Lapsed Catholics Explain Why They Leave the Church

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Scott_Lafrance said:
But you’re Catholic though.
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Yes, and I didn’t leave the Church to get remarried. I stayed true.

I have heard too many people say the Church’s laws regarding marriage and homosexuality are “laws of men.” Even from church going Catholics. 😦
 
garn9173 said:
My soon to be ex-wife was raised Baptist and at the time, I was a “Chris-ter” (only attending Mass Christmas & Easter), so we both agreed to go the non-demontial route and eventually drifted away all together. I went a couple of times with her and felt like a rock concert broke out. Couple of years ago, I made mention that I wouldn’t mind to start going to Mass again and her response was, “well you could go with me & son” and after that snide comment, I never raised the issue again.

Last August, about the time I could sense things were going south in the marriage, I heard God calling me Home.

Now that my wife has left me, i’m a practicing Catholic revert and love the beauty of a Catholic Mass and the Church has not changed much at all. Yes, the child abuse was a horrible, horrible, thing that I could never get my head around because I had such wonderful Priests when I was growing up.

There you go, that’s my story on why I left the Church and how I returned.

Oh and the though has never crossed my mind once so far this Lent to have meat on Friday 😃
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My prayers to you. Divorce is a horrible horrible thing to go through.

I have found peace and joy on the Faith. Peace and joy that cannot be found in the secular world.

Bless you.
 
qui_est_ce said:
My prayers to you. Divorce is a horrible horrible thing to go through.
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The main reason we didn’t divorce. She went her way and I my way without anger. We keep in touch from time to time, and I always visit her when I’m in NYC, also take her out to dinner while I’m there. Not this last time though, as I had a fractured leg that kept me housebound at my mother’s.
 
qui_est_ce said:
Yes, and I didn’t leave the Church to get remarried. I stayed true.

I have heard too many people say the Church’s laws regarding marriage and homosexuality are “laws of men.” Even from church going Catholics. 😦
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I’ve heard alot of people state a whole lot of things over the years. I’m a firm believer in what St Paul stated. Run the race and finish the course. Easy wasn’t part of the course. I will admit I am very content with my spiritual life though. Possible thats the quiet before the next storm also:shrug:

I do believe the church ought to be handing the latest edition of the CCC to everyone though. Give them the book :D:thumbsup:
 
GaryTaylor said:
I’ve heard alot of people state a whole lot of things over the years. I’m a firm believer in what St Paul stated. Run the race and finish the course. Easy wasn’t part of the course. I will admit I am very content with my spiritual life though. Possible thats the quiet before the next storm also:shrug:

I do believe the church ought to be handing the latest edition of the CCC to everyone though. Give them the book :D:thumbsup:
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We are studying the Catholicism series by Fr. Barron. A CCC is needed to answer the questions in the workbook.

Guess who never attends the Adult Faith Formation classes?
 
GaryTaylor said:
I’ve heard alot of people state a whole lot of things over the years. I’m a firm believer in what St Paul stated. Run the race and finish the course. Easy wasn’t part of the course.
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But neither was impossible part of of the course. 🤷
 
qui_est_ce said:
We are studying the Catholicism series by Fr. Barron. A CCC is needed to answer the questions in the workbook.
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His name didn’t ring a bell until I remember the PBS series on Catholicism narrated by him. I thought it superb.
 
LegoGE1947 said:
But you can get this in Protestant fellowships too where the pastor doesn’t seem to have a clue as how to answer a question so he accuses you of having a “demon of intelligence” or that “your brain is too big for your head!” or some such nonsense.
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That has nothing to do with the issue.

The point of spiritual literacy is not to be no worse than those other guys, its to ensure an actual literacy.

If you see a homeless person on the street, do you tell yourself, “as long as I’m not doing worse than that guy, I’m fine”, and then sell everything you own to get a drug habit? Of course not!

Comparing yourself to the worst of the other guys just doesn’t work.
 
Nec5 said:
Better music… hahaha. I’d bet real money that their taste in music is terrible (i.e. Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Brittany Spears, etc.).

Really. If you go to a church, any church, primarily for the music, you need a lobotomy.
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A couple with their 8 year old son were walking home from church. The mother complained that the organs were out of tune while the father said the sermons were boring. The kid replies, “What did you expect for 2 bucks?”
 
i think young adults drift away from the Church after high school. some will return later in life. a lot of people just don’t agree with the teachings of the Church. but the good news, is that every year new people join the Catholic church and others revert to Catholicism.
i don’t know what the Church can do to bring back more of those that have left.
 
Rich_Olszewski said:
His name didn’t ring a bell until I remember the PBS series on Catholicism narrated by him. I thought it superb.
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He did more than narrate it the series, he created it as part of his *Word on Fire * ministry. Despite news reports, PBS had nothing to do with the series, other than a minority of PBS affiliated stations chose to air it.

Last fall, an exasperated ombudsman for PBS was forced to explain:
Some help in explaining the provenance of this series was provided by Nancy Ross, director of Media and Production for World on Fire Catholic Ministries. She posted a comment on the Catholic News Agency site linked to above which read: “Hi All. Some quick updates: The ‘Catholicism’ series is not funded, produced, or created by PBS. WTTW-11 in Chicago (a PBS affiliate) is the presenting station. Fr. Robert Barron is the creator, writer, and host of the series—a production of Word On Fire Catholic Ministries in partnership with Picture Show Films. To date, about 80 public television stations are planning to air four of the ten episodes, most during prime time.”
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That’s helpful but it was probably seen by very few people.
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I spoke with Dan Soles, senior vice-president at WTTW in Chicago, a major member station of PBS. He confirmed that PBS had nothing to do with this series and said that the film was distributed by Executive Program Services (EPS), one of a handful of other suppliers around the country that provide film to public broadcasting stations generally—including ones not associated with PBS—and that I have written about before. PBS is the major supplier to public broadcasting but others, such as EPS, American Public Television, and the National Educational Telecommunications Association, distribute many films. A PBS affiliate, such as WTTW, can provide, though EPS, a link to the public broadcasting satellite that enables other member stations to receive it.
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Soles said about 100 PBS member stations out of 350 or so will probably use part or all of the series. “We make it very clear,” he added, “that it is not proper or appropriate to use the PBS” designation in connection with this series and that WTTW also “made clear it is [the term] public television that should be used” in any description. It gets harder to control, he said, when the descriptions get into the hands of news organizations.
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pbs.org/ombudsman/2011/10/catholicism_a_religion_but_not_a_pbs_series_t.html
 
exoflare said:
What are you referring to as “impossible”?
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A comment I made about completing your life as Catholic and correctly. Which I stated wasn’t easy. Rich is also correct, and it does become easier as you apply yourself. And its definately not impossible. Truth be told, I don’t believe in impossible. 😉

Its like anything in life as you actively apply the instructions you become more proficient.

Peace
 
Scott_Lafrance said:
I agree. We ordered the DVDs to use as part of our homeschooling curriculum.
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Wonderful!

I echo the enthusiasm I am hearing about Father Robert Barron’s talent and teaching gift with regard to the production of these DVD’s!

Living in Baptist country, I am not surprised that the first four parts of the “Catholicism” set were not shown on PBS here. But, I pray not to despair. We can all attract others to the fullness of the Catholic Church by how much we love the Lord and others, and allow Him to sanctify us more each day.

I bought the set for a Christmas present to myself, and it is being used for good ever since. At the Friday morning meeting of senior citizens after Mass each week, we have completed watching the series and they were awed by it. Every time I watch with others at my home (my adult children, my teen grandchildren, many friends) another one hour part of the set, I gain more from it.

A member of our parish that leads a group is considering how and when to begin showing it to the parish.

A nearby parish has shown the series in their faith formation program.

Another parish in our diocese is about to begin showing it at their parish.

It is revitalizing and like a much needed B12 shot in the arm for our faith!
 
May the Holy Spirit unite all and make practicing Catholics salt and light to the world with miraculous help from the Woman & Seed, The Virgin Mary and her Son, Jesus Christ; along with us, her “other children” as in Apocalpyse 12. Give all souls hearty appetites for truth. Thanks. AMEN
 
Dorothy said:
It takes a lot of compassionate love and discernment for a priest to be able to perfectly respond every time a parishioner comes and asks for advice. In my view, a priest is spread so thin that at times he is struggling to become more aware of what his priorities really are.

As far as spiritual direction goes, there are excellent classic books that can help one on the spiritual journey.
There are varied ways that people can be spiritually guided. Some benefit from prayer groups, others from meditative Scripture reading, Rosaries prayed alone, or with a group. Fellowship blossoms when a group of focused Catholics meet on a regular basis to share and pray together When we pray and seek, we find!

We need to be aware that the Body of Christ is holy, because Christ is holy! The members can be in various stages of sin, turmoil, or blessedness and saintliness. We are needed to invite back those who are estranged from the Church, lift up those who are down, and encourage those who have spiritual battles, as we all do…
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*Retreats are also a very good way to gain spiritual nourishment. I do believe that we have a responsibility to keep learning more about the Faith. There is always more…and more…

Cinette:)*
 
7_Sorrows said:
i think young adults drift away from the Church after high school. some will return later in life. a lot of people just don’t agree with the teachings of the Church. but the good news, is that every year new people join the Catholic church and others revert to Catholicism.
i don’t know what the Church can do to bring back more of those that have left.
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*Converts are often very good role models and their conversion stories often teach us a lot about the Faith.

Another good way to learn about the Faith is right here at CAF - participating in the various discussions.

:)*
 
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