presumably sarcasm?Now that probably is the real reason why people leave the Catholic Church. They aren’t having any FUN! The Catholic Church is TOO demanding and a strict disciplinarian. You MUST devote all your time to God and the spreading of His word. There’s no FUN in that !
PAX DOMINI
Shalom Aleichem
it cannot be said any better than this. the only hope is that you open your heart and mind and seek the truth through the grace of God.
Yes, in a way. It could also be true, for all I know. Shalom.presumably sarcasm?
Remember octomom? Now the doctor is fighting to keep his license because he implanted so many embryos. What do you think happens in the majority of cases when there are not 8 babies?
Yep, any and all exuse’s will do, Denial is at the root where the script is flipped and Christology is considered the real Evil? And the position is argued with such vigor? Simply amazing how bold and cunning true evil is.The trouble is that too many believe in and follow “politicalcorrect(ness)” as instituted during the sexual revolution of recent times. It gives many, whether it’s wrong or not, an excuse and a reason to do what they want without assuming the resultant responsibility.
The claim is “freedom”. Freedom of will, freedom of sex, freedom of choice, etc. Therefore, no one can tell you how, when, and what to do what you want to do without interference, especially the Church and the “moralists”. Yes, Satan is still alive and well
I’m in the second category, but in my case I simply came to the realization that I don’t believe most of the fundamental tenets of Catholicism.
More eggs are fertilized than can be safely carried. Most doctors put in up to 6 (in some cases more) fertilized eggs into the uterus and wait until some or all attach to the lining. Then, they perform “reduction,” which means killing all the embryos but 1 or 2, because trying to bring sextuplets to term is dangerous. They want at least 1 embryo to implant, so they over-do it and then kill the remaining embryos, you see?
If you have had IVF would you ever be able to join the CC? Wouldn’t you have to confess and be truly sorry that you brought your beautiful son or daughter into the world in this manner? You can be truly sorry for every other horrible sin you have done in your life, but I don’t know how a parent could be sorry for bringing their child into the world after the fact.
Some of us left for reasons that are much deeper, and yet much simpler: our hearts and souls and consciences led us in another direction.
I do not believe “that leaving and/or rejecting the Church is leaving and/or rejecting Jesus Christ”. But it’s a great marketing strategy; fear always is.After reading these posts I can understand and do sympathize with many who do leave the Church. But those that do really put their salvation in jeopardy. Not because the Church says that there is no salvation out side of the Catholic Church, but because leaving and/or rejecting the Church is leaving and/or rejecting Jesus Christ. Read and understand what He has said and taught. Read Paul’s, Peter’s, John’s, etc., epistles. Read the words of the Church Fathers and you will understand why.
Remember, Jesus founded a Church. He is the Head of the Church and we are His Body. Jesus IS the Church. The body of the Church ***is not *** the clergy alone. It is all of us. Being part of Jesus Church is essential, for if it were not He would not have found it necessary to build one. Think it over. Also, too, the Holy Spirit operates only through the Church. God Bless you all. Shalom haMeshiach.
PAX DOMINI
Shalom Aleichem
God gave you free will to accept or reject. Look at it any way you wish, but it is true. You leave/reject the Church, you leave/reject Jesus, for Jesus IS the Church.
I have known many former Catholics, and here are some of the reasons they have given:
1. **Marriage outside the church**. This can mean he/she married a Protestant and went to his/her church. This also can mean that they were divorced, did not get an annulment, married again, and felt ostracized since they no longer could take communion. Etc. These folks seldom raise their children in a Catholic church, probably in no church.
2. **Moral issues**. The most common one is artificial birth control. Most Catholic couples, once they have the size family they feel they can adequately provide for, use artificial birth control. Maybe they are scolded by a priest at confession. Maybe they simply decide that if the church is wrong on that key issue (in their minds) it no longer can be seen as the infallible church when it comes to faith and morals, undermining for them its authority.
3. **Changes in the church**. Some of the older Catholics left because they disliked some of the changes, from the mass in English and folk masses to meat is okay on Friday and you don't need to fast more than an hour before communion. These changes may not have seemed important to many, but to some these tended to make them question the mystery and the authority of the church.
5. **Doctrines**. Many Catholics went to liberal colleges - for example - and there began to doubt such basic doctrines as transubstantiation, levitation and other miracles by saints, the Virgin Birth and Immaculate Conception, many stories found in the Bible, etc. These tended to drift toward liberal Protestant groups or to forsake Christianity entirely.
6. **Evangelical zeal.** Some Catholics have been attracted over the years by TV ministries, ranging from Bob Schuller, Joel Osteen and Billy Graham to some of the extreme fundamentalists who may have a gift for dynamic, emotional preaching. These services simply seem more exciting than Mass in many Catholic churches.
7. **Clergy scandal**. Catholics used to have a reverence for priests, but this has been severely undercut by sexual and financial scandals involving priests. Once this reverence is compromised, leaving the church may follow. There is perhaps even greater anger at priests high in the hierarchy who tried to cover up these clergy crimes.
8. **Media influence.** The media in much of the USA is unfriendly to religion, especially to Christianity and maybe most likely to Catholicism. This has influenced many young people, many of whom find religion irrelevant. Some find the 'rock concert' atmosphere in some evangelical churches appealing.
9. **The decline in Catholic schools**. Many fewer children attend Catholic school nowadays, so they become less influenced by the church. It is common today for a Catholic youth to be confirmed - and then, bye, bye. Peer pressure is likely to work against religious devotion. Later hey may come to back to be married in the church and baptize their children, but for many by then religion has become very secondary in their lives.
10. **Break-up of families**. Divorce, single parents, and other such factors is not conducive to church involvement. In many divorces, the children are with one parent this weekend, and that parent the next, often interfering with church attendance, especially if either parent is Protestant or unchurched entirely.Is Sunday mass the only time you think about God? You talk about wanting closeness with Jesus, how often do you pray? Do you have a regular prayer life?