Fidelis:
I’m happy to hear about you coming back, but maybe you can shed a little more light for us on why you have mixed emotions.
Judging by your introductory post:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=90138
you were struggling with several issues. Which of those have you not come to grips with?
Again, welcome home and don’t forget, we’re on your side and here for you.
Well, there were a couple issues. I had been struggling with communion for quite some time. It’s why I visited the website to begin with. I had read something by a second century father on it and I thought if anyone would know, it would be him sincde he was writing just 70 years after Christ’s death. And then on December 23, I was sitting outside my old parish at 10p.m. and the Holy Spirit revealed something to me about transubstiantiation that made me realize that it was extremely logical.
Another is authority. A few weeks ago, I was involved in a discussion about divorce with my very conservative housegroup, and all of them were inclined toward a more lenient view of divorce, probably because all of them had divorced family members. But I was so disappointed that my very conservative, biblical church members were willing to ignore Jesus’s very clear teaching about divorce. And don’t say that that’s the problem with sola scriptura. It’s a good time! I am not in the mood!
I also realize that despite the fact that evangelicals believe divoce is wrong, many churches just remarry people so the teaching goes in one ear and out of the other.
I also learned that all Christian churches rejected contraception as the fathers have taught for centuries. But in 1930, the Anglican church caved, and then every other Christian denomination caved to social pressure except the catholic church. While I am not entirely convinced of the wisdom of this position, I am impressed by the church’s tenacity in the face of opposition.
Redbandito did a pretty good job killing “once saved always saved” and I have to admit now the parable of the sower actually makes sense now. I had wondered in the pass how the seed that took root eventually got destroyed. It didn’t make sense.
I had also always wondered why my church doesn’t offer confession. Once I did something pretty serious and I spent all morning confessing to God but I could feel the weight of my sin on my back. Eventually, I went to my pastor and confessed it. He said, in the name of Jesus, your sins are forgiven, and at that very moment, I actually felt the weight I had been carrying around lifted. After that, I started thinking, we should have confession. I asked God how come when I confessed, it didn’t work, but I never got an answer.
So, why am I ambivalent. First, I know it’s petty but I don’t like catholic services.
Second, I love my church. I have never been around a group of people who are more committed to serving God and loving each other. The Hyde park Vineyard really exemplifies faith without works is dead. Anyone who doesn’t take their faith seriously would just uncomfortable being there. When I lost my job, the church came together and paid my rent. I would have never even thought of asking my catholic parish for that kind of help. Everything in my church is done with the utmost commitment to God. Our church secretary treats her job like a mission. She, like the majority of the people there, just exude with God’s love. How many homeless people attend your church? Hyde Park Vineyard takes, the poor you will have with you seriously. We not only invite them but are ministering to them. We have gotten them jobs, we are currently helping one woman get back to school. We have members all over the world working in orphanages, building schools for street children in Thailand, people risking their lives in Islamic countries to bring the gospel to muslims.
So, I have to leave that to go back to what I remember as just a bunch of lukewarm, 1 hr on Sunday only Christians.
I love my pastor! I think he would priests a run for their money. How am I going to tell him this?
Kendy
) If you need to talk I am here… Just PM me… I will support whatever decision you make and help you along that path any way I can! Good traveling! 
