My RCIA journey was all for nothing

[adelore]

You may feel your RICA was for nothing…but surely you learned a lot through the Process.

I was born and raised a Catholic and to this day I still don’t know everything about our Catholic Faith. I’m now 51. Even as a Craddle Catholic and all the CC classes I went through we didn’t learn everything…but the most important things I do know.

1. The Catholic Church is the True Chruch Jesus established. (I was away from the Catholic Church for 25 years looking for the True Christain Religion…my search led me home…it was a long road, but I’m back.)
2. I believe in the Creeds.
3. I believe in the Trinity.
4. I believe in Jesus real presence in the Eucharist. I believe in the Mass.
5. I believe that Mary is the Mother of God, (when God was in the human form of Jesus. Since God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are all one and the same, that is why Catholics say, Mary is the Mother of God.)
6. The Catholic Church is the Only Church that can Trace it’s Roots clear back to Jesus, with no gaps. The test of time of over 2,000 years says a lot. No other Church can prove their “roots”.

Do I understand or even know all the Canon Laws. Nope.
Do I understand all the Catholic Vocations and all the vows or “rules” that go with them? Nope, but I don’t have to, to be a Catholic.

The Vocations that others choose or are called to are a “gift” to them. Just like my Vocation is being married to my husband.

A Nun or a Priest wouldn’t take the same Vows that I do, nor would they want to. Nun’s and Priest enjoy their Vocation, it’s not a burden, (although to us it may seem they are missing out on marriage, but’s that’s only because we don’t understand.)

My Aunt was a Nun…she loved it! My cousin is a Priest…he loves it. Neither of them ever felt they were “missing out” or “forced” to take the vows they did. ( I know cause I asked, because like you I once thought it wasn’t fair.) Yet they explained they weren’t missing out on anything. My cousin the Priest explained it to me like this. Not everyone want’s to be a Doctor or a Nurse. Not everyone has a need for a sexual relationship. (did my cousin, the Priest know what I was thinking…of course he did. We are first cousins and also good friends)

Please also keep in mind if ever a Nun or Priest want to leave their Vocation…they can/could. They are not hog tied or forced. They want to because they Love it, just like I couldn’t ever be anything but a wife, mom, or Nana. (grandma). I love my Vocation.

Please keep in mind all Catholics are learning more and more about our religon as we go. Does this mean we aren’t good Catholics, heavens no. It means we are all at different stages of what we are learning…but without a doubt, we know the basics.

The question you need to ask yourself is this…Do you believe the basic foundations of the Catholic Church teachings? If yes, then you are on your way.

You don’t have to know Everything to be in Good Catholic Standing with the Chruch. (like I said, I don’t know all the Canon Laws and up to a year ago I didn’t even know I could get a copy of the Catholic Catechism. If you get a copy of this, it will help you a lot. )

I hope some of my posting helps.

 

[convert999]

Hi - I am a very recent convert from Protestantism. Like you, I went through RCIA this year. I also had many question and doubts throughout the process. I still have questions (lots of them) but whenever I began to doubt I would always ask myself one question: to whom did Christ give the authority to interpret Scripture? My answer was always the same: His Church. If you don’t believe this to be true, then that is where you need to begin your journey, because this is THE issue. Protestants tend to start from the other direction; they ask, “what do I believe?” and then look for justification in Scripture.

I too was always taught that Jesus said adultery was grounds for divorce. However, in researching different translations of Matthew 19:8-9 I discovered that the phrase “except for marital unfaithfulness” is often translated as “unless the marriage is unlawful.” Since I don’t know how to translate ancient languages, it came down to a matter of faith – whose translation is the most accurate? Since the Catholic Church was (is) Christ’s only church, the New Testament was written, organized, and translated by Catholics. Plus, in the gospel of Mark, which is the earliest gospel, Mark 10:1-12 never mentions any exceptions to the prohibition of divorce. Allowing divorce for the offense of adultery would be a very slippery slope, since Jesus said (Matthew 5:27-28) that whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.

I have relied on Scripture in this argument since that seems to be where your objections lie. However, don’t forget 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, where Paul reminds believers that oral Tradition is just as important as the written Word. In the end, to become Catholic means that we give up our right to private interpretation and yield to the authority of the Church, since the Church is Christ’s Body. (Colossians 1:24.) In this era of relativism and rationalism, that is hard for us to do sometimes. But nothing is impossible for God! My advice would be for you to pray for clarity and that the Spirit would guide your thoughts. I will pray for you. Debbie

 

[KCT]

Because of my unresolved problems with holy days of obligation, Lent, annullments, and a fiew other things, I can’t join the Church…

I don’t know about anyone else, but when I have trouble w/ a teaching, I ask myself the following:

Do I believe Christ founded a church? (yes)
Do I believe Him when he said it would be free from teaching error in matters of faith and morals? (yes)
Have there been smarter people than I throughout history figuring these things out? (yes!)

Once I get that far, I realize it’s my perspective that probably needs to change, not the teaching of the Church .

 

[Sunflower15]

I went through RCIA from September 30 of last year to March 31 of this year. It was all for nothing. Because of my unresolved problems with holy days of obligation, Lent, annullments, and a fiew other things, I can’t join the Church, because I would be lying to the Church, and possibly to God, if I made a full profession of faith just before Confirmation. I made a YouTube video about this, and it can be found below.
youtube.com/watch?v=LzA_0q1xW3E

I’m very disheartened, because I put a huge effort into my conversion process, and I spent a lot of money on transportation to and from church, and now I’m back where I started, except that now, I have some Catholic beliefs that I don’t know what to do with. I’m just another confused Protestant.

I may try a conservative Episcopal church, since they have similar beliefs to mine.

This IS the problem…YOUR views…and I don’t mean to say it as if they are wrong [or right] what I mean is simply that it is difficult to take or leave beliefs when one is accustomed to a “cafeteria” approach to spirituality, as most believers after the Reformation are…I have many friends who seem to struggle like this…it does NOT look like “freedom” to me…

I wish I had the exact quote, but I don’t, for a something that the Pope said to the effect that looking from the perspective of God, faith fills in reason’s blind spots for us.

It’s not that one will “lie” and say one believes what one doesn’t…but rather that one humbly accepts that maybe from one’s perspective one doesn’t yet has all the facts and insights to yet agree, but one is certainly willing to work towards it…does that make sense?

Catholic Theology is SO coherent and consistent, that if I see something that strikes me as odd, I keep reading and researching and asking questions…because frankly, it WILL match everything else that I DO FEEL is correct if I look long enough, and it may take years.

One also must be intellectually honest, not because I WISH for my personal convenience and benefit, that “x” be true or false, will I be against the Church for not yielding…

I’m not sure what your reasons are. It may help, if you allow us to, if you go one point at a time…

I would certainly try my very best before I just go church-hopping for one that is “custom-fit” to my wants, because this one is certainly “custom-fit” to my needs…I just may not like some of the “tough love”…

 

[Sunflower15]

Yes, that helps. In other words, I was correct to start with, and it means that in order to be Catholic, one must believe that every single thing that the Church teaches has been revealed by Christ. I can’t believe this, because some of the Church’s teachings contradict Christ himself.
I assure you that in these 2000 years of Church history, no one would put up with anything that contradicts Jesus Himself! Please, humbly accept the remote possibility that it may take us a little while to understand all the intricacies of the issues…from all dimensions…maybe years…not a few months in RCIA…

Annullments are a good example of this, and so is being forced to make a vow of celibacy in order to become a priest. Jesus specificly said that marrital unfaithfulness is grounds for divorce, yet the Church teaches that an annullment cannot be granted soley on the grounds of adultery.
Because an Annulment doesn’t UNDO what was done, it simply confirms after verification, that it NEVER WAS…because something essential to the Sacrament was lacking. If you understood what the Sacrament of Marriage means then you would understand why it cannot be undone by anyone! You could only have these issues if marriage is just a “partnership or contract” to you…with no spiritual binding.

Also, Jesus said not to sware at all, yet priests are forced to sware celibacy for the rest of their lives.
Not quite…priests VOLUNTARILY ask to be ordained and take voluntary VOWS of celibacy…they don’t swear…
Catholics have a complex system of solemn promises, as the ones that Third Secular Orders for the Laity take, as opposed to vows, for example…

Therefore, I do not believe that every single one of the Church’s teachings are revealed by Christ. If I would have made that profession of faith last night, I would have lied.

I have to tell you that I don’t find ANY of these points to be essential to one’s spiritual wellbeing…

To hear that someone is willing to give up:
Apostolic succession
Apostolic ordination of priesthood necessary for Sacraments
all 7 Sacraments
the Liturgy
the Presence in the Eucharist
the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
the communion of the saints
sacramentals & prayers
feasts, rituals and symbols that are SO universal in scope that you can literally go anywhere on Earth and participate in the Liturgy and spirituality of that community
consistent teaching on the sanctity of life
2000 yr history
2000 yr spiritual teachings of incredibly great minds with deep faith
consistent teaching of Social Justice & Works of Mercy
consistent teaching on the theology of the body [NO dualism] which makes sexual union in marriage SO sacred that it is a Sacrament that we all are willing to make sacrifices to respect and protect
…
*
But, to give up ALL this, for a few little issues that I am not “sure” of yet…Hm.m. or that really have no bearing on my life [unless you are considering the priesthood, what is it to you if they are celibate?]

As last resort, if you MUST have priests who are married men, we have the Eastern Catholics, where married men may be ordained.

I can’t imagine your issue with Lent…it is SO central in my life, and I depend on the Via Crucis to teach me how to cope with life’s adversity, that I don’t know what I would have done without Jesus giving me that gift of “Leadership by Example”…when life gets tough…this is how you face it…step by step! to Victory!

 

[Tezza]

Josh -

For example, priestly celibacy is a tradition or discipline that is seen as beneficial but could be changed. Celibacy is a practice that was valued even in Jesus’ time, and St. Paul was celibate during his ministry. Today’s priests are not “forced” to take vows of celibacy, but take these vows joyfully, recognizing celibacy as as spiritual gift and personal calling like St. Paul did. Of course, at any time the Church could say “Well, we don’t see a celibate priesthood as beneficial anymore, so we’re not going to do that anymore.” But honestly, that probably won’t happen any time soon because most priests see their celibacy as a gift!

Now, if a man feels called to both ordination AND marriage, the Church has a place for those people too: these man can be Deacons! They can minister in many ways, too, but also have to balance their duties with family life. Or, in some Eastern Rites priests can be married. The Church certainly does not see a married priesthood as wrong, just in the Latin Rite, they don’t currently do it that way.

I was thinking the same thoughts when reading the OP. We know Jesus recognized a “celibacy for the kingdom”. When Jesus says something is important, my first inclination is to take it seriously, the next step being to ask, what is the spiritual benefit? St. Paul elaborates by speaking of dedicating ourselves entirely to the Lord. It doesn’t seem a big stretch to equate a vocation such as Holy Orders with a vocation to celibacy for the kingdom. Especially in regards to the priest acting in the person of Christ and the Church being Christ’s bride. In a spiritual sense, he is already married and unable to give himself to anyone else. In a practical sense, he is on call 24-7, his parish comes first. We have only to look at the divorce rate of protestant clergy to know what a strain this puts on marriage.

But agreed, the Church could change this discipline. And there are exceptions. I had a married priest, former Lutheran, at a previous parish. His children were grown, so I think that made it easier for him. Eastern rite, though they only choose their bishops from the celibate priesthood. Even if this discipline was changed, there would still be a celibate priesthood from the religious orders. Celibacy is a very real, supernatural call. For those not called to it, it’s an unnatural call.

My prayers are with you, Josh. I have struggled through many issues as well in my years as a Catholic, but feel so very blessed to be united with Jesus and His Church through a sacramental life.

Peace,
Teri

 

[Sunflower15]

I’m very disheartened, because I put a huge effort into my conversion process,

Dear Josh,
I forgot to tell you something…reading your post reminded me of listening to Marcus Grodi, Tim Staples and Scott Han…and how they read the Early Church Fathers and the Mystics and the Doctors of the Church to refute the Catholics and ended up being apologists!

Who knows? Maybe all this searching is precisely what God’s Plan is for YOU!

You do sound “hurt” that you don’t feel you can sincerely become a Catholic…why do you think that is?

 

[Sunflower15]

I listened to you on youtube.com
I still don’t get what the actual issues are!
I still don’t get what you believe in either!
Note: you mentioned the music…no offense but a Protestant friend of mine told me that it is common to choose a church according to whether one likes the music, the youth activities, the decor, the charisma of the pastor, the …

btw, I am glad you understood the “in persona christi” aspect of the priesthood…well,

Was Jesus male? Yes [so no female priesthood]
Was Jesus married? No

let’s look at the Apostles…[now, there were Apostles AND Disciples, which are different!..the Apostles had a VERY specific role and type of service to the Church- they were the first priesthood]
Were the Apostles male? Yes
Were the Apostles married? the
ones who were, left their families to serve the Church…and lived celibate from then on

Paul encouraged celibacy, unless it was too hard to bear
[we have the concept of Vocations [clergy, single and married] with their respective graces to live joyfully each one as we are called by God - Single people are also called to celibacy, not just the religious -priests, brothers, nuns!]

You may not have heard yet but we also have the Virgins…these are not religious priests, brothers or nuns [all of whom are celibate], but these lay people voluntarily make a life-long vow of celibacy for God:bigyikes: And they claim St. Paul backs them up…

What ]exactly about Lent bothers you?

Could you tell us exactly WHICH Day of Obligation is bothersome to you?
[Because I doubt that going to church an extra 6 days a year might be problematic to you…]

And, as far as I know, private revelations, such as Marian apparitions, are NOT required beliefs. We just LOVE them! Once you get to know Mary, through prayer and reflection, and read about her apparitions, take as research if you like, one truly develops a thankfulness for the gifts of her apparitions…that’s all…

Do you have a Catechism of the Catholic Church? You would be surprised to know that not all that is associated with Catholicism is required…so when you profess that you believe what the Church requires…it’s not all that you are thinking…

If I say that Tradition according to St. Irineaus says “something”, it’s one thing…he is one of the early Church Fathers…that’s important

If I say that according to tradition, we take the blessed palm leaves and create crosses to put around the house/car, etc…that’s only traditions as in customs which are cultural and not binding…

Can you see the difference?

 

[Texas_Roofer]

spelling altered:

I went through RCIA from September 30 of last year to March 31 of this year. It was all for nothing.

That can only be if you were closed to learning or really bad catechism ocurred

Because of my unresolved problems with holy days of obligation, Lent, annulments, and a fiew other things, I can’t join the Church, because I would be lying to the Church, and possibly to God, if I made a full profession of faith just before Confirmation. I made a YouTube video about this, and it can be found below.
youtube.com/watch?v=LzA_0q1xW3E

I listened but I seem to hear much more than - with holy days of obligation, Lent, annulments, and a few other things, - because all would be easily handed in RCIA

I’m very disheartened, because I put a huge effort into my conversion process, and I spent a lot of money on transportation to and from church, and now I’m back where I started, except that now, I have some Catholic beliefs that I don’t know what to do with. I’m just another confused Protestant. I may try a conservative Episcopal church, since they have similar beliefs to mine.

I think you are very much protestant, so maybe we should address what really brought you to RCIA

OK. Here’s my question. In the profession of faith, what exactly am I professing to? I thought that I would be professing that I believed that everything that the church teaches is true. If I don’t understand it correctly, could someone please explain it?

basically it covers dogma and doctrine, the big stuff, not disciplines, customs, etc.

Could you please elaborate? Are you just talking about what Jesus said in the Gospels, or are you talking about all of the teachings of the Church on all matters? Please be a little more clear.

dogma and doctrine, the big stuff

Yes, that helps. In other words, I was correct to start with, and it means that in order to be Catholic, one must believe that every single thing that the Church teaches has been revealed by Christ.

yes

I can’t believe this, because some of the Church’s teachings contradict Christ himself.

really that is news to all of us, 2000 years of scholars could not find this but now you can explain it to us, please do

Annulments are a good example of this, and so is being forced to make a vow of celibacy in order to become a priest. Jesus specifically said that marital unfaithfulness is grounds for divorce, yet the Church teaches that an annulment cannot be granted solely on the grounds of adultery. Also, Jesus said not to swear at all, yet priests are forced to swear celibacy for the rest of their lives.

I think you may be applying 2009 practices to 0009 practices which could cause this confusion regarding marriage. Now on married Priest, they exist always have existed. Maybe you meant priest allowed to marry after being ordained, and staying ordained? But Christ did not speak on that

Therefore, I do not believe that every single one of the Church’s teachings are revealed by Christ.

Now let’s be sure we get these issues correct as it would seem the issues are not well aligned

If I would have made that profession of faith last night, I would have lied.

Well you were not ready so you did the correct thing. Six months is a very short RCIA

I don’t think I’m stuck on Sola Scriptura. However, when sacred Tradition contradicts Scripture, I go with Scripture every time.

That would not seem to make any sense, however you can have plenty of time to explain why you would think that

You have not given me a satisfactory answer about Jesus’ teaching on marriage. Jesus was clearly saying that it was not the same as in the Mosaic Law.

Yes not like Mosaic Law. Jesus told us to no longer have hard hearts and thus we no longer are to need divorce. However both Christ and Paul wrote on at least one condition under which a divorce could be recognized (maybe more). Now Christ did not speak in English, and exactly what he said had to be carried in Tradition and Inspiration until scripture was written. Paul talks about Men becoming Christians with wives who choose not to follow. Now Jesus appears to talk about adultery within wives (not husbands) So are the issues separate or not? Well in 0009 adultery by a wife would allow for death or anything else the husband choose, so the issue is serious. Yet there is another problem, why would the wife do this? Well most likely, she did not want to be married to him. So why was she married to him?, she had no choice. See men chose their wives not the other way around, and wives were to be obedient to their husband regardless. So now we see your issue Jesus is allowing (as was Paul) woman forced into undesired marriages to have divorce. That is it and that is the same base for annulments that one did not desire or misled the other (who of course desired a real spouse) and thus no a real marriage occurred because one or both was not fully willing to become a spouse.

Now Lent which is a “a period of discernment” for preparation to receive the Lord. See 40= fully discerned. So Catholics acknowledge 40 days of discernment in preparation of the Lord’s sacrifice. It really is that simple. I notice you reference the issue of whether food must still be kosher, as thought that is a lent issue, but frankly it makes no sense to me. Now fasting is a different issue, fasting is a biblical practice of preparation which is still honored ( as is ashes, like Ash Wednesday) .

Now Holy Day’s of Obligation. Romans’ Chapter 14:5 “(For) one person considers one day more important than another, while another person considers all days alike. Let everyone be fully persuaded in his own mind.” I think it tells you to worship all days thus Holy Days are like any other, of course one could resolve in his mind to worship no days and again all are equal. So both of those cases do not apply only people who worship sometimes need to decide when to worship. So the Church names the days again developed by Tradition, Scripture, and 2000 years of scholarly study. So you deny these days okay, but can I ask how you would accept Sunday?, would your logic not require Saturday rest and no or all days of worship.

Hope that helps, if you have any questions just post them one at a time

 

[redrosetea]

This person hasn’t posted in 6 days…They might have left the forum permanently

 

[Non_Serviam]

This person hasn’t posted in 6 days…They might have left the forum permanently

Or he may simply not feel like fighting with everyone who has chastised them for not “getting it”.

As surprising as it is to me to say it, PJM has the right take on this situation: the RCIA process worked as it is supposed to work.

The OP participated, studied, prayed and when the time came to confirm belief in the teachings of the Catholic church, decided he could not do so. That’s what the process does, giving you a number of opportunities along the way to “opt out” if you can’t affirm what Catholics believe.

I’m sure it must be very difficult for him, having made an investment of time and money to pursue his study of faith, to now be unsure and uncertain of what he will do next. One can only hope that during this time he reflects on God and remembers Jesus’ promises to those seeking as he decides how to continue his search for where God wishes him to be.

Whatever the case, I wish him well in his journey and hope that he is able to find the answers to his questions.

 

[JReducation]

Or he may simply not feel like fighting with everyone who has chastised them for not “getting it”.

As surprising as it is to me to say it, PJM has the right take on this situation: the RCIA process worked as it is supposed to work.

The OP participated, studied, prayed and when the time came to confirm belief in the teachings of the Catholic church, decided he could not do so. That’s what the process does, giving you a number of opportunities along the way to “opt out” if you can’t affirm what Catholics believe.

I’m sure it must be very difficult for him, having made an investment of time and money to pursue his study of faith, to now be unsure and uncertain of what he will do next. One can only hope that during this time he reflects on God and remembers Jesus’ promises to those seeking as he decides how to continue his search for where God wishes him to be.

Whatever the case, I wish him well in his journey and hope that he is able to find the answers to his questions.

Good point

JR

 

[Leeta]

My son is in his second year of formation for the priesthood. He explained to his fundamentalist Church of Christ grandfather last night why he will take vows. The vows are chastity, poverty and obedience. Chastity is the life that Jesus himself lived. He neither married, nor was he impure. Poverty- so that he is not attached to anything of this world and obedience to a superior (which he said would be the hardest, since we tend to pride and wanting to do it OUR way or no way).
Why all these vows? So that he can give himself completely to Jesus and live as He did and as we all will in heaven!! The sign value of the Latin rite priesthood is centered on the next world, not on this valley of tears. The habit is a witness of a man already living the life of the world to come!

Eastern rite Catholic priests may marry.

 

[MissMichal]

I had a similar journey into faith, having serious doubts, but eventually coming around.

When I went through RCIA in 1997, it was for two reasons: To demonstrate loyalty to my mother and to get married in a pretty church. I had problems with the church’s teachings on birth control, on Freemasonry, on homosexuality, on an all-male priesthood, on devotion to Mary and to saints, and on a million other things, but I answered questions correctly and made my profession of faith without, to be perfectly honest, any real reflection on it. Kudos to the OP for actually thinking about it before going through with it!

More than ten years later, I came “back” to a faith I never really belonged to in the first place. I had called myself an atheist for a while. I had come back around to God (rather suddenly, much to my family’s surprise), but these doubts about the Church were still in my mind. I approached the subject logically: I believe in God, the Trinity, of whom Jesus is one person. God can neither deceive nor be deceived. Therefore, everything that Jesus did and said was true. One of the things that Jesus did was give Peter and the apostles the authority to spread His message. He said the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. I take that to mean that He will protect His church and prevent her from spreading untruths. Now, am I going to trust myself, or am I going to trust the Church to which God Himself entrusted His Truth?

This doesn’t mean that belief came easy. I knew logically that the Church’s teachings were true, but I still wanted to fight against them. I obeyed, even if I did not believe, and prayed for the grace to see things God’s way. He did not, and still doesn’t, let me down.

To the OP, God bless you in your journey. He has already given you the grace to take it seriously, and you should give Him thanks for that blessing. He has chosen you and will see you through.

Pax Tecum,
-S-

 

[JReducation]

My son is in his second year of formation for the priesthood. He explained to his fundamentalist Church of Christ grandfather last night why he will take vows. The vows are chastity, poverty and obedience. Chastity is the life that Jesus himself lived. He neither married, nor was he impure. Poverty- so that he is not attached to anything of this world and obedience to a superior (which he said would be the hardest, since we tend to pride and wanting to do it OUR way or no way).
Why all these vows? So that he can give himself completely to Jesus and live as He did and as we all will in heaven!! The sign value of the Latin rite priesthood is centered on the next world, not on this valley of tears. The habit is a witness of a man already living the life of the world to come!

Eastern rite Catholic priests may marry.

Sounds like your son is going to be a religious and a priest. Vows are only made by religious. They are not part of Holy Orders. He must belong to either a religious order or a religious congregation.

Fraternally,

JR

 

[rinnie]

Hi Tbolt, I heard what you had to say, and as much as this pains me to say I agree with you. If you can not give up your authority of what you think scripture should be, and reject the authority of Rome I can see that this is not for you and I agree with you.

As a Roman Catholic I must accept the teaching of my Church and believe that it holds the fullness of the truth. If I didn’t how could help me to continue to grow in my faith with God. It would always be a battle me and the Church. What the leaders that Jesus left to the church say and what I say.

But where I disagree with you is it was all for nothing. You claim you had to pay someone to take you or something, the money and time etc. But to me If I learned ONE new thing about God, it was worth all the money and time in the world. What greater gift could you have received then knowledge about God.

I will pray for you, and I hope that you can find contentment in our Church some day. Without I would be so lost. But I also understand that you cannot help the way you feel. But I am glad you had the opportunity to learn about my Great Church and hope it was a wonderful experience for you. I pray you took more positive with you as you left then negative. But you also stay in prayer God will lead you back, when you are ready. Good luck to you. And God Bless you and I hope some day in the future I can say Welcome Home!

 

[DavidChrist]

I went through RCIA from September 30 of last year to March 31 of this year. It was all for nothing. Because of my unresolved problems with holy days of obligation, Lent, annullments, and a fiew other things, I can’t join the Church, because I would be lying to the Church, and possibly to God, if I made a full profession of faith just before Confirmation. I made a YouTube video about this, and it can be found below.
youtube.com/watch?v=LzA_0q1xW3E

I’m very disheartened, because I put a huge effort into my conversion process, and I spent a lot of money on transportation to and from church, and now I’m back where I started, except that now, I have some Catholic beliefs that I don’t know what to do with. I’m just another confused Protestant. I may try a conservative Episcopal church, since they have similar beliefs to mine.

Josh, it wasn’t all for nothing. You said you were “disheartened”. That is a sign. What you do with it is up to you.

You don’t have to be Catholic or follow its teachings. You can follow another religion or none at all. OR you can invent your own religion and follow it.

God let’s people do what they want to do. God does not judge you. He leaves that up to men.

 

[PJM]

=TBolt1000T;5068203]I went through RCIA from September 30 of last year to March 31 of this year. It was all for nothing. Because of my unresolved problems with holy days of obligation, Lent, annullments, and a fiew other things, I can’t join the Church, because I would be lying to the Church, and possibly to God, if I made a full profession of faith just before Confirmation. I made a YouTube video about this, and it can be found below.
youtube.com/watch?v=LzA_0q1xW3E

I’m very disheartened, because I put a huge effort into my conversion process, and I spent a lot of money on transportation to and from church, and now I’m back where I started, except that now, I have some Catholic beliefs that I don’t know what to do with. I’m just another confused Protestant. I may try a conservative Episcopal church, since they have similar beliefs to mine.

**Nothing Good, nothing TRUE is for naught unless YOU dear friend choose to waste it:thumbsup: **