Leaving the Catholic Church and Family Reaction

[reneeville]

Dear Austin~
I am in just the reverse…and feel just the opposite. I believe for many “cradle” Catholics, the faith may be shallow…for any number of reasons. As a lifelong protestant (mainline and non-denominational) I was never encouraged to be “pro-Catholic”, nor pro-other denominations. I’ve learned as a Catholic that a major tenet is not to bash another’s faith (the first tenet in Judaism). I know too that the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ, the Reformation…is man-made, along with all the denominations that have sprung from it. I don’t believe for a minute that other faiths are not about God; however, I wanted to worship and pray, not be entertained. I spent eight months in contemplative and meditative prayer before my heart was asked the question “why are you a Protestant Renee?” I could not give our Creator an answer. My issue with protestantism was that you can’t get any two to agree on one topic (i.e abortion, same sex marriage, etc.), and the sola scriptura concept… well dear one, I can only tell you how full of JOY I have been since coming home. You have been given some wonderful feedback here and I know that many of us are praying that you will make the decision God would have you make.
In, for, and with Christ…

 

[malachi_a_serva]

mastda:

Actually malachi_a_serva, I sort of agree with you but do not confuse real practising catholics with cultural catholics.
However, I recall being part of a large Evangelical protestant Church …prayer requests made by the men were very surprising such as prayer for porn addiction, deviant fetishes, adultery, cussing, substance abuse, etc.,. just because people look and act good on Sundays, doesn’t mean they will act like this on Monday.

Thanks mastda. I guess most of my interactions, relatives and friends have been just that…cultural catholics. But I think that is the whole point, they believe that is what being a catholic is (just my observation)…living life like others but “being catholic”. Like your experience, my first journey after many years of not being a practicing catholic lead me to an Alliance Church…yes and at men’s prayer groups men would pray for strength from lust of other woman and straying/adultery. I myself, cannot see someone who is really “born again” (my definition) struggling with those things…yet I know it is possible and everyone I guess has their own demons(as they say) and cross to bear. I was only there about 2 months and have since been with an Independant Fundamental Baptist group (2 yrs now end of this month). Small…about 55 members…and from my interactions…strong Christians. Wanting the Lord’s will done, not theirs…it is easier as “worldly” seperation is practiced…sort of “out of sight…out of mind”…which is not bad. Anyway, not to get of track. We have hymns only, very blessed in the choir department and instument department, piano and organ, sometime flute and/or violin…no big band or plays or drums…very conservative. Lots of suits and ladies in dresses…

Thanks for your comments. Aside from my mother who is devoted (mass every day when she can…never misses weekly for sure…yet doesn’t know why this or that…just believes because…etc.etc.) I do not really know strong Catholics. That is a shame since all my relatives are Catholic. They attend church at funerals or baptisms, etc. Somewhat growing up I, along with my firneds, thought we were “good to go” since we were Catholic, belived in God, in the trinity, that Jesus died for us…that protestant were the “non-religious” ones. I do not know many protestants…just from my small group and boy are they Christians.(my observations)…live like Christians, talk like Christians, respectful, polite, etc…etc…we spend so much time together we see each other and know their families etc…3 - 4 times a week. Yes being at church so much (as has been a criticsm does have its pluses…stay out of trouble whatever it might be…not getting legalistic but making an observation. I struggle with perhaps legalism…proper dress, looks.etc…yet some of it has its place. I think certain studies show…when one dresses casual, they act casual…dresses professional…acts professional. A little white chapel in the country…like little house on the praire.

Anyway, I started here to defend Fundamentalism. Now I am just confussed and searching…searching to confirm to myself Fundamentalism is the way to go…or else confirm to myslef that the RCC is the way to go. Somedays I am 51 % oneway then back the other…when I arrived here I was 100% Fundamental. I am not saying the RCC is where I will end up. But until I have satisfied myself with answers etc…I will not stop. I have a huge gut feeling I am not being lead to the RCC, but I am using wisdom to determine that as well. I truly have a diferent definition of “born again” and since I experience something that I cannot explain other than “born again” this is leading me away from RCC, but like I said, I want wisdom to play a part.

thanks for your time.

 

[NotWorthy]

malachi_a_serva:

ps…I appreciate NOTWORTHY, as he is worthy as well as CHURCHMILITANT as well as SOLACHRISTA (on the other side of things )I am learning allot. Others as well that have reached out.

Yeah, and it’s really cool that I can say my name out loud at each and every mass: “Lord, I am NotWorthy, but only say the Word, and I shall be healed”!

All kidding aside, one of the benefits of this name is it does keep me humble… OK, at least it helps to keep me humble… Er, it reminds me to be humble? OK, humility is overblown, anyway!

Notworthy

 

[malachi_a_serva]

NotWorthy:

Yeah, and it’s really cool that I can say my name out loud at each and every mass: “Lord, I am NotWorthy, but only say the Word, and I shall be healed”!

All kidding aside, one of the benefits of this name is it does keep me humble… OK, at least it helps to keep me humble… Er, it reminds me to be humble? OK, humility is overblown, anyway!

Notworthy

 

[Elzee]

Austin
If you’re still reading I’d like to ask that you take the time to do 2 things, please. If you’re making such an important decision, you can afford to take the time to do this.

One of two things will happen: You will come to understand the Truth of the Catholic Church and the gift of our Lord in a way you never have before, or, you will be convinced you have made the right decision by leaving the Church. Either way, in your mind, you will have won. So you have nothing to lose, right?

Here you go:

1. 
   *]Listen to Jeff Cavins’ CD 'I’m Not Being Fed, the #1 Catholic Eating Disorder". It’s not very long, Jeff Cavins is an excellent speaker, and costs about $8.00.
   *]Second, please read the book ‘Surprised by Truth’ (Volume 1) by Patrick Madrid. I
   
   God bless you Austin

 

[MariaG]

malachi_a_serva:

That is a shame since all my relatives are Catholic. They attend church at funerals or baptisms, etc. Somewhat growing up I, along with my firneds, thought we were “good to go” since we were Catholic, belived in God, in the trinity, that Jesus died for us…that protestant were the “non-religious” ones. I do not know many protestants…just from my small group and boy are they Christians.(my observations)…live like Christians, talk like Christians, respectful, polite, etc…etc…we spend so much time together we see each other and know their families etc…3 - 4 times a week.
Anyway, I started here to defend Fundamentalism. Now I am just confussed and searching…searching to confirm to myself Fundamentalism is the way to go…or else confirm to myslef that the RCC is the way to go. Somedays I am 51 % oneway then back the other…when I arrived here I was 100% Fundamental. I am not saying the RCC is where I will end up. But until I have satisfied myself with answers etc…I will not stop. I have a huge gut feeling I am not being lead to the RCC, but I am using wisdom to determine that as well. I truly have a diferent definition of “born again” and since I experience something that I cannot explain other than “born again” this is leading me away from RCC, but like I said, I want wisdom to play a part.

thanks for your time.

I was just going to respond to your born again passage but I will also point out something else that struck me.

I am a revert to the Catholic faith. according the the Catholic Church I was born again when I was baptized. According the Nazarene Church, I was born again when I gave my life over to Christ one day in September 14 years ago. One I clearly remember, the other I do not. I KNOW what I felt was real. I know my life was changed as an adult in a Nazarene Church

So where does that leave me? I had a very real spiritual and emotional experience in which God brought me to my knees and grabbed ahold of my attention, and I gave my heart to Him.

**Upon research, I realize that the early Church does refer to baptism as being born again. **These are easily accessed right here on the host site, Catholic Answers.

**Born Again in Baptism

Early Teachings on Infant Baptism

I had a born again experience, in which the I choose to follow Christ and use the grace that has been available to me since my birth. **

But I read your story, read how many of your relatives are not living their life for Christ. Did you ever think that God needs you to not pull them out of the Catholic Church but to help them learn and LIVE their Christian faith in the Catholic Church? It is much easier to bring a Catholic to understand and live their Christian faith inside the Catholic Church than it is to pull them out of that “culture” even though their heart is not living out the promises of Christ.

Anyway, keep searching. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide to all truth no matter where that truth requires you to go. He will.

God Bless,
Maria

 

[EricCKS]

Dear Austin,

I know that you said you were leaving this board, but I know the pull of reading people’s reactions will be too strong and you will be just curious enough to come back. That said…

I don’t normally post. This is my husband’s username and I rarely come here, but Eric brought this thread to my attention and it raised red flags for me.

You see, I’m the product of evangelical, gospel-music singing parents. I’ve been in just about every feel-good, praise-jumpin’, “holy-roller” church there is. I was raised and baptised in the Methodist faith. I’ve been “saved” three times…guess the first time wasn’t good enough. I’ve been to bible studies, youth group outings, been heavily involved in the choirs, even joined my parents in quite a few concerts, singing the praises of Jesus Christ. If you are “shopping” for a new, make-you-feel-more-welcome faith, I could probably tell you a few stories of my shopping days. I was always of the impression that Catholics were boring. They had no clue about their Church. They didn’t study the bible. They believed that statues weeped and dead people could talk to them. The Pope was considered God, and Catholics thought holy water could cure all. WOW!! The word Catholic was never spoken in my house unless it was in a sarcastic way (like: “She’s Catholic. Ewwww. Poor soul.”)
You know something? I found out that all of my beliefs about the Catholic Church were completely wrong! I began to explore the Catholic faith, first with indifference. My fiance was Catholic (and devout). My grandfather had been raised Catholic in Lithuania but left the Church when he came to the USA. I wanted to know why. The more I explored the Faith, the more in love with Christ I became. Austin, you have no idea what you are planning on leaving behind!!! :banghead:

As a Protestant, I could go to a church that made me feel welcome. I could be moved to tears by the beautiful music, the wonderful people, and the sermon. The pastor gave great sermons (usually that had nothing to do with the day’s scripture, btw)…I could overlook his occassional political rantings. But, you know something? I was never fulfilled. It was so fake to me. So hypocrytical. My parents could sing their praises for God for 2 hours straight, only to be hateful to each other or to us kids on the way home. I watched a woman in church once who was in the middle of a wild event of speaking in tongues…one of her kids acted up next to her and she instantly whipped around, popped him on the head, yelled at him, then just as fast, resumed her wild speech. Nothing was concrete, nothing had flow. If the pastor ticked off the right people in this or that church, they could have him fired and replaced within the week. Beliefs could change with the political firestorms from week to week. And this wasn’t just one church I attended, Austin…don’t forget: I shopped. A lot.

I get such fulfillment out of my Catholic faith. You aren’t getting anything out of it and feel it’s a burden because you don’t appear to even be trying. You have no idea what it feels like to be overjoyed at having the PRIVILEDGE to partake in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. You have no idea the power of pure, unabashed prayer while kneeling in front of our Lord’s presence (not all Catholic prayer is “scripted”…just as in Protestant prayer, some sort of effort needs to be made to pray). I know you know the joy of “being saved.” Been there, done that. But, just like “saving,” it doesn’t stop there…you have to work at your faith. No one should have to hand it to you. You have to study your faith, live your faith, LOVE your faith.

You need to find the book, Nut and Bolts by Tim Staples. He’s a former Assemblies of God youth pastor who converted to the Catholic Church. He delivers air tight explanations as to the biblical foundation our Church is centered around. He was a former Evangelical Protestant who was anti-Catholic all the way. Check him out.

Next, you need to get your body to a Catholic conference. We have one here in the Midwest and you would swear you were walking into a Baptist revival! You need to experience people who love there Church with all their heart, who can help you understand the faith that you grew up with. Unfortunately, you were taught to just follow the crowd and “go through the motions.” Lots and lots of “cradle” Catholics I’ve run into are like that. My husband was one of them. He had no idea his Faith was so beautiful, fulfilling, and complete until he joined me in RCIA classes when I was considering conversion.

If going to another church helps you to open your eyes to what you left behind, then by all means go…we will pray for you while you’re gone and we will be waiting with open arms and smiles when you come back. :clapping:


Christina (EricCKS’s wife)

 

[Tonks40]

Maria G and EricCKS’s wife - what beautiful testimonties!

 

[Eden]

Austin83:

Well I must say I am overwhelmed by the responses here. I figured this whole thread would get maybe 6 or 7 responses but nothing like this. It’s good to see there are Catholics out there who visibly care about their faith, if only more Catholics were like that. Maybe the Catholic faith has a future afterall. I commend you all for your obvious devotion to the faith.

I wasn’t going to respond to this thread after reading Austin’s first post because it was just an attention-getting post by a young man going through the rebellious years who is loudly rejecting his upbringing. This is typical of his age.

The reason I am responding now is in answer to the quote from Austin above, particularly the point “maybe the Catholic faith has a future afterall”. While Kentucky is not a very Catholic state. The Church itself is vibrant and growing:

catholic.com/thisrock/2000/0005chap.asp

**And the Catholic Church is growing not only in the world at large but in America in particular. In 1998—the most recent year for which national statistics are available—the U.S. Catholic population had an overall increase of 455,000, including 162,000 conversions to the Catholic Church (i.e., cases of people joining other than baptisms of those below the age of seven).

It may be important to point this out to those who commit the “fastest-growing” fallacy and wish to represent the Catholic Church as stagnant or declining in membership. It is especially valuable to know the number of adult conversions per year, since an anti-Catholic might attempt to dismiss American Church growth as due only to infant baptisms or immigration.

Needless to say, the Catholic growth rates in both the United States and the world dwarf what any other church is doing. Nobody else in the world gets an net increase of ten million people in a year, and nobody else in America gets a net increase of half a million people in a year. And remember that these represent net increases in membership—after deaths and defections have been factored in—so the actual number of converts is significantly higher.**

The numbers of course are not as important as the simple fact that the Church is True and we have the promise that it will always be protected by the Holy Spirit:

catholic.com/library/Pillar.asp

Well, it is sad to see you leave the Church. But best of luck to you. Maybe after you have spent some time on the outside looking in, you’ll come back with your enthusiasm and talents.
Some of the Church’s most vibrant members are the “reverts”.
Best wishes and good luck on your spiritual journey.
**

**

 

[NotWorthy]

Eden:

Well, it is sad to see you leave the Church. But best of luck to you. Maybe after you have spent some time on the outside looking in, you’ll come back with your enthusiasm and talents.
Some of the Church’s most vibrant members are the “reverts”.
Best wishes and good luck on your spiritual journey.

“Just as the stained glass windows of a Church are so beautiful from the inside and nothing special to look at from the outside, so is our Mother Church”!

Come back in and see!!!

Notworthy

 

[Marilena]

I will tell you one thing about my parish, everyone is greeted warmly, and shakes hands after Mass, then they talk with one another, and have a coffee or tea after Mass. I have never seen one person in our church ever think that it is boring, or repetitive. They love going, singing, and listening to our priest. Our priest is quite fiery in some of his speeches he gives, he does touch each and everyone of us when he gives his sermon. We all listen very heartfeltly, and we all love his sermons every weekend. My love for Jesus Christ is so deep that I can’t wait until the next Sunday to get to Mass, so I try to go on weekdays as well! I love the Holy Mass so much., that I feel joy overtake my soul when Iam there!
Even when Iam not there! Let me tell you one thing, the pope is
Christ’s vicar, he is not God, nor will he ever be. No one is greater than God. Did you know that I speak freely about my faith? I share it with as many people as I can. I invited some of my neighbors over for tea the other day, and they walked into my
home, and seen my cross above the door, and they are evangelical like yourself. They told me " this is a welcoming
house!" I was full of joy when I seen them look intently at my
cross, and then what they said! I silently gave thanks to God, and
after tea, I let them look at my medals, and so on, and they took 2 of my medals. I gave them freely. I gave thanks to God again.
I have alot of joy as a Catholic! Alot! I do get teary eyed at the Holy Mass, you better believe it! Iam so happy to be there, I have to often excuse myself to go and clean up my face. I love Jesus Christ so much, that when I look at a cross, that I feel so much love for Him, so much joy, that I pray and thank Him for His sacrifice, and for His One and Only True Chruch, the Catholic Church. I will pray for you!

 

[Ignatius]

Remember the Bible tells us “Lean not to your own understanding.”
I hope that you realize that you are leaving the Church which Jesus Christ founded. He founded it to bring us to Him. However, If you want to do that, then that is your own decision.

Your brother in Christ.

 

[Stephen_Butler]

SherryLynn9:

Austin,

I grew up in the Baptist church… I fell away… many years later, God drew me to the Assembly of God Church, after a couple of years I went to a charismatic Lutheran church which wes really awesome. God’s presence was great in that place. I was on a journey TO the Catholic church. I became Catholic Easter 2005. I love God so much that I was open to being obedient to Him. The Holy Spirit led me to the Catholic Church. I love being a Chrisain Catholic. I cry for joy during the Our Father and all the wonderful memorized prayers.

Yours in Christ,
Sherry

That’s so close to my own story it’s spooky.

I was raised Assembly of God, but ended up in a Baptist Church and Baptist University (Baylor) … I fell away … after a couple of years I went to a Lutheran church which was really awesome. God’s presence was great in that place. I was also on a journey to the Catholic Church but did not know it. Truthfully, I was afraid of it. I ran into a Catholic customer who took just a couple of hours out of his day and that steamrolled over the next few weeks to the Catholic Church. I hope to be receiving my first communion in Easter 2006.

But to the original poster. I am a bookworm, a scientist, and a troubleshooter by nature. I analyze to a ridiculous fault. Allow me to assure you of a couple of things. One, the doctrine of the Catholic Church is very, very academically and spiritually defensible. Do not let what your friends taught you or rumor lead you to incorrect conclusions. Read the Catechism again for yourself. Then look up any topic you question. This precise process is how I ended up Catholic.

The truth is that there are not as many differences between Catholics and most Evangelical Christians as all of the hoopla would suggest. Most of the heated arguments center around details and semantics, not substance. There are a few real issues, but not many. Moreover, no one, and I mean no one, who has ever met my Grandfather, or my Great Grandfather (Pastor with a capital P Assembly of God), or either of their wives could conclude that they will reside anywhere other than heaven. If you knew of their faith, and knew of their love, and knew what they chose to do with it, you would conclude, as I have, that if these wonderful people are not acceptable to Christ and the Lord God, then I have no hope at all for I will never have such faith, such love, or such devotion as much as I try.

So why am I Catholic? Because when I looked up everything that my customer and I discussed, I reached the inevitable and unavoidable conclusion that the Holy Catholic Church is the one and only Church that Christ built, that it has the authority to govern the body of Christ and the faithful, and that it is my duty to work within it, not to stand outside of it pointing fingers as many protestant faiths will do (not non-denom though). I find many things to be challenging to accept, the details really. I find surrendering my intellectual freedom to a religious body to be difficult as I am a free thinker. I find it challenging to not be judgmental when I see the inevitable scars resulting from 2000 years of bureacracy with the devil doing anything he can to try and rip it down the entire time. I find that I miss sermons which are passionate and inspiring. I find that I miss the simple emphasis on the Message of the Cross. But this Holy Catholic Church is the Church that Christ built and passed along through the apostles, and it is my duty as part of the Body of Christ to submit and to work within it to offer as much as I can.

Now that I am here, I have found many things beautiful within it that I appreciate. Some things are greatly improved over most protestant faiths, but there are some things I miss. But any careful study of both the scripture and history (for you cannot ignore either if you seek the truth) will lead you inexorably back to the Catholic Church.

So my advice is this. Go where your heart leads you, but do not burn any bridges, and do not refuse to listen when the Holy Spirit tells you it is time to return.

 

[wjp984]

what probably makes this protestant denomination so attacting to you is that you feel welcomed and can openly participate in the service. The problem is since the Catholic Church is huge and I suppose the masses can be intimidating for some it is harer ton find a place and a way to particiapte and enjoy the mass. I remember when I used to really dislike the mass. I thought of it as a boring chore and started to go less and less to the point where I was not going at all. Then I finally got involved with the church through our student organizaton, The Newman Center. I remebering how I always did like to sing began to sing at the mass and since I really enjpy the singing and can take part in it I now have found a reason to feel aprt of the mass and enjoy it where it does not seem like such a chore but a fun opportunity to worship and receive communion. This is the main thing you will be missing out on by leaving and the Eucharist is one of the greatest gifts available to us form God.

So before you leave go out and at elast attempt to find out how you can make the mass more meaningful to you. Get involved somehow. I am sure you will then realize you are making a big mistake by leaving.

 

[m134e5]

If everybody who wants something more out of Catholicism leaves, then it will be very difficult for anything to get better.

 

[justint77]

…my only comment is :: don’t feed the troll::

throughout this thread ive had a suspision that Austin may just be a non-denom/protestant/ mish mash or whatever… stiring up stuff with us.
**
my feelings about “non-denom” churches/**
i had a girlfriend that got caught up in all this non-demon hoopla. to me non-denom super-mega churches… and non-denom “study groups” with self appointed “qualified” pastors are just a fad, like Britney Spears or rolled up jeans.

anyways i went a couple times with her…she jumped from one to another like she was looking for something. she refused to go to my catholic church. non-denom churchs try to make you feel special, they call you by name and you feel like “wow, this guy remembers my name” they sing some cool new worship songs with a cool band with electric guitars etc… and they are all real friendly, which is cool. but you soon realise that its entertainment. and seriously, some of these pastors know how to get people. they know how people respond to someone that remembers their name, they know the psychology of the whole thing. i kid you not.

and what really annoys me is that they start trying to get all into your personal business… that turned me off from the get go. on top of that, the first time i went with my girlfriend they greeted me and said “we’ve been praying for you to come”. i was mad at my girlfriend about that and felt betrayed, because she knew i was a catholic and wasnt “trying to find myself”. my response to them was “im a Catholic”. im serious, one of the ladies there said “awe, i used to be a catholic.”

after a while, the small “prayer group” started bickering amongst themselves and eventually just dissolved.

don’t be had, bamboozled …runamock… led astray…

 

[Robert_in_SD]

My brother broke my parents’ hearts when he told them he was going to join the LDS church. Like you, I think he made his mind up before he really took the time to learn about his faith. You really need to understand what it is you are leaving behind before you make the decision you are contemplating.

-Peace

 

[irishhindes]

Austin, I left the church with my wife and son when I was 29. I am now 47 and have returned. The experience you have had is real but don’t do as I did and leave without fully investigating Catholic teaching against Scripture. They were never meant to be seperated. If you are going to make this change before you do I would reccomend a book by Patrick Madrid named Suprised by truth. It is about 11 protestant, some of them pastors who come to question there own faith and begin to investigate the catholic church. Many of them where strong anticatholics before starting.
There is more than enough spiritual treasure in the catholic church. It is important to find out and I guarantee you will with God’s help. Much of your confusion is why we do the things we do. There is overwhelming evidence in scripture to support the churches views but it is the pearl of great price. The treasures of the church are there right in front of you. I would ask you that before you leave you fully investigate the claims of the church from a sight such as this. For about 5.95 you can buy the beginning apologetics books in a series and know why the church believes and teaches as it does. Prayer is highly important in this issue also. I applaud your desire to know Jesus more intimately.

 

[tom4JC]

Austin83:

Okay I just joined this forum and first I’ll introduce myself a little bit. I’m Austin, 22 years old, and I was baptized as a baby in the Catholic Church. My whole family is Catholic, I went to Catholic grade and high school, was raised to be a good Catholic guy. However I have never really felt at home in the Catholic faith, and as I have gotten older I have noticed many of the inaccuracies between what the scripture teaches us and what the Catholic church teaches us. I stopped attending mass regularly when I was about 20 years old because it felt more like a chore and a requirement than something I wanted to do. The Catholic faith to me felt so hollow and empty, I didn’t feel I had a connection with God at all. I would leave every mass empty, I just didn’t get anything out of it, it was just saying some prayers from memory every Sunday. About 6 months ago I started looking at other religions and asking friends about their religions. Finally, I went to a non-denominational Christian church. I knew the minute the pastor started talking that I had found God and had been born again. I was energized with the surmon and left knowing I had truly experienced God’s presense and his love, and it was an incredible experience. I had a very personal experience with the pastor who helped me communicate with God to release me of my sins, it was the most powerful moment of my life, and I truly felt that I had been saved.

I have been back several times since then and it just keeps getting better. I now plan on joining and becoming and attending weekly. Unlike the Catholic mass, I not only do not consider it a chore to attend mass, but I want to attend it. There is no doubt that I have found my church and the people I want to share my faith with.

This leads though to the difficult part of the process. First of all, while my friends and most of my family will probably accept my decision, I know my mom and dad will have a very difficult time accepting my decision. I know they might even try to convince me not to do it (that’s why I’m waiting until after I have officially left) but I know what I am doing is right. I am looking for some advice from others who have left their faith for another, how did you break the news and how did you comfort them? What did you say to them? Also, I am unsure of how to officially leave the Catholic church. Do I have to write in somewhere denouncing the faith or do I have to talk with a priest? I know if I talk to a priest about it he will try to do the fear tactics that most Catholics do. Statements like “you are turning away from God’s church” and “you will live in hell for betraying God’s intention”. But back to the point, if anybody here knows the process I have to go through, I really want to start the process as soon as possible just to get the process over with and start my new life with God. I appreciate any help that anybody here can offer.

Austin

Brother you are just the person I need to talk to !!

In 2001, I had the exact same experience. Jesus Christ bent down to where I was, touched my heart, talked to me in a language no man would ever understand, and saved me.
I did not know it at the time - while it was happening - but I was born-again.

My family was Catholic, I went to Catholic school. And when I called my mom and told her that ‘I found Jesus’, she said ‘Good, maybe you’ll start going to church more often’. It wasn’t until I started to read the Bible and get closer to Jesus himself that I left the RCC. It wasn’t until then that my mom had become 'MORE Catholic than she’d ever been. She talked to priests about me, she talked to Elders and Deacons or whatever. She didn’t know what had happened to me either.

It wasn’t until at least 3 years later, when I knew a ‘little’ more than I knew at first, that my mom and I could literally sit down and talk about Jesus. See at first, I didn’t know the difference between an Epistle and an apostle. After 5 years now of walking and talking with the author of the Bible, I know little things like that.

What you will have to remember is - your family HAS to hear the Truth, BUT, the Truth HAS to be tempered with love. When I first experienced Jesus Christ, I was ‘on fire’. I would tell people - ‘You’re going to hell if you don’t accept Christ as your Savior.’
That’s what John the Baptist, more or less did and they cut his head off.

That’s so Awesome to hear your testimony friend. I will pray for you and feel free to Email me anytime, brother in Christ ! I would love to tell and hear more.

God bless you !!!

 

[CollegeKid]

tom4JC:

She talked to priests about me, she talked to Elders and Deacons or whatever. She didn’t know what had happened to me either.

Correct me if my suspicion has simply gotten the better of me, but if you had gone to Catholic school your whole life then wouldn’t you know there is no office in the Catholic Holy Orders with the title of “elder”?