Poll: I can understand why people leave the Roman Catholic Church

[distracted]

I usually get irritated (used to) when i hear of a Catholic who wants to leave the Church. I think to myself: How could that person leave the Mass? the Sacraments? the Real Presence?

Of course a lot of them aren’t catechized & have never spent much time in the Real Presence…

but that being said, i often (nowadays) do not get so irritated. I can understand why people leave… rude, apathetic priests, unorthodox homilies, hypocricy… etc… Well, i can understand them wanting to leave, but i still have a problem with them actually leaving.

I have never heard a story of someone wanting to leave, talking to the priest about it and being talked out of it… I’m sure it happens… but it almost seems like a lot of priests don’t really care… (?)

hmmm…

 

[Contarini]

I voted “other” because I was a candidate for admission to the Catholic Church for two months and dropped out. I often regret this, but naturally my experience gives me some understanding of why many people do leave.

Edwin

 

[CatholicFireman]

There’s always the opportunity to “do it over again”.

I wish (and pray) you would.

Pax†

 

[kozlosap]

My friends that are no longer active or have left mainly leave for social reasons. They do not believe that artificial birth control, the use of condoms and fertility treatments are sins or wrong in the eyes of the Lord. Guess what? Most are pro-choice even though they do not follow the church in family planning. One friend told me that even though she cannot in all good conscience come to Mass that she will be Catholic until the day she meets the Lord! It’s very sad.

 

[Todd520]

It looks like the Poll is closed. I did leave the Church after several decades of inactivity on my part.

As people grow spiritually, theologians agree it is common for believers to reject the dogma of organized religion (all religions).

If they continue to seek, and grow spiritually, they regain their faith and return to organized religion with full vigor.

A strong catechism and church community helps people weather the crisis without actually departing the physical church.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I voted yes, I can understand why they leave.

They leave for one of two reasons.

Either the teachings of the Church are viewed by them as being too hard to live with or they leave because of pride, in that they think they know better than the Church.

My understanding this does not mean that I think it is right, they are wrong to leave, it is an escape for them to do as they wish rather than doing what they should do.

 

[kozlosap]

I will try again to post using wording that makes sense! I have several friends who have left the Church. In all cases, the reasons they left have to do with social issues - mainly artificial contraception and infertility treatment issues. One dear woman told me that even though she now attends the Church of England, she will remain Catholic her whole life. She was in a horrible situation and chose to have fertility treatments that eventually ended with the birth of a beautiful baby girl. I have tried to persuade her to come back to the Church and go to confession, but she said she will not be a hypocrite. I’m saddened for those who think there is no way back to the Church.

 

[distracted]

I voted “other” because I was a candidate for admission to the Catholic Church for two months and dropped out. I often regret this, but naturally my experience gives me some understanding of why many people do leave.

Edwin

such as?

why did yOU leave?

 

[distracted]

It looks like the Poll is closed. I did leave the Church after several decades of inactivity on my part.

As people grow spiritually, theologians agree it is common for believers to reject the dogma of organized religion (all religions).

If they continue to seek, and grow spiritually, they regain their faith and return to organized religion with full vigor.

A strong catechism and church community helps people weather the crisis without actually departing the physical church.

let me see if i u/stand you…

u are saying that as a person matures he will tend to leave organized religion, but then as he matures even more he will want to go back to it?

 

[distracted]

I voted yes, I can understand why they leave.

They leave for one of two reasons.

Either the teachings of the Church are viewed by them as being too hard to live with or they leave because of pride, in that they think they know better than the Church.

My understanding this does not mean that I think it is right, they are wrong to leave, it is an escape for them to do as they wish rather than doing what they should do.

haven’t you known t hose who leave cuz of rudeness of parishioners or (and/or) priest??

the times i have wanted to leave (but never will) have been due to that… Some Catholics take the cake on not acting very Christian…

 

[FidesSpesCarita]

I voted somewhat. I can know their reasons and understand their frustration, but I cannot understand throwing the baby out with the bathwater…

FSC

 

[distracted]

I will try again to post using wording that makes sense!
.

.

I have several friends who have left the Church. In all cases, the reasons they left have to do with social issues - mainly artificial contraception and infertility treatment issues. One dear woman told me that even though she now attends the Church of England, she will remain Catholic her whole life. She was in a horrible situation and chose to have fertility treatments that eventually ended with the birth of a beautiful baby girl. I have tried to persuade her to come back to the Church and go to confession, but she said she will not be a hypocrite. I’m saddened for those who think there is no way back to the Church.

weird… She undoubtedly did fertily treatments that involved fertilizing many eggs and then discarding some?? otherwise, why would she feel ashamed to return to the Church?

How could someone do that… destroy some of their children … Yes, i can understand wanting children…but you don’t destroy some o f your children in order to have another…

but whatever… everyone is not me, obviously…

too bad…

 

[KathleenGee]

Some times people leave the church because they were damaged by somebody – usually one returning and still carrying alot of baggage and ‘in’ with the priests…a perception of course…or by an abusive priest of times past…where the abuse was not acknowledged…the scandal of priests with people whose faith isn’t founded yet on faith, hope and love.

 

[distracted]

I voted somewhat. I can know their reasons and understand their frustration, but I cannot understand throwing the baby out with the bathwater…

FSC

good way to put it…

i have wanted to leave several times… mostly cuz of humanoids who… for some reason think i am a fanatic and … well, whatever else they may think… God knows… but i am sure they think i am a fanatic…

(if they only knew what i have been thro that made me that way… or tended to make me that way…)

anyhow… have you ever thought of leaving, even if only momentarily… in a bad moment?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

haven’t you known t hose who leave cuz of rudeness of parishioners or (and/or) priest??

the times i have wanted to leave (but never will) have been due to that… Some Catholics take the cake on not acting very Christian…

Those who leave the Church becasue of the actions of a single person or even a small group of people I think fall into the pride category for me.

They fail to see that these are individual people and not the whole Church, they feel that they should be treated a certain way by everyone (forgetting that we all fail and sin). Many of those who leave for this reason are also guilty of the same thing and expect to be treated in a special way while not passing that on.

 

[distracted]

Some times people leave the church because they were damaged by somebody – usually one returning and still carrying alot of baggage and ‘in’ with the priests…a perception of course…or by an abusive priest of times past…where the abuse was not acknowledged…the scandal of priests with people whose faith isn’t founded yet on faith, hope and love.

i don’t u/stand the 1st sentence

 

[Corki]

haven’t you known t hose who leave cuz of rudeness of parishioners or (and/or) priest??

I have known people who give that reason. Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes what is called “rudeness” by a priest means that the priest said something they didn’t agree with in a homily.

I don’t understand that attitude at all. Would you drop out of school because of a rude classmate or even an unapproachable professor? Would you leave your country because of rude neighbors or arrogant political leaders?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I have known people who give that reason. Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes what is called “rudeness” by a priest means that the priest said something they didn’t agree with in a homily.

I don’t understand that attitude at all. Would you drop out of school because of a rude classmate or even an unapproachable professor? Would you leave your country because of rude neighbors or arrogant political leaders?

Great reply.

This excuse is an easy cover and a way to lie to one’s self as to the real reasons.

 

[distracted]

Those who leave the Church becasue of the actions of a single person or even a small group of people I think fall into the pride category for me.

They fail to see that these are individual people and not the whole Church, they feel that they should be treated a certain way by everyone (forgetting that we all fail and sin). Many of those who leave for this reason are also guilty of the same thing and expect to be treated in a special way while not passing that on.

I’m sure this is true… but i myself do not treat people rudely… unless you consider it rude to say… well, certain things when someone is rude to me 1st… In other words, i don’t just let people talk to me in some stupid way without calling them on it… I try not to be rude myself… but… Rude is a subjective t erm… What you call Rude i may call…being honest…

anyway, i am never rude to a person for no reason (or any reason, so called) but people have often been rude to me for NO reason… people who don’t know me from ADam…

I’ve gotten the feeling i wanted to leave many times, but again, i never wil… no human being is going to separate me from Jesus (the Real Presence)… the Mass…

 

[distracted]

Great reply.

This excuse is an easy cover and a way to lie to one’s self as to the real reasons.

maybe… but the older i get and the more i experience, the more i can understand WANTING to leave… I still can’t understand actually leaving… except … unless the person is uncatehized… doesn’t know what s/he’s doing… and i believe there are a LOT of those out there… because a lot of people have NOT been catechized…

so ignorance is a valid reason for leaving… when you don’t realize that the RCC is the Church Christ established… I didn’t know this kind of thing until fairly late in the game… and i had to teach myself…