"recovering Catholics"?

[mystified]

“Recovering Catholics” often have an axe to grind…the priest said this, or the priest did that. There is a world of difference between not being able to recieve Communion and being excommunicated. In reality, one excommunicates himself by his actions. As others have said, they generally are not well-grounded in the faith and fall easily for emotional appeals.
It has been said that the most vociferous anti-Catholics are fallen-away Catholics.
What they need most is prayers.

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

Anyone using that term is an arrogant twit, who will, I predict hopefully, spend eternity reflecting on the true stupidity of that statement.

I very much hope not. I don’t much like the thought of anyone spending an eternity reflecting on the mistakes of this life. That sounds rather like Hell, and I would not *hope * that anyone would suffer that fate.

 

[phantasm]

I find this post very offensive, personally. “Cleansing themselves from their Roman Catholic indoctrination.” Cleansing themselves, as if we were afflicted with something filthy? Anyone using that term is an arrogant twit, who will, I predict hopefully, spend eternity reflecting on the true stupidity of that statement. I feel sorry for you, perhaps I shall pray for an end to your ignorance.

 

[adelore]

I for one am from the Catholic upbringing and then married a non Catholic. So I have been going to Church with him but now I am coming back to my Catholic Faith. I have found that I fall in the category of not really been educated in my Catholic Faith as a young child but by going to other Churches I have found that my Faith in the Catholic Church will be stronger now than ever before.

I just hope that I will be accepted back home.

Wow, this sure seems like my life story. Even though I too was raised in the Catholic Faith, I left the church, got married and started to attend my husbands church. When we moved I attened several different Protesent churchs over the years. (5 years here, 5 years there ect.)

I too didn’t learn that much about my Catholic Faith as a child. (I even attended CC Class for 12 years)

After many years of going to Prodesent Churchs and seeing all the acceptable sins that the Catholic Church doesn’t “allow” It turned me back towards Home. I then got on the internet and started sending for Cathoilc Information, went to book store and bought any Catholic book I could find to read. I then bought the Catholic Catechism. I had made up my mind, since I learned about different Prodesent churchs I could take the time and study the Catholic Church.

Will you be accepted and welcomed back? With Open and Happy Arms! :thumbsup:

Welcome Home! I know the journey was long, but Oh so well worth the trip!

 

[reteeks21]

I would meet them where they are and throw it back at them. “I am sorry that you are not happy with the Church. I will pray for you. If you ever have a change of heart or want to ask questions please call me. Eternity is a long time and I want to see you in paradise because one does not recover in hell.”

Are you implying that non-Catholics, or people who have left the Church, or both are headed for hell?

 

[chris_molter]

Then she blew her whole premise by telling me that her new religion was that of (wait for it) “Trekkie.”

I guess it beats the whole “Jedi” religion thing.

 

[scooter469]

Wow, this sure seems like my life story. Even though I too was raised in the Catholic Faith, I left the church, got married and started to attend my husbands church. When we moved I attened several different Protesent churchs over the years. (5 years here, 5 years there ect.)

I too didn’t learn that much about my Catholic Faith as a child. (I even attended CC Class for 12 years)

After many years of going to Prodesent Churchs and seeing all the acceptable sins that the Catholic Church doesn’t “allow” It turned me back towards Home. I then got on the internet and started sending for Cathoilc Information, went to book store and bought any Catholic book I could find to read. I then bought the Catholic Catechism. I had made up my mind, since I learned about different Prodesent churchs I could take the time and study the Catholic Church.

Will you be accepted and welcomed back? With Open and Happy Arms! :thumbsup:

Welcome Home! I know the journey was long, but Oh so well worth the trip!

Thank You so very much for sharing how close our stories are. Also Thank You for reassuring me that I will be accepted back with opened arms. I am feeling scared that the Priest will tell me that I will not be able to partake in Communion since I am married to a non Catholic and my marriage did not take place in the Catholic Church.

God Bless you
Lura

 

[deb1]

Sounds like anxiety to me. Anxiety is normal, but if it begins interfering with your normal life, it can cross over into the realm of an anxiety disorder.

Feeling guilt for the pain you cause another is proof that you are not a sociopath.

An anxiety disorder is a real condition that has nothing to do with guilt at all. I don’t understand how you just connected the previous poster’s guilt with an anxiety disorder. He didn’t say that he was anxious but guilty. Anxiety and guilt are different emotions.

For example, I feel anxious when I meet a new group of people. I do not feel guilty though. Does that make sense?

 

[chris_molter]

It’s a humorous term to express how someone is in the process of cleansing themselves from their Roman Catholic indoctrination.

Or, rather, being indoctrinating into another worldview.

 

[deb1]

hosemonkey;4946410:

Your post reminds of something Mohandas Ghandi said;

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

What kept me from Christianity for many years was the followers of Christ, not Christianity itself. Some of my fellow Christians are very bad ambassadors for our faith.

 

[hosemonkey]

What kept me from Christianity for many years was the followers of Christ, not Christianity itself. Some of my fellow Christians are very bad ambassadors for our faith.

I am not obliged to be diplomatic with those who mock the Faith that I love and to mock the Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. Those who do this, do so at their peril. I do not and cannot judge who will be worthy of Hell, but to mock Christ and His Church seems to me to be a very good way to place oneself in danger of damnation.

 

[Thunderbird]

I am not obliged to be diplomatic with those who mock the Faith that I love and to mock the Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. Those who do this, do so at their peril. I do not and cannot judge who will be worthy of Hell, but to mock Christ and His Church seems to me to be a very good way to place oneself in danger of damnation.

 

[Snerticus]

hosemonkey;4948145:

Jesus Christ himself said very little to those that mocked him beyond a quiet ‘Father, forgive them,’ offered no sharp-tongued words even as they hung him on a cross. We are no better than our Master, and as they mocked him, they will most certainly mock us. The bible tells us that much. History tells us that much.

When I experience people like that who mock or ridicule my faith, I do my best to smile and bear it… or engage them in conversation. I try to ask why they’re so anti-Catholic or anti-Christian, etc. In situations where that’s not viable (like at work, where you aren’t supposed to discuss religion or politics), I just keep quiet. God knows I would hate to be even part of the reason why someone turns their back on God.

The results of my labors? A JW friend of mine is all the wiser about the Catholic faith, and my formerly pagan friend is entering RCIA this fall.

Well, I think the phrase “you brood of vipers!” counts as pretty sharp words. But he was also silent at times too. I don’t think that we have to sit there and take it. It depends a lot on our demeanor and our convictions. If we feel ridiculed and need to say something, then by all means say it. If you feel that what you would say would not be productive, then don’t.

It’s all a matter of individuality, and I don’t think God minds that we defend Him every once in a while, even if it may be a bit too sharp at times. Just don’t go overboard and cuss etc…

Personally, I will write in these forums and defend my faith and my God. But unfortunately, my demeanor in person is quite a bit different. I will usually take a beating and even then, I won’t say much. I’ve always been quite shy in person. But on the internet, even when I use my own name, I’m much more outspoken. If I met all of you tomorrow in person, you wouldn’t know it was the same person who posts on these forums.

 

[killyclogher]

I am not obliged to be diplomatic with those who mock the Faith that I love and to mock the Church founded by Jesus Christ Himself. Those who do this, do so at their peril. I do not and cannot judge who will be worthy of Hell, but to mock Christ and His Church seems to me to be a very good way to place oneself in danger of damnation.

 

[Student09]

Sounds like anxiety to me. Anxiety is normal, but if it begins interfering with your normal life, it can cross over into the realm of an anxiety disorder.

Um, no, I’m talking about moral guilt. As in, I did something wrong and now I feel shame and remorse.

 

[distracted]

I’ve met several people recently who’ve identified themselves as “recovering Catholics,” as if that was supposed to make sense to me - like it’s just taken for granted now that everyone thinks of Catholicism as if it were a disease or an addiction - but since I was brought up by atheists and am now thinking of converting to the Catholic church, I didn’t really get it. When this latest person remarked that he was recovering from his Catholic upbringing, I really just thought, “Oh, stop whining. It’s a hard world and we all suffer. You just want someone to blame.”

Then I wondered whether my instinctual “get over it already” attitude was compassionate or appropriate, and whether I just couldn’t understand what these people went through because I wasn’t raised in the Church, or something.

I guess I’m just curious why it is that

a) there’s a group of people who feel sufficiently sorry for themselves because they were raised Catholic that they go around complaining about it to strangers years later

b) they think that’s actually societally acceptable

and how do practicing Catholics respond when they meet someone who identifies that way?

-Student09

i agree with your initial response… totally.

i went to an AA mtg one time and heard this… I just rolled my eyes… and then proceeded to let everyone know that i am a practicing Catholic … don’t recall waht all else i said…

I let anyone i meet know… that the Catholic Church has done more to help me than anything or anyone else…

as some saint said The Church IS Christ…

and Christ came to help… not hurt…

it is the devil who hurts… and all those who follow him…

 

[Robert_in_SD]

I’ve met several people recently who’ve identified themselves as “recovering Catholics,” as if that was supposed to make sense to me - like it’s just taken for granted now that everyone thinks of Catholicism as if it were a disease or an addiction - but since I was brought up by atheists and am now thinking of converting to the Catholic church, I didn’t really get it. When this latest person remarked that he was recovering from his Catholic upbringing, I really just thought, “Oh, stop whining. It’s a hard world and we all suffer. You just want someone to blame.”

Then I wondered whether my instinctual “get over it already” attitude was compassionate or appropriate, and whether I just couldn’t understand what these people went through because I wasn’t raised in the Church, or something.

I guess I’m just curious why it is that

a) there’s a group of people who feel sufficiently sorry for themselves because they were raised Catholic that they go around complaining about it to strangers years later

b) they think that’s actually societally acceptable

and how do practicing Catholics respond when they meet someone who identifies that way?

-Student09

I’ve heard the term. I don’t know who made it up and I’m not sure it has one consistent meaning. Someone who identifies with such a term probably had a bad personal experience with someone in the Church - maybe a nun or a priest or a layperson, and uses this as a reason to reject the doctrines and teachings of the Church. Or perhaps it is just someone who refused to change their own way of living when confronted by the Church’s teaching that their lifestyle was incompatible with christian practice. Whatever the reason, it is sad that someone should ever refer to themselves as a “recovering” Catholic. The implication to a Catholic is that they are moving away from Christ by moving away from His Church. I would ask the person who uses such a term to explain what exactly it is that they are “recovering” from. That response may prove the opening to a good discussion. I would also pray for such people, that they return to the Church.

Peace,
-Robert

 

[Peter_J]

I’ve met several people recently who’ve identified themselves as “recovering Catholics,” as if that was supposed to make sense to me - like it’s just taken for granted now that everyone thinks of Catholicism as if it were a disease or an addiction - but since I was brought up by atheists and am now thinking of converting to the Catholic church, I didn’t really get it. When this latest person remarked that he was recovering from his Catholic upbringing, I really just thought, “Oh, stop whining. It’s a hard world and we all suffer. You just want someone to blame.”

Then I wondered whether my instinctual “get over it already” attitude was compassionate or appropriate, and whether I just couldn’t understand what these people went through because I wasn’t raised in the Church, or something.

I guess I’m just curious why it is that

a) there’s a group of people who feel sufficiently sorry for themselves because they were raised Catholic that they go around complaining about it to strangers years later

b) they think that’s actually societally acceptable

and how do practicing Catholics respond when they meet someone who identifies that way?

-Student09

I’ve never known anyone who called themselves “recovering Catholics”, but I have heard of that. (If memory serves, I read an article on the child-abuse scandals, and it had a picture of someone wearing a “recovering Catholic” tee-shirt.)

I quite agree that “recovering Catholic” is offensive.

Incidentally, I’d never heard of a “recovering Protestant”, so I decided to google both phrases. “Recovering Catholic” got 28,000 hits, “recovering Protestant” got 1,030 hits. :ehh: (“recovering Catholic” is even mentioned on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsed_Catholic … ‘Sometimes the person may self-identify as a “recovering Catholic”.’)

 

[Leopard]

(“recovering Catholic” is even mentioned on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapsed_Catholic … ‘Sometimes the person may self-identify as a “recovering Catholic”.’)

Well, anyone can edit Wikipedia. You can add a reference to “recovering protestant”, if you want.

 

[Peter_J]

Well, anyone can edit Wikipedia. You can add a reference to “recovering protestant”, if you want.

Good point. I didn’t mean to make it sound like that one sentence on wikipedia was evidence of widespread anti-Catholicism or anything.