Non-Catholics/Non-Catechumens: What is your top reason for Not becoming a Catholic? Have you investigated it from authentically Catholic sources?

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  1. What is your top reason for Not joining the Catholic Church?
  2. And have you investigated that reason (topic) from authentic Catholic sources like the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the various Church Councils (Vatican II, Trent), the various Papal Encyclicals (Humane Vitae) or the Vatican’s website?
  3. a. If not, why not?
  4. b. If so, and that reason (topic) still hinders you from joining the Catholic Church, please site the authentic Catholic source(s) you investigated and explain how it did not help overcome your top objection.
 
Marian theology. Easy.

Similar issues as Orthodox. Specifically: Mediatrix.

“what this means is that no grace accrues to us without her intercession. . .through God’s will, grace is not conferred on anyone without Mary’s cooperation.” And “true, scriptural proofs for this are lacking. . .the doctrine is reasonable because it is fitting.” Karl Keating, Catholicism and Fundamentalism (Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur provided) Pg. 279.

If Mary so often points to Jesus as Catholics contend, why is it Marian Beliefs prevent so many from converting?

Good luck.
 
ComeHome2Rome said:
  1. What is your top reason for Not joining the Catholic Church?
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Because I do not believe the church of Jesus Christ exists solely in that one organization and because I do not believe there are graces/benefits that God chooses to grant to that one organization that He will not grant to those outside of it.
ComeHome2Rome said:
  1. And have you investigated that reason (topic) from authentic Catholic sources like the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the various Church Councils (Vatican II, Trent), the various Papal Encyclicals (Humane Vitae) or the Vatican’s website?
  2. a. If not, why not?
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To be honest I rely more on secondary sources like Catholic apologists like Dave Armstrong and Jimy Akin. As a layman I find the primary sources difficult to understand by themselves.
 
ComeHome2Rome said:
  1. What is your top reason for Not joining the Catholic Church?
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I already was. Spent the last ~5 years of my life in the Catholic Church. Ultimately I was and am not convinced that this communion has preserved the apostolic faith. What’s more, its whole approach to spirituality and its manner of organization are troubling to me. There is no one particular issue or reason that I eventually realized that Catholicism was not a fit spiritual home for me, just as there was no one particular reason that I once believed it was. (I did not join the RCC out of a lack of Papal love in my life, for instance.)
  1. And have you investigated that reason (topic) from authentic Catholic sources like the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the various Church Councils (Vatican II, Trent), the various Papal Encyclicals (Humane Vitae) or the Vatican’s website?
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Yes. Or at least I’d hope that the sources used for RCIA, evangelization, pastoral counsel and the other things I availed myself of while committed to union with Rome were considered “authentically Catholic”, as nothing I was counseled from was ever without an imprimatur! 😉
  1. b. If so, and that reason (topic) still hinders you from joining the Catholic Church, please site the authentic Catholic source(s) you investigated and explain how it did not help overcome your top objection.
As stated above, there is no one particular reason. It is just not the right faith. 🤷
 
I do not think any one reason stands out more than any other reason.
The personal evangelism factors (street preaching, witness teams, work teams etc) are a huge part of my walk. I also enjoy getting to participate in baptisms of people who have been saved.
As far as Catholic sources, I have read many documents since joining this forum and perused the Catechism. I have used the Vatican’s website but it was to find the documents I just referenced.
 
Though I am proudly Catholic, I would like to make a comment, a warning, perhaps:

Many do not join the Church because of their upbringing. The lessons we are taught in our earliest years mold us - they determine how - but not necessarily what - we think. The mode of thinking (this goes for people who actually practice their faith) for a Catholic is distinctly different from that of an Evangelical Protestant or an agnostic or a Buddhist. The world-views are dramatically different. This difference in worldview is one of the reasons Marian dogmas are difficult to swallow for many Protestants, that and the hierarchy.

Others do not join because they have been affected by or perhaps even molded by the dictatorship of relativism.

I think that many others, however, do not join because it just isn’t yet their time. With God there is a time for everything. Some people even leave some permanent, some not. For them, many times it is because they do not understand; other times because someone with official capacity has wronged them; still others because their subjective emotions ripped them away.
 
I had a powerful conversion to Christ in 1973…I have some incredible experiences from the Lord in situations and prayer requests…I’ve had a passionate faith all these years…I think Christ’s church is more than one See…I worked in a company that employed a lot of Italian Catholics whose walk was far from their talk…I have been mocked by Catholics discussing my “born again” experience…I feel there are on fire and lukewarm believers among catholic, orthodox, protestant alike…I believe He rewards all who diligently seek Him irregardless of the name on our church building…I have observed lots of debates where ecf’s are brought in with arrangements for both sides…To be honest I always wondered if the Rome see was right in the schism why further splintering happen there rather that the orthodox sees remaining.As sin begats more sin…Believe it or not my wife and I are fairly mature in our walk with Christ and feel we are pretty sensitive to the Holy Spirit…If I felt in anyway prompted that I must become either orthodox or catholic, I would head straight for an orthodox church…I have been reading/studying the scriptures for almost 40 years and it seems the orthodox church is closer to what I have read…Probably one thing that stands out is I have been very open to sharing the message of Christ to those around me…In 40 years I’ve had plenty of just bible christians, jw’s and mormons approach me to talk to me about Jesus but never one who was catholic…This was in a heavily Italian catholic town…
I guess I’ve shared all this to say that I have never been impressed by a catholic christian in my experiences…Last you may ask why are you here…I visit christian forums to encourage
fellow believers in their walk and pray for needs…

One last thought: The whole Marian doctrine expression…There was this town that had a water stain under a bridge that was supposed to look like Mary…Some people just went nuts, clogged up the road , had candles, statues and were on thier knees praying to a large picture…The first verse that came to me was a bout Jesus and His warning about end time appearances and not running to them
 
ComeHome2Rome said:
  1. What is your top reason for Not joining the Catholic Church?
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I’m with dzheremi on this one - I don’t think the Catholic Church has maintained the faith. I think the top down hierarchical form of government is incorrect. I have problems with some doctrines, especially the Tresurery of Merit, Indulgences, penances, and the theology that leads to that way of thinking. I have serious reservations about the sacramental theology around the widespread granting of annulments. I have started to have serious reservations about some of the spiritual practises found in Catholisism. I also think I might have to throw myself under a bus if I had to go to a Catholic liturgy or listen to that music every week.

There are a lot of things I like about Catholisism to, but those are the ones that really bother me.🙂
  1. And have you investigated that reason (topic) from authentic Catholic sources like the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the various Church Councils (Vatican II, Trent), the various Papal Encyclicals (Humane Vitae) or the Vatican’s website?
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Yes, in some depth.
  1. b. If so, and that reason (topic) still hinders you from joining the Catholic Church, please site the authentic Catholic source(s) you investigated and explain how it did not help overcome your top objection.
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I’m not sure what you want hear? You want me to list every “authentic” Catholic source I’ve ever read? From CAF to Catholic theologians to the CCC to papal documents? Seriously? Given I spent a four year degree reading mostly theology and I’ve enjoyed studying “popular” theology as a hobby for more than 10 years that seems like quite a task.
 
ComeHome2Rome said:
  1. What is your top reason for Not joining the Catholic Church?
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There are many but in a nutshell, I see the Church as legalistic and dogmatic in a way that the New Testament nor Christ presented Christianity to be.
  1. And have you investigated that reason (topic) from authentic Catholic sources like the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the various Church Councils (Vatican II, Trent), the various Papal Encyclicals (Humane Vitae) or the Vatican’s website?
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Without a doubt. I have read several Scott Hahn books, Studied the Catechism and still own a copy, and read several books by Catholic authors. Heck, I even went through RCIA and have had several one on one conversations with the priest at my local parish, who is a good man and he is very patient when listening to me.

My respect of Catholicism grew emmensly as I studied.
  1. b. If so, and that reason (topic) still hinders you from joining the Catholic Church, please site the authentic Catholic source(s) you investigated and explain how it did not help overcome your top objection.
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Indulgences the the treasury of merit, preaching against the use of ABC in ALL circumstances, transubstantiation (as opposed to just real presence-its based on Aristotalian philosophy more than scripture and tradition) Marian dogmas (I acknowledge Mary as the Mother of God, but requiring such things as the assumption to be believed by the faithful and the idea of Mary as my Mediatrix (she is NOT my mediatrix) does not sit well with me. Papal authority and the claim of the CC being the entirety of the church are reasons too.
 
ZDHayden said:
'Aye. For every non-Catholic, there is a different reason. I will keep an eye on this thread though, as such perspectives are beneficial.
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Ha. The OP asked for our opinions, basically. You know what they say about those…😛
 
ComeHome2Rome said:
Non-Catholics/Non-Catechumens: What is your top reason for Not becoming a Catholic? Have you investigated it from authentically Catholic sources?
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I am still catholic for now and I studied Catholic resources. However, I think it’s not doing anyone a favor just checking out one type of source. Both the good and the bad need to be properly discerned by the inquire, converting is a huge thing and should not be treated lightly and limiting oneself to one side doesn’t giv a full picture, of course this is my opinion.
 
panner said:
I am still catholic for now and I studied Catholic resources. However, I think it’s not doing anyone a favor just checking out one type of source. Both the good and the bad need to be properly discerned by the inquire, converting is a huge thing and should not be treated lightly and limiting oneself to one side doesn’t giv a full picture, of course this is my opinion.
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Very good point, panner. It is, however, something that is often neglected.
 
freerf said:
I think the OP opened a can o’ worms here.
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Agreed. We’ll find a different story for every new participant and it seems every one has a reason serious enough for themselves to not consider the Catholic Church or to not remain in her.
 
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