Catholics don’t exist is your prerogative.

Pardon - I thought Mass attendance was one of the reasons you stated that you left (maybe it was on another thread?)

What makes you think Catholics don’t know they are supposed to attend the Mass every week? This too has been taught to us - Catholics can attend Mass every day if they so choose…

God has given people free will to make their choices.

 

[onetimeposter]

Pardon - I thought Mass attendance was one of the reasons you stated that you left (maybe it was on another thread?)

What makes you think Catholics don’t know they are supposed to attend the Mass every week? This too has been taught to us - Catholics can attend Mass every day if they so choose…

God has given people free will to make their choices.

Another thread…not this one.

 

[Pier]

Another thread…not this one.

Okay - my mistake…

 

[Layman]

“Released from bondage”?

I don’t see what’s so restrictive about Catholicism. You can do the minimum, or you an get all the benefits of the indulgences, devotions, prayers, medallions, statues, saints, archangels, confession, Mass etc.

**The Catholic Church is a treasure house, ** in fact. Treasures that can be easily had, and that help bolster a weak man.

In Catholicism, Christ is making every effort to get you into Heaven. All you have to do is make a small effort in return. In Islam and Protestantism, the aids are much fewer.

OTP, examine what will happen in your heart without the subconscious, spiritual comfort that membership of the Church gives.

 

[onetimeposter]

I don’t see what’s so restrictive about Catholicism. You can do the minimum, or you an get all the benefits of the indulgences ( don’t believe in them), devotions, prayers, medallions **(superstition, don’t believe in them) **statues ( adds nothing to my faith experience), saints ( don’t feel the need to pray to a middle man), archangels ( over emphasis on guardian angels and angels in general), confession ( is my biggest issue, there is one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us from every wrong doing), Mass ( don’t believe in the real presence, Mass brings me no closer to God)
.

 

[inJESUS]

Why do you open a thread about it? good luck

 

[onetimeposter]

Why do you open a thread about it? good luck

I thought the non-Catholic forum was for just this very thing. If personal announcements aren’t appropriate, perhaps it should be a forum rule or perhaps people shouldn’t read my posts.

Judging by the angry jeering mob, ( not everyone) I take it that it is a massive insult to leave the one true Church and some people feel personally slighted.

 

[cheese_sdc]

God bless on your journey.

 

[Milliardo]

I thought the non-Catholic forum was for just this very thing. If personal announcements aren’t appropriate, perhaps it should be a forum rule or perhaps people shouldn’t read my posts.

Judging by the angry jeering mob, ( not everyone) I take it that it is a massive insult to leave the one true Church and some people feel personally slighted.

I think his point is that this is a Catholic board, so when you open something like this, you’re practically asking for it. It’s not like people here will exactly be sympathetic to your cause. In short, what’s the actual point of this thread apart from incurring the expected reactions from the posters here?

 

[Layman]

Well, I’m not jeering. From your reply to my own response above, you seem to be a genuine protestant.

You don’t believe. You could try praying for belief?

This is an internet forum. I’ve read that if you want to get help on an internet forum, just asking for it doesn’t work. You’ll be ignored.

What you need to do is to post something you know is slightly wrong, as concrete fact, then await (verbose) correction [grin]

See also:
xkcd.com/386/

Good luck, anyway. At least try to avoid formally signing up with any other religion, just in case you later regret your apostasy.

 

[onetimeposter]

I think his point is that this is a Catholic board, so when you open something like this, you’re practically asking for it. It’s not like people here will exactly be sympathetic to your cause. In short, what’s the actual point of this thread apart from incurring the expected reactions from the posters here?

It’s a monumental moment in my life…heck people post opinions about everything around here.

Leaving Catholicism was a big decision and if it makes people feel uncomfortable that everyone isn’t happy in the Church or that some Catholics walk away from the one true faith…then I suppose that’s too bad.

This is a fairly open forum, so if people don’t want to read about my journey…my title is self explanatory, then don’t open the link.

 

[Milliardo]

It’s a monumental moment in my life…heck people post opinions about everything around here.

Leaving Catholicism was a big decision and if it makes people feel uncomfortable that everyone isn’t happy in the Church or that some Catholics walk away from the one true faith…then I suppose that’s too bad.

This is a fairly open forum, so if people don’t want to read about my journey…my title is self explanatory, then don’t open the link.

Yes, that’s all very fine, but you do know that this is a Catholic board, right? You also know you will get the reactions you received here. I personally do not see the point of making such an announcement on a Catholic board; it’s like insulting your host in a party, to make an analogy. If your point is to simply justify your decision for leaving by baiting people to react negatively to it, then I guess you did make some sort of point. Otherwise, this is all unnecessary. To make it easier, I also left the Catholic Church for Orthodoxy, but I didn’t make a big deal out of it here, since I have much respect for our Catholic brethren and for the simple fact that making such a thread would be in bad taste.