There seem to be 2 types of former catholics that I have met .?

[QwertyGirl]

I think it is all about faith. Either you have it or you don’t. It isn’t that there isn’t a lot of seeking going on, necessarily. I am glad you have such a strong faith. It is a beautiful thing.

 

[guanophore]

The generally say they like the fellowship.

For me it was a hunger for scripture. I was never taught or encouraged to read the Bible and I wanted to know Christ. I fell in with some Southern Baptists who were fervent bible thumpers.

I also confess I miss the music. Protestants have great praise songs.

 

[MichaelP3]

Just interested.

What would be the rest of the fraction then?

 

[PetraG]

Hmmmm…as a former Pentecostal I can only think of 1 type of “former” Catholic I have met…those were glad they were no longer Catholic

If you don’t mind me asking, why are you a former Pentecostal?

Firstly…I could never get a satisfactory answer as to why Jesus said to Peter…who was called Simon…“upon this rock (Peter) I will build my church” …secondly…why did Jesus say “unless you eat my body and drink my blood you have no life in you”…he did not stop some of his followers from leaving because they couldn’t accept what he said…in fact he reiterated what he had said…for a church that claimed a literal interpretation of scripture these were 2 key points they did in fact claim were not literal but only symbolic…eventually I couldn’t accept what they said…at the same time I felt that the Holy Spirit was leading me towards the truth of what the Catholic church taught…now of course there are some wonderful Holy Spirit filled people in the Pentecostal church…what great Catholics they would make if they found the fullness of the faith.

OK, so from your description, you didn’t “leave” your former denomination so much as you “came to” the Catholic faith for positive reasons. They didn’t do anything wrong or lack fervor, but simply didn’t know to teach or do what you came to see is as being necessary to the fullness of faith.

 

[PetraG]

Friends have quit owing to really poor homilies.

[Keep them in your prayers.]

That is a reason to find a new parish, not a reason to find a new denomination. (On the other hand, I’ve had priests who weren’t the easiest to understand but not any who didn’t have anything substantial to say about the Word just proclaimed.)

 

[TheAmazingGrace]

Oftentimes there doesn’t need to be a concrete reason. A lot of people just drift away.

 

[Augustinian]

Oftentimes there doesn’t need to be a concrete reason. A lot of people just drift away.

There are people who leave for reasons that have nothing to do with doctrine, dogma, quality of the homilies or even the cleanliness of the church bathroom

A friend I went to school with in the 1970’s, converted to Hinduism when he met and wed a young lady of that faith and after they split 25 or so years ago, he met, married a Greek Orthodox woman and that’s what he is now.

 

[guanophore]

I think fear of higharchy is fairly common.

The phrase “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” was originally referring to a Catholic Bishop.

think fear of higharchy is fairly common.

Many of us have been wounded by authority figures, Catholic and non.

With other christians you can discuss spiritual understanding.

Is there some reason you are unwilling to discuss spiritual understandings with Catholics? You have posted questions here but do not engage in discussion. Why is that?

They move around until they find a group of Christians that largely agrees with what they think

2 Timothy 4:3
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings,

The US has such a cultural legacy of “don’t tread on me”. We are founded, as a nation, or rebellion against authority.

So she talks about how she’s glad that she isn’t Catholic anymore because they never wanted her there, and I never know what to say.

She does not understand who Jesus is, and what it means to be part of His Body. It has nothing to do with how other people treat you badly. It has to do with being in right relationship with God.

 

[guanophore]

Friends have quit owing to really poor homilies.

Poor homilies are definitely a cross to bear. I rarely find Catholic preachers that hold a candle to the Protestant.

 

[Augustinian]

Poor homilies are definitely a cross to bear. I rarely find Catholic preachers that hold a candle to the Protestant.

Celebrating a Mass is more about accuracy and correctness in reciting the prayers and gestures , as opposed to the art of preaching.

Two different skill sets. If a Protestant preacher where to misspeak a few words from a written prayers or commit a similar faux pas, it would be a minor footnote at best, if he delivered a good message.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

What would be the rest of the fraction then?

Sins that you don’t want to give up, usually.

 

[brian_custer]

that is a very comprehensive post

i’ve encountered “former catholics”

imho; they are mostly lazy & slothful

they want to sleep in on sunday & could care less about attending Mass

they use artificial birth control

vote for pro-abortion candidates

and have no care or concern about the Holy Church or the magesterium

their major concern: the local sports team

 

[PetraG]

that is a very comprehensive

i’ve encountered “former catholics”

imho; they are mostly lazy & slothful

they want to sleep in on sunday & could care less about attending Mass

they use artificial birth control

vote for pro-abortion candidates

and have no care or concern about the Holy Church or the magesterium

major concern: my sports team

There are Catholics who aren’t observant who still self-identify as Catholics, Catholics who were never raised with any idea what “observant” even entails, and also Catholics who are very observant but who leave for another Church for reasons that have nothing to do with sloth. One woman I know, for instance, was raised in a Catholic home but with parents who weren’t psychologically stable. She left home early in life, essentially had her life saved by meeting people at a non-denominational church, that is where her faith bloomed, and that is where she still attends. She has a lot of affection for the parish of her childhood (which was a source of stability and a sound view of God in spite of her parents), but she doesn’t believe all that the Church teaches. She believes what she learned from the Christian adults who got her into adulthood in one piece.

As I said: lots of stories.

 

[Augustinian]

i’ve encountered “former catholics”

imho; they are mostly lazy & slothful

You’ve observed what you’ve observed, and I can appreciate that. But that’s not what I’ve seen. I think many of the slothful remain Catholic- although they are pretty crappy Catholics they really don’t have motivation to become former Catholics.

Instead a lot of former Catholics I’ve seen often go to faiths and churches that are a lot more demanding than the Catholic Church. I remember a guy I went to high school with, their family switched to Christian and Missionary Alliance and he had to attend like 4 church services a week. May be misguided, but certainly not “slothful”

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I’ve seen similar, in that some non-Catholics I have spoken to believe that all that is required of Catholics is to turn up once a week and go through the motions. To be honest without belief in the Eucharist it’s not an unreasonable observation in many parishes.

This is in contrast to their churches where they are all expected to be active in ministry or in a home group or doing extra Bible study. Some have said they feel as Catholics their spiritual life would weaken under the low expectations.

 

[billsannie]

The idea of leaving the Catholic Church due to poor homilies isn’t so far-fetched. I was raised Catholic, but in my long life I’ve heard many homilies and sermons in many different churches. The bottom line is, clergymen in other churches are given much training in how to construct and deliver a coherent, persuasive message. Catholic priest are not, and it shows. In my experience I’ve seen a very few priests who could speak as well as almost non-Catholic clergyperson. It’s not the priests’ fault. They’re simply not taught to do that.

That being said, I do have a personal story to tell. Years ago, when I was in an especially dark period in my life, I heard a rather dire homily to the effect that God may not answer our prayers, or may do so in a way that is extremely difficult for us. From the general tone it was apparent that the priest was having his own spiritual crisis. But coming just then it was the last little push that sent me into despair. My trust in God was broken, and twenty-odd years later I’m still not completely healed. So I can easily see how, in the right circumstances. a poor homilist could easily drive someone out of the Church, even if the person is properly catechized.

 

[thistle]

There seem to be 2 types of former catholics that I have met.

Have you found more types?

I Met them at Assembly of god church

And at SDA. .

The generally say they like the fellowship.

What reasons have you found?

There is no such thing as a former Catholic. A baptised Catholic remains a Catholic forever even if they turn their back on the Church and walk away.
There are only two types of Catholic - those in a state of grace and those in a state of mortal sin.

 

[Katie777]

An aquaintance I know fell away from attending mass because she stated she did not want to be reminded of death or her children reminded of it.

Her family attends only Easter and Christmas.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Years ago, when I was in an especially dark period in my life, I heard a rather dire homily to the effect that God may not answer our prayers, or may do so in a way that is extremely difficult for us. From the general tone it was apparent that the priest was having his own spiritual crisis. But coming just then it was the last little push that sent me into despair.

I’m sorry it sent you into despair, but that priest spoke the truth. I’ve personally experienced exactly what he said about God. Many people have.
I think your using that as an example shows that your problem is not with a “poor homily”, it’s with one that said what you didn’t want to hear.
In other words, you have issues that have nothing to do with the homily.

 

[MonteRCMS]

I have BEGGED priests and pastors to TEACH from the pulpit.

They said they were forbidden to teach … only allowed to preach.