Possibly Leaving the Church. Help Would Be Much Appreciated

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I went to RCIA classes with absolutely no intention of joining the Church. I simply had questions after one pope had died and watching everything that happened in Rome after. You could call me a huge skeptic. Ten years later I consider myself a baby Catholic with much to learn.

This Church is like finding a treasure chest. Study the church fathers, Read Scott Hahn’s books The Lamb’s Supper and Rome Sweet Home to start. Always remember that Christ entrusted the Church to men and men are fallible creatures. Christ picked a mere 12 men to follow him and one of those was Judas. I wish you a blessed journey and pray that you find the joy I have found in Christ’s Church.
 
Cadbery said:
yet some blunt people on both sides were telling me that I was going to hell for one reason or another due the influences the other side was having on me. After a relationship that blew up because I felt guilty about not being “Catholic enough” to date a very spiritually endowed Catholic women,
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So the whole problem is in your head. Stop putting the comments from random people above your own thoughts and actions. Focus on your own spiritual growth and live your life in a Christ like manner.
 
Cadbury,

Those “blunt people” do not get a vote.

Jesus is The Judge.

He and He alone decides, [although I am hoping that His Mother will pray to Him for me.]

So, I work overtime to be nice to His Mother.
 
Cadbury,

If you are having doubts about the teachings of the Catholic faith, it could be that you have not actually understood the teaching (and the reasons for it) properly. Be sure to that you have all the information.

Another possibility is that you are under spiritual attack from spiritual forces which want to drive you away from the Church.

But most likely, you are being influenced by people or things that are discouraging the faith. We are often influenced in ways that we are not aware of simply because of the type of people we are around, or the type of media we are consuming.

Things I recommend: separate yourself from those who would discourage you from the Catholic faith; read reliable material (early Church Fathers; St. Thomas Aquinas); attend the Traditional Latin Mass.

Leo
 
yes i agree; if i had all these scrambled thoughts/doubts going through my head; i would stay as close as possible to to Mother Roman Catholic Church

exactly what will a conversion to protestanism offer you that Mother Church does not?

stay the course, ; pray through your doubts & don’t convert to the splinter christian church
 
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I found a saying of Aquinas very helpful when I was closer to you age and have never fogotten it.

Belief terminates not in the articles of faith but in a person.

I translate that as…doubts about the What dont matter so long as we believe in the Who?

I still healthily doubt the sort of things you speak of too, but I dont feel the need to tell anyone about that other than Jesus…we have a good laugh about it and it doesnt seem to matter any more.
 
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Hi. I will pray that you receive the same grace I have been given which is simply the grace to recognize Our Eucharistic Lord and let his grace envelope your heart. The Catholic Church is a house. To recognize it as His Body, you really need to fall in love with Our Eucharistic Lord so that even asleep, you ring out his praise. Adoration opens our hearts provided we are in sanctifying grace but you have to be sincere about wanting a relationship with Him. I suggest fasting on bread and water every Friday and if you are generous, every Wednesday too. Pray the Rosary because it is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, God wishes to purify us for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary are united in intent. Anything that harasses you while praying the Rosary is from Her adversary. Draw near to the message of Fatima for protection and all else will become mute. Although the Catholic Church may not be perfect a total trust in God and in His promise to make His Church whole and one again will help you remain Catholic. Also remember this Love and Obedience go hand in hand and no mater what God has in mind for you, He will be glorified by your act of Obedience. The sin of this world is pride. All of Heaven bows to the Obedient one and Jesus Himself was always obedient because He knew the Father as Love and that Love conquers all and is transformative. You should make a habit of reading the Saints. Their faith was never the Catholic Church but Our Eucharistic Lord who gave us the Church to help form our conscience and protect us from things that may tickle our ears but are lies. The Catholic Church is not what we worship so no need to get caught up in politics but find ways to love Our God and put a smile on our Heavenly Mother’s face.
 
Cadbery said:
At the end of the day I could spend decades on some of the doctrines and not understand them. I realize that ultimately I need to declare/decide that the Catholic church has the historical/divine God-given AUTHORITY to teach whatever, for whatever reason so that I must believe it no matter how much it makes me cringe or how much I do not understand it. Either I believe this authority…or at the end of the day I will reject (whether directly or indirectly) the Church’s teachings and must leave the Church. After much contemplation, I do not see the basis for this extreme level of authority given to fallible men. I’ve read the books and have done what research I have. I will continue prayers, but I would appreciate help before making my inevitable decision. Either I will leave the Church or I will bow my head to the Church’s authority and be free from all this doubt. All I want is to the follow the truth…
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Jesus own disciple left Him, saying that what He was teaching them was too hard to even listen to. And what was Jesus answer for this? He knew in advance they had no faith. He gave them the message anyway. No one can say Jesus never gives anyone a chance even those who won’t believe in what He teaches. Imagine, God in the flesh, speaking to them face to face, and they argued with Him to His face. Was He talking over their heads? I think not.

IMV one of the scariest passages in all of scripture, Jesus let them go. He didn’t go after them. [Jn 6:66]

www.biblegateway.com

Bible Gateway passage: John 6:35-66 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. For I have...
www.biblegateway.com www.biblegateway.com
 
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Just want to say I understand how it feels to be torn. I’ve always believed in God, but there’s so many different definitions of him (and how to worship him) out there.
I’m also a Baptized Catholic who grew up in a lukewarm family with only one Catholic parent. In high school my group of friends consisted of a Hindu, a Muslim, an agnostic, and a Southern Baptist. Even from the age of 12, I was well aware the there were several different perceptions of the truth, and I felt overwhelmed with trying to figure out which one was really the Truth, or if there even was one. I feel like there’s a sea of information and Doctrine regarding our Church, enough to fill several lifetimes before it can all even begin to be grasped.
I dislike “cafeteria Catholics” to the point of it being a sinful weak point in my faith.
You’re not alone in your feelings but I encourage you to stay with the Church. From your story, the questions you’re posing, and the way you pose them, you clearly care deeply about the truth and your faith and think and study hard about it. We need more Catholics like you and less cradle cafeteria Catholics.
 
You have alot of issues going around in your mind at one time, calm down and take it slowly. First no one can tell you that you are going to hell, that just is a given. You do not need people like that in your life. The rest, your struggle with the teachings of the church, saying the rosary, that can all be worked out. I think you take it all to mean you must be very pious and you need to stop making it so hard on yourself. Yes all men are fallible, we all strive to be good the fact is we are all human and we will falter once in awhile.you were baptized in the Catholic church, yes you are catholic,but you should not not feel the need to just bow to authority and end it there. Follow your heart say little prayers, if need be take baby steps back, but do not leave the church for the reasons you stated. The truth you want to follow is within our faith and church His name is Jesus. Take care and God Bless you. Will look to see you post again.🦋🦋🦋
 
I have been broadly where you are for similar reasons. I am highly educated and spent years reading, thinking, arguing, discussing and in the end talked myself out of my faith.

I have had a truly, truly, horrible decade of various relationship, family, health, financial, and professional difficulties. I have experienced many, many traumas in a short period of time. Most people (if I tell them, which is rarely) are astonished that I am still coping.

In the Summer, I was, by chance invited to a classical music concert in an Anglo-Catholic Church. I sat in that Church and felt a deep, irresistible yearning for the true Catholic Church.

Within days I was attending mass again and was lucky to find that my parish church has daily mass and is a lovely, warm, welcoming place. I am happy to attend to mass, to say the rosary, light a candle and say my prayers everyday.

I feel that God has called me home. I am exhausted; I don’t want to think and analyse and argue any more. I want to feel loved, to be one of God’s children and to be home. It’s a good feeling and one that I shall be protecting by following St Paul’s advice in his letter to the Philippians, 4:8.
 
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Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and comments, I did not expect such a large group of people coming together and I really appreciate it. There is a lot to address which I will have to wait until a later date to properly reply to. I would, however, like to say that I agree with those who basically told me to calm down. Doubts and the like do seem to come in waves and for the time being I am coasting on the trough and am not looking at leave the Church. Nonetheless, I am still glad that I sought help because my serious questions of course remain and my waves of doubt are so easily triggered. Dealing with these questions is a must so that I can solidify my faith to the truth (in whatever form) when doubts come knocking.

To those who said to read and learn more, I also very much agree. This CA discussion has provided a lot of good ideas, insights, and resources. I think this is great for me and can hopefully serve as a resource to those in similar situations to mine. I love the empathy shown in this discussion as many of you have shared your own experiences with confusion and turmoil in your faith, while then describing how you persevered through it. Such discourse is good and does you all much credit.

Here’s to more prayer and searching,

Cadbery
 
As an adult, I embarked on a similar search. I wanted to learn more.

It was quite an odyssey!

Ended up taking courses at our cathedral and made friends that have lasted for decades.
 
If you get a chance, read Centesimus Annus issued by Pope St. John Paul II.
 
Cadbery said:
As I try to pray the rosary, I cannot keep away the whispering, and sometimes yelling voice, telling me that what I am engaging is wrong and even possibly hell-binding, as some I know would tell me. It’s very scary and depressing.
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These thoughts bringing terror and fear cannot come from God. When God corrects He also brings revelation so you can find your path again.
May our Lord Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary enlighten you in making the right decision.
God bless you!
 
Thank you for sharing!

I felt a great peace come upon me as I read through your post.

I am thankful to God that you Listened to the Holy Spirit’s Calling and that you responded by fully Giving yourself to God.

Welcome Home!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Great to hear that you are remaining in the Quest.

May the Holy Spirit Guide your every step!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Cadbery said:
The crux of the problem is that it has been a year since then; a year filled with prayer, consultation, and study of doctrine (on top of the years I have already spent on the subject). Yet, I still find myself questioning/doubting doctrines such as the Immaculate conception, Papal infallibility, praying to saints, relics, and so on. I have persisted with the understanding that unlike a “cafeteria Catholic,” I was not rejecting any of these doctrines, but that I was just questioning them (reasonable enough). Yet it has been years of this back and forth and, low and behold, my doubts remain. These doubts are not of the “I don’t want to have to do that…” kind. I agree with all moral/social teachings of the Church. These doubts, rather, are in respect and in great fear for what is true. As I try to pray the rosary, I cannot keep away the whispering, and sometimes yelling voice, telling me that what I am engaging is wrong and even possibly hell-binding, as some I know would tell me. It’s very scary and depressing.
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When I was a kid I liked to skip to the end of the book and read the last part first, so in this paragraph let me start at the last… The rosary is optional. You don’t have to pray the rosary. Leave it alone until you find yourself in a different place. Say the OUR FATHER… it’s Jesus’ own prayer. That should give you comfort. My DH was raised Presbyterian (he’s not active in ANY religion now) and the Lord’s Prayer is a place we can join together to pray for our friends, family and country. The people trying to scare you about the rosary just don’t understand the relationship between Jesus and Mary. It’s ok if you put this on hold until you understand it better, too. If you want special help in this area, we are here for you for further discussion.
I’d say likewise about the Immaculate Conception, but this is a tenant of the church. If you can’t understand it just realize that the Church recognizes that Jesus is God and total goodness. He could not come into the world through original sin… so some miraculous evet had to pave the way for him and HIS OWN FATHER through the prophets foretold that a virgin would conceive and bear a son… Trust the Church on this on, it did come to pass…

As far as Papal infallibility–now this is important. When the Pope speaks in official teachings, not just his point of view on various topics… he speaks infallibly. This type of speaking is done with MUCH study and prayer and discernment with the Holy Spirit. It is to keep the Church on the right path (Jesus’ path) and not on the path of society or man-made whims… This is why many people hate the Catholic church because she holds to the teachings of Jesus even when it’s not popular. It has nothing to do with how holy or smart the Pope is… only when he is trying to guide the whole church on the FAITH…
Continued on next…
 
Praying to the saints and reverencing relics… In the Apostles Creed we say as Catholics we believe in the communion of saints. That means that we believe in the resurrection. Yes, Jesus died and was raised up on the third day. He showed us the way. There is life after death. He showed us… so all the people gone before us are still existing… in heaven, in purgatory, in hell… (now we can’t judge where they are, but they “ARE”!!! Since they are existing, we can pray to them to ask for intercession or we can pray for them in case they are in a place where they can’t pray for themselves.

I hope I helped you with some answers…
but here is the most important part.
Genesis says “In the beginning God said, Let there be light. And there was light.” (God spoke words… He didn’t just wave a magic wand… it was probably God language that we aren’t really familiar with…)
John’s Gospel says “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God…”
Jesus says (in which gospel I forget) "I am the way, and the truth, and the light…

Put those things together and keep looking for the truth. Jesus is calling you. Anytime you are looking for the truth, Jesus is calling you to himself!!!

God bless you! 🙏
 
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