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

[lutherlic]

I voted other. I don’t think the results will be valid because of the way the question is asked, particularly how the word “understand” will be interpreted.

Yes, I “understand” the reasons people give for leaving the Church. No, I do not “understand” in the sense of believing their is any validity to those reasons (no offense intended, that is just my opinion).

 

[JohnnyReb]

I am a person who left.
This attitude is a reason why I left.

People who leave catholicism do so for many reasons. Why do you assume its for reasons that imply bad character? Why do you assume that person is full of pride, or doesn’t want to live by the churches rules?

In my own experience I left the church because of the abuse of love I experienced within it. And I didn’t leave because of pride or because I think I know better. I didn’t leave the church in triumph or glory but rather humiliated, despised and accused of all sorts of falsehoods. I didn’t leave because I have “hip thrusting” problems (as one catholic kindly put it), or because I want to fornicate, take the pill, do drugs etc.

Exactly. If people leave, they shouldn’t be met with condemnation, but with love and compassion from other Catholics. Do they really think that by being judgemental, that will bring people back to the Church?

 

[JohnnyReb]

There are many people in the RCC that do not do as the RCC teaches. Should they leave? For instance, not all Catholics go to confession at least once a year, as required by the Church. The rates are much higher among weekly Mass attenders.

cara.georgetown.edu/CARAServices/FRStats/confess.jpg

Look at these numbers

stanford.edu/class/humbio129s/cgi-bin/blogs/feministlens/2009/05/14/how-many-catholics-follow-the-vaticans-ban-on-contraception/

In 1974, 83% of Catholics disagreed with Humanae Vitae, by 1980, 75% of Catholic women had used a banned form of birth control. Those numbers only went up.

My question is, should these people leave?

 

[distracted]

I’m answering for my ex-Catholic husband…

He actually had great support from his youth group, but wasn’t really catechized and nobody at his church ever went to confession, etc., so it started to seem stale and hypocritical. Then, as so often happens, a bible Christian came along and ‘proved’ that everything he had believed was wrong.

My husband couldn’t resist the promise of having a personal relationship with Jesus. If he had spent his whole life in the church and didn’t know that was available to him in a Catholic church, can anybody blame him for leaving?

He didn’t go talk to a priest before he left… but if the priest doesn’t encourage people to do that, how many will?

Don’t get me wrong; I’m hoping to start RCIA classes this fall and I’d LOVE to have my husband join me. But I think if we keep in mind the difference between ‘real’ and ‘ideal’ faith experiences, it’s easier to understand how people fall through the cracks, or drift away looking for something more fulfilling.

so what religion are you coming from?

I left the Church when i was young and ignornat (totally uncatechized)… but if i had known then what i know now, i wouldn’t have left. i didn’t officially leave… just drifted away… FAR FAR away… Geeze, even devout Catholics are far from Christ (when not in His real Presence)… others are that much further away… :banghead:

the strange this is that in all those yrs i was away… no “Bible Christian” ever really witnessed to me, although i did go to this or that non-denom “church” (there’s only one Church)…

so i guess in my neck of the woods at that time, they weren’t doing their job…

but anyhow… I am wondering why your husband doesn’t join you? At least he should know exactly waht it is he has chosen to leave behind?

What interested you in the Church?

 

[Nicea325]

There are many people in the RCC that do not do as the RCC teaches. Should they leave? For instance, not all Catholics go to confession at least once a year, as required by the Church. The rates are much higher among weekly Mass attenders.

cara.georgetown.edu/CARAServices/FRStats/confess.jpg

Look at these numbers

stanford.edu/class/humbio129s/cgi-bin/blogs/feministlens/2009/05/14/how-many-catholics-follow-the-vaticans-ban-on-contraception/

In 1974, 83% of Catholics disagreed with Humanae Vitae, by 1980, 75% of Catholic women had used a banned form of birth control. Those numbers only went up.

My question is, should these people leave?

Here is the problem: People want to follow a religion/church which suits to their personal needs/beliefs.Instead of the following a faith which comes down to us from Christ and the Apostles.

Being a Christian is a way of life

 

[Todd520]

Saw some poll data from Georgetown, CARA research

For the US, it indicated catholic mass attendance is stable at 22% with an increasing population, for the past 10 yrs.

 

[seeker57]

Pew Research had a different take on it.

religions.pewforum.org/reports

While those Americans who are unaffiliated with any particular religion have seen the greatest growth in numbers as a result of changes in affiliation, Catholicism has experienced the greatest net losses as a result of affiliation changes. While nearly one-in-three Americans (31%) were raised in the Catholic faith, today fewer than one-in-four (24%) describe themselves as Catholic. These losses would have been even more pronounced were it not for the offsetting impact of immigration.

The report does go on to say that Catholics still outnumber all individual Protestant sects, although when considered as a whole, they still make the U.S. a Protestant nation.

Edited to remove a paragraph because I can’t remember which source I read it in and can’t cite references.

This has been an interesting thread.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Here is the problem: People want to follow a religion/church which suits to their personal needs/beliefs.Instead of the following a faith which comes down to us from Christ and the Apostles.

Being a Christian is a way of life

Why is it when some dares question the teachings of the RCC, that the character is immediately questioned? Such tactics borders on being nothing but an ad hominem attack. You don’t think that Protestants, Orthodox and other Christians aren’t concerned about truth and following Christ? (I’m not saying this is what you personally are doing)

 

[jericho777]

One of the main reasons I see people leave the CC is they feel the call of God on their lives and start to read the bible. Then it raises questions of why does the church not mirror that of the bible. They have man made rules and rituals that contradict biblical teachings.

I have seen this in my own family when the charismatic movement was going on. My family was real catholic if you know what I mean. The division was incredible. Eventually over the past 30 years 80%+ have left the catholic church and the ones that are left are only marginal catholics. I’m also sure that even more will eventually leave.

 

[Dale_M]

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.

Here is the problem: People want to follow a religion/church which suits to their personal needs/beliefs.Instead of the following a faith which comes down to us from Christ and the Apostles.

I think you may be saying the same thing, so I will quote you both.

If a person no longer believes that what the Catholic Church teaches about itself: (founded by Christ, infallible in faith and morals, etc), is it Pride which motivates their leaving the Church?

In such a situation, is it wrong that such a person leave? Certainly there are Catholics here at CAF who encourage the doubters and disbelievers to take a hike. These Catholics are interested in having a pure, faithful Church which is not muddied by dissent, and believe that the Church would be stronger without the unfaithful.

 

[Dokimas]

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

FSC

Here’s the thing, they don’t through the baby out if they end up in a God fearing, God worshiping, Bible preaching, Body orientated, mission orientated church of which there are many.

 

[Ben_F]

I understand why people leave the Church. Reading Job is a great help.

 

[TedDC]

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.

What about those who simply find, upon reflection and study, that they do not believe some of the key tenets of the Catholic faith?

 

[Dokimas]

Here’s the thing, they don’t through the baby out if they end up in a God fearing, God worshiping, Bible preaching, Body orientated, mission orientated church of which there are many.

oops: throw not through.

 

[Todd520]

I think you may be saying the same thing, so I will quote you both.

If a person no longer believes that what the Catholic Church teaches about itself: (founded by Christ, infallible in faith and morals, etc), is it Pride which motivates their leaving the Church?

In such a situation, is it wrong that such a person leave? Certainly there are Catholics here at CAF who encourage the doubters and disbelievers to take a hike. These Catholics are interested in having a pure, faithful Church which is not muddied by dissent, and believe that the Church would be stronger without the unfaithful.

It may also be Pride on the Church’s part to ignore or dismiss outright the concerns of it’s flock. I am not suggesting the church change doctrine, but people need to feel heard and there are clearly issues behind the requests.

The people who want the doubters to leave sound more like they are recruiting just the “best players” for a winning footbal team, instead of saving souls.

 

[cheese_sdc]

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

I spent four years in the seminary and have spent many hours in front of both the tabernacle and the monstrous.

 

[cheese_sdc]

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.

:nope:

 

[Faith1960]

I voted “other” because I left when I was in my early 20’s and returned 24 years later. I can still understand why some would want to leave, depending on their parish and what their experiences there are.

 

[AlwaysAsking]

so what religion are you coming from?

I left the Church when i was young and ignornat (totally uncatechized)… but if i had known then what i know now, i wouldn’t have left. i didn’t officially leave… just drifted away… FAR FAR away… Geeze, even devout Catholics are far from Christ (when not in His real Presence)… others are that much further away… :banghead:

the strange this is that in all those yrs i was away… no “Bible Christian” ever really witnessed to me, although i did go to this or that non-denom “church” (there’s only one Church)…

so i guess in my neck of the woods at that time, they weren’t doing their job…

but anyhow… I am wondering why your husband doesn’t join you? At least he should know exactly waht it is he has chosen to leave behind?

What interested you in the Church?

Up to ten years ago, I was an atheist; and I realized that if I couldn’t empirically “prove” or “disprove” the existence of God, I was using the wrong system to answer the question. I came to Jesus because He answered when I called. All the invitations I got to visit churches were from Protestant/ Bible Christians.

Fastforward to about a year and a half ago, I was just commanded out of the blue to get my children baptized and get my house in order. I understood this to mean Catholicism and I can’t tell you why; but I’ve spent a lot of time doing homework to figure out if that’s what He meant. My husband is VERY angry about this. I guess he thought all of these doctrinal issues were settled questions? I asked God to be released from this command and the pressure left… but then I felt remorse for not putting God’s leading before my wishes. Some months later, the leading is back strong as ever. So if God clears the path for our dissolutions, I’m going to obey. It’s… just… easier.

BTW, I still haven’t caught up on the filing but I’ve done a lot of other home organization projects

 

[SalesianSDB]

There are many many times I feel like leaving, but the ONE thing keeping me here is the Real Presence. If it wasn’t for that, I’d be out of here.