L
lovecatholic
Guest
I think you are right - all hope is never lost!!
- Status
L
lovecatholic
Guest
Tyler Smedley:
That is wonderful that you are entering the seminary!!! Maybe your life can be a witness to the fallen away Catholics in your life and somehow help to bring them back to the faith!
S
slinky1882
Guest
My background is mostly Protestant (Bpatist and Methodist), and the one part that is Catholic does not really practice so it has been really hard at times for my family. Thanks and God Bless.
C
cheddarsox
Guest
You forgot to include “self” on this poll.
cheddar
cheddar
L
lovecatholic
Guest
You could choose the “other” option in that case.
And to anyone who is fallen away, I pray for your return to the Church and encourage you to come back… Jesus waits for you!
L
lovecatholic
Guest
This is kind of off topic, but I wanted to ask for prayers - thanks…
Please pray for my husband, who was diagnosed today with high blood pressure/hypertension at age 26. He has to go for some blood tests tomorrow and an EKG. He is very nervous, and I am scared for him. They don’t know what is causing it, but the dr. seems pretty concerned that he is having problems like this at such a young age, and especially if they are not quickly brought under control. The dr. gave him some medicine, but we hate to think of him having to be on this medicine for the rest of his life, especially since medicines can have severe side effects on organs.
Please also pray that he will return to the Church. Thank you for any prayers.
Please pray for my husband, who was diagnosed today with high blood pressure/hypertension at age 26. He has to go for some blood tests tomorrow and an EKG. He is very nervous, and I am scared for him. They don’t know what is causing it, but the dr. seems pretty concerned that he is having problems like this at such a young age, and especially if they are not quickly brought under control. The dr. gave him some medicine, but we hate to think of him having to be on this medicine for the rest of his life, especially since medicines can have severe side effects on organs.
Please also pray that he will return to the Church. Thank you for any prayers.
O
OutinChgoburbs
Guest
I have to agree that it would easier for me to list who is still Catholic than who is not. Let’s see: In our current family group, my husband, adult daughter, 2 grandkids, and me.
My aunt, who takes the function of my mother for a variety of reasons, was baptized Catholic, is petrified of the thought that I make frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (she only went once, to her first confession, where the priest asked her to stay after. She didn’t, and never went back), and currently believes in a sort of reincarnation that resembles more best practices for garbage recycling. Her husband is a lapsed Lutheran but great guy and avid golfer (I’ve heard some consider golfing a faith). My cousin-sisters are lapsed. One is a widow who had her now teenager baptized, but did nothing about it. One simply allowed her children to grow so they could choose their faith later, with the usual results from that.
As for my family of birth- My mother practices a form of Catholicism where her method is the only right method, but it changes with her whims. For decades, my father made fun of her insistence we attend Catholic school, missed our sacraments, etc. (You do NOT want to hear the tale of my Confirmation!) He has since returned to the Church. The two of them now seem to use the Church as a stick to beat people, usually their siblings and children, grandchildren, etc. For example, I do not fit Mom’s definition of a good Catholic. I obtained a divorce after marrying a man with Mom pushing me. I also obtained an anullment, and married a wonderful man who adopted my two children and raised them as his own. He is partially of Italian extraction, and I did not, at age 32, ask my father’s permission to marry. She gets upset when I go to a family ceremony involving Mass and receive our Lord, as I am allegedly a “fallen” woman. This does not apply to my thrice-divorced and yet married again younger sister. (See, I told you it was their own form.) It took me a long time to realize that there was more methodology of Catholic than the various rites, as in Byzantine and Latin, and Mom’s was not the only Latin rite.
I have six sibs. All were raised Catholic. One is Lutheran, and seems to be the only sincere Christian in the bunch. The rest are Catholic when they have milestones in their lives.
I figure, we’re it. We are what people see as Catholic. Fortunately, the two types of Catholic, the censuring and what I humbly hope is the loving, show up in sharp contrast. Aside from praying and setting a good example without being a shrew about it, I don’t know what else I can do or want to do, except be ready for the possible time when questions are asked. And those questions get asked every so often. I hope my answers are soft enough but yet informative.
My aunt, who takes the function of my mother for a variety of reasons, was baptized Catholic, is petrified of the thought that I make frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (she only went once, to her first confession, where the priest asked her to stay after. She didn’t, and never went back), and currently believes in a sort of reincarnation that resembles more best practices for garbage recycling. Her husband is a lapsed Lutheran but great guy and avid golfer (I’ve heard some consider golfing a faith). My cousin-sisters are lapsed. One is a widow who had her now teenager baptized, but did nothing about it. One simply allowed her children to grow so they could choose their faith later, with the usual results from that.
As for my family of birth- My mother practices a form of Catholicism where her method is the only right method, but it changes with her whims. For decades, my father made fun of her insistence we attend Catholic school, missed our sacraments, etc. (You do NOT want to hear the tale of my Confirmation!) He has since returned to the Church. The two of them now seem to use the Church as a stick to beat people, usually their siblings and children, grandchildren, etc. For example, I do not fit Mom’s definition of a good Catholic. I obtained a divorce after marrying a man with Mom pushing me. I also obtained an anullment, and married a wonderful man who adopted my two children and raised them as his own. He is partially of Italian extraction, and I did not, at age 32, ask my father’s permission to marry. She gets upset when I go to a family ceremony involving Mass and receive our Lord, as I am allegedly a “fallen” woman. This does not apply to my thrice-divorced and yet married again younger sister. (See, I told you it was their own form.) It took me a long time to realize that there was more methodology of Catholic than the various rites, as in Byzantine and Latin, and Mom’s was not the only Latin rite.
I have six sibs. All were raised Catholic. One is Lutheran, and seems to be the only sincere Christian in the bunch. The rest are Catholic when they have milestones in their lives.
I figure, we’re it. We are what people see as Catholic. Fortunately, the two types of Catholic, the censuring and what I humbly hope is the loving, show up in sharp contrast. Aside from praying and setting a good example without being a shrew about it, I don’t know what else I can do or want to do, except be ready for the possible time when questions are asked. And those questions get asked every so often. I hope my answers are soft enough but yet informative.
O
OutinChgoburbs
Guest
Let me know if we can be of assistance…My husband is a neo-thomist phenomonologist (sp?)
. He can really poke some holes in objectivism.
O
OutinChgoburbs
Guest
Well, I am 48, female, a little portly, and I cry every so often at Mass. So does my 6 foot husband. I like Puffs for the tears. My husband likes a masculine linen handkerchief.
That’s just the Holy Spirit, reaching out to you.
You can still practice your faith inasmuch as you are able (in my case, I know sometimes it takes lots of practice- that’s a joke). Have you found an understanding priest with whom to discuss this? It can be a real help.
Your post so tocuhed me that I am adding you to my prayer list, the daily one and I think I have space for an extra-special intention on Thursday (I space mine extra-special intentions out over days of the week, to give them the attention they deserve).
C
Chris_Jacobsen
Guest
About 90% of the people with whom I grew up have left the Catholic Church.
L
Lillith
Guest
I am a fallen away athiest…~tee…hee~
Out of both sides of my family (both sets of grandparents, Aunts and Uncles…for as far as I can remember) I am the only person who is religious at all.
Lately…I have been feeling depressed/worried about this…as I age, and as my parents age…as you could imagine.
Out of both sides of my family (both sets of grandparents, Aunts and Uncles…for as far as I can remember) I am the only person who is religious at all.
Lately…I have been feeling depressed/worried about this…as I age, and as my parents age…as you could imagine.
I
ImperialPhoenix
Guest
Heh, thats what I did. Though I did added in my above post for “other” as being self.
Thanks, though I have a long journey ahead coupled with college.
L
lovecatholic
Guest
Chris Jacobsen:
Wow! That must be very difficult for you! I encourage you to join my group for prayers and support. God bless!
C
CarrieMG
Guest
One sister experienced a tragedy involving her husband. She had been raising their sons Catholic until then, but then he decided he needed some religion and refused to be Catholic “because of the priest scandal.” So they are taking the moral high road and church shopping. Praying for her return.
Another sister goes to Sunday Mass but doesn’t understand what the church teaches and has no desire to learn.
A third sister considers herself Catholic but doesn’t go to church - ever and is big time into homosexual marriage rights and pro-abortion.
My mother practices, but ridicules me for fearing for my sisters’ souls.
My father, however, had a near-death experience last year when he was ill and clearly saw himself on the path to Hell. After an absence of 25 years he returned to the sacrament of confession - had to tell the priest he needed help remembering the ten commandments - and returned to the practice of his faith. I haven’t seen my father kneel in church since I was a child! Praise the Lord.
Another sister goes to Sunday Mass but doesn’t understand what the church teaches and has no desire to learn.
A third sister considers herself Catholic but doesn’t go to church - ever and is big time into homosexual marriage rights and pro-abortion.
My mother practices, but ridicules me for fearing for my sisters’ souls.
My father, however, had a near-death experience last year when he was ill and clearly saw himself on the path to Hell. After an absence of 25 years he returned to the sacrament of confession - had to tell the priest he needed help remembering the ten commandments - and returned to the practice of his faith. I haven’t seen my father kneel in church since I was a child! Praise the Lord.
S
sherilo
Guest
What exactly is a fallen away Catholic? Is is the same thing that the Protestants call a “back-slidden Christian,” or is it a Catholic who has problems with the Catholic faith?
Sherilo
Sherilo
I
ImperialPhoenix
Guest
I think in general terms that a fallen away Catholic is someone who does not actively practaces his or her faith.
L
lovecatholic
Guest
Wow, what a powerful story about your father! Thanks for sharing! Let’s keep all our family members in our prayers. God bless!
L
lovecatholic
Guest
I’m not familiar with the term you’re comparing it to. I would say a fallen away Catholic is some who has “fallen away” from the practice and/or beliefs of the Catholic faith. Once you are a Catholic, you are ALWAYS a Catholic. But sometimes people no longer actively practice the Catholic faith, no longer attend Mass every weekend, etc. Thus, the term “fallen away” Catholic becomes appropriate in some cases. Hope that helps! God bless!
U
uxordepp
Guest
Fortunately, my husband and children are safe for the moment!
My Father and sisters have all left the Church.
My mother’s family was once Catholic. My great-grandfather had a fight with the priest when my grandma was 9 and declared the family no longer Catholic.
My great-aunt, who was all of 14 at the time, left home rather than leave the Church. She was the only Catholic in that family. She never married and I didn’t know her at all until I was in my late teens. We only met once but created quite a bond.
When she died, it occurred to me that i was the only adult RC left in that branch of the family.
My mother is not baptized. I presume my grandma is. I pray for all of them, as well as my sisters and my father.
My paternal grandmother is probably rolling in her grave at the situation with my father!
Our priest has warned me that family is rarely called to preach to family. He says to pray and be patient and not to try to ‘convert’ anyone unless the opportunity drops in my lap!
My Father and sisters have all left the Church.
My mother’s family was once Catholic. My great-grandfather had a fight with the priest when my grandma was 9 and declared the family no longer Catholic.
My great-aunt, who was all of 14 at the time, left home rather than leave the Church. She was the only Catholic in that family. She never married and I didn’t know her at all until I was in my late teens. We only met once but created quite a bond.
When she died, it occurred to me that i was the only adult RC left in that branch of the family.
My mother is not baptized. I presume my grandma is. I pray for all of them, as well as my sisters and my father.
My paternal grandmother is probably rolling in her grave at the situation with my father!
Our priest has warned me that family is rarely called to preach to family. He says to pray and be patient and not to try to ‘convert’ anyone unless the opportunity drops in my lap!
F
Fashina86
Guest
I have numerous friends at school who have fallen away. 
I hope to be able to live my life in a way to influence them into returning to the faith. Part of it is not thier fault, but rather the problem of their parents who didn’t enforce the rules, encourage, or support thier going. :crying:
I hope to be able to live my life in a way to influence them into returning to the faith. Part of it is not thier fault, but rather the problem of their parents who didn’t enforce the rules, encourage, or support thier going. :crying:- Status